Portsmouth Police ran into another animal-control snag Thursday evening after a man reported that a loose dog had bitten both him and his dogs — and the first animal-control response wasn’t available.
Officers were called to the Mayo Street and Harding Avenue area around 6:45 p.m. after a report that a man had a dog pinned to the ground after it allegedly bit him and his animals.
Dispatch initially reported that animal control was unable to respond to the vicious-dog complaint. According to the call notes, the city dog warden said they could not come out because the animal-control officer who would normally respond wasn’t answering and there was no one else available.
That left police looking elsewhere for help.
This time, they found it.
The county dog warden agreed to respond and pick up the dog.
Man Says This Wasn’t His First Bite
When officers spoke with the bite victim, there was another surprising detail.
The man declined to give his name and told officers he had received shots just a week earlier following a different dog bite.
He said he did not need another police report and offered to chain the dog up until the county warden arrived.
Officers reported that the situation was under control while they waited for the dog to be collected.
Another Example of a Bigger Problem
The call comes amid continuing questions about animal-control coverage throughout Scioto County.
Those concerns aren’t limited to one agency.
Earlier in October, Sheriff’s deputies responded to Clay Township after a woman reported two aggressive dogs outside her home threatening her and her animals. Both the caller and dispatch attempted to reach the dog warden without success. By the time a deputy arrived, the dogs were gone.
That deputy advised the woman to contact the Dog Warden’s Office about another problem she reported — the number of animals allegedly being dumped along her road.
And those calls are arriving as the Scioto County Dog Shelter itself is trying to recover from months of staffing changes, resignations, overcrowding and controversy.
21 Dogs in 24 Hours
One recent case illustrates just how quickly the shelter can become overwhelmed.
In late September, Sheriff’s deputies were called to a reported hoarding situation on Pond Run Road. The initial complaint alleged approximately 25 starving dogs outside the property and possibly dead animals inside.
Because a 10-year-old child was also reportedly at the residence, Children’s Services was contacted and ultimately responded.
Two dog wardens were dispatched to the scene.
According to Pike Pet Pals, the hoarding case contributed to an extraordinary influx of 21 dogs into the Scioto County shelter within a 24-hour period.
Members of Pike Pet Pals traveled to Scioto County to assist Scioto Hounds and shelter personnel with the animals.
The organization said the dogs from the hoarding case were frightened, hungry and in need of care, but praised both wardens for handling the animals and getting them situated in kennels.
Pike Pet Pals also offered an important perspective on the shelter’s recent troubles.
“Have there been issues in Scioto County, yes,” the organization wrote. “Frankly, it has been going on for awhile.”
But the group said its focus was on helping Scioto Hounds move forward and keeping attention on the animals.
Signs of Progress — and Plenty of Pressure
There have been positive developments.
Commissioners recently installed a new combined Dog Warden/Shelter Director, while Scioto Hounds has become increasingly involved in helping the facility with supplies, veterinary needs, rescue placements, grants and volunteers.
Pike Pet Pals said it believes things are “on the uptick” and encouraged people who want positive change to get involved rather than simply criticize.
But Thursday’s bite call demonstrates why adequate staffing and coordination remain important.
When a loose dog allegedly bites a person and other animals, someone has to respond, secure the animal and determine what happens next.
On Thursday night, the first call for animal-control assistance didn’t produce a response.
Fortunately, the county dog warden did.
