An already-strained Scioto County Dog Shelter was hit with the kind of case that can overwhelm even a well-staffed facility when deputies responded to a report of about 25 starving dogs at a Pond Run Road property.
The initial call to the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office on described a suspected hoarding situation involving approximately 25 dogs outside the home and possible deceased dogs inside.
There was another concern at the property: a 10-year-old child was reportedly there.
Deputies contacted Children Services, and two dog wardens responded to the scene. CPS later sent a worker to the residence.
The sheriff’s dispatch notes don’t say exactly how many animals were ultimately removed from the property or confirm the initial report of deceased dogs inside. However, an outside animal welfare organization that assisted afterward said the shelter suddenly found itself dealing with a massive influx of dogs.
21 Dogs in 24 Hours
Pike Pet Pals, a nonprofit with years of experience assisting the Pike County Dog Pound, has recently been helping the new Scioto Hounds organization as it works with the troubled Scioto County shelter.
The organization said it received an unexpected call from Scioto Hounds following the hoarding case.
“They had received 21 dogs in the last 24 hours,” Pike Pet Pals said. “Most of them from a hoarding case.”
A Pike Pet Pals representative headed to Scioto County to help.
“This evening, we vetted all of the hoarding case dogs,” the organization said. “They were scared, hungry and wanting comfort.”
The group said workers checked the dogs and provided general veterinary care, while both dog wardens worked to get the sudden influx of animals safely managed and into kennels.
“Hoarding cases take so many resources and supplies all at once,” Pike Pet Pals said. “It can become overwhelming and emotional to see all the dogs that have not received proper vet care.”
The organization also praised the response from the shelter’s dog wardens, saying both “did an excellent job handling the dogs and getting the dogs managed into the kennels.”
A Big Test for a Shelter Trying to Recover
The timing could hardly be more challenging.
The Scioto County Dog Shelter has spent much of this year dealing with resignations, staffing shortages, overcrowding, questions about veterinary care and disease-control procedures, and complaints from former employees and rescue volunteers.
Commissioners recently hired a new combined Dog Warden/Shelter Director as part of an effort to restructure the operation.
At the same time, Scioto Hounds has emerged as an important partner, supplying vaccines and food, seeking grant money, helping with facility improvements and finding rescue placements for dogs.
Just weeks ago, commissioners credited the organization with helping find placement for 15 dogs that had been facing euthanasia.
Now, instead of getting breathing room from those placements, the shelter has been slammed with another large group of animals.
That’s one of the brutal realities of running a county dog shelter. Clearing kennels doesn’t necessarily mean they stay empty. One hoarding case can consume the space, food, medication and manpower that rescuers just worked to free up.
Pike Pet Pals: Want Change? Help
Pike Pet Pals didn’t ignore Scioto County’s history of problems in its account of the incident.
“Have there been issues in Scioto County, yes,” the organization wrote. “Frankly, it has been going on for awhile.”
But the group said its condition for helping Scioto Hounds was simple: focus on the health of the dogs and leave the drama out of the pound.
After months of working with the fledgling nonprofit, Pike Pet Pals said it believes things are beginning to improve.
“Things look like they are on the uptick,” the organization said.
And rather than using the latest hoarding case as another reason to criticize the shelter, Pike Pet Pals is asking the public to help it handle the enormous workload suddenly dropped at its door.
The organization pointed residents toward Scioto Hounds’ donation options and wish list to help provide the supplies needed to care for the animals.
After 17 years of working with the Pike County Dog Pound, the group’s representative said it would have been easy to simply wish Scioto County luck and walk away.
Instead, the organization offered a different message:
“But the real strength is to turn around and go back for the people who are in the place you once were.”
For a Scioto County shelter that has spent much of the year trying to dig itself out of crisis, 21 dogs arriving in 24 hours is a serious test of whether that rebuilding effort is beginning to work.
