A firestorm erupted online after a Scioto County man accused the county dog shelter of lying, stealing, and illegally adopting out his missing dog. But after an emotional reunion with the pup, the tone changed—and now county officials are offering a peek behind the pound gates to clear the air.
📌 THE BACKSTORY
The Scioto County Dog Shelter, already bursting at the seams with stray and confiscated animals, came under fire when a local dog owner claimed:
❌ The shelter lied about where his dog was found.
❌ The shelter claimed the dog had been adopted, when he says a warden took the dog home.
❗ He demanded the dog’s return, posting multiple angry Facebook messages accusing the shelter of wrongdoing and cover-ups.
“I want my f**ing dog back. This is ridiculous… Does she look valuable to breed to you?”* the man wrote.
The story quickly went viral, with dozens of social media users piling on, questioning the shelter’s ethics and accusing employees of shady behavior.
📌 THE TURNAROUND
After the dog was returned to her original home, the angry posts turned into heartfelt gratitude:
🐶 “All my posts since getting my puppy back have only been about happiness and joy.”
💬 He announced he’d stop responding to negativity and instead focus on being grateful his “baby” is back.
🏡 He also promised to register all of his pets, put up a proper fence, and prevent future escapes.
📌 THE COUNTY RESPONDS
Commissioner Bryan Davis stepped in to defend the shelter and clarify what really happened:
🕵️ Investigation was conducted—the result was the dog’s return.
📅 The 72-hour law was followed. The dog, untagged, was kept for 77 hours before being adopted.
🐕 No employee adopted the dog, although someone had expressed interest.
📩 Owner messaged the shelter Sunday night, which isn’t monitored after hours. He called Monday.
💡 Tagging could have avoided it all. The dog had no tag when picked up.
“Our wardens care about these animals. They wouldn’t do what they do if they didn’t,” Davis said.
📌 THE BIGGER PICTURE
Commissioner Davis didn’t stop at the facts. He took aim at the bigger issues facing the county:
😡 Shelter staff were doxxed and publicly shamed in social media comments.
🧾 The shelter runs at a financial loss, despite rising costs from hoarding, abuse, and puppy mills.
💔 Workers are under pressure and often vilified online, despite doing their best in a tough job.
“Let’s not be so quick to judge based on a social media post,” Davis said. “Instead, volunteer. Adopt. Help.”
📌 WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
🚨 Important PSA from the County:
✅ DOG TAGS ARE REQUIRED BY LAW, even for indoor dogs. They cost less than the fines and help fund shelter operations.
🐾 Dogs must be secured. Even tagged dogs roaming loose are considered strays.
📆 Check the shelter quickly if your pet goes missing. Without a tag, they can be adopted after 72 hours.
📞 Questions? Call the shelter at 740-353-8802
💬 FINAL THOUGHT
This viral doggy dispute may have started with anger and accusations, but it ended with a reunion, a learning moment, and a reminder:
Tag your pets. Secure your yard. And maybe give your local dog warden a little credit.
