SCIOTO COUNTY, OH — After months of headlines about mold, overcrowding, staffing shortages, and controversy at the Scioto County Dog Shelter, county leaders say they’re finally seeing something they’ve been hoping for:
People stepping up with solutions.
On Thursday, the Scioto County Commissioners unanimously approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Scioto Hounds, the newly formed 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization created to support the shelter through fundraising, grants, volunteer projects, and community donations.
The agreement formally allows the organization to begin working alongside shelter staff on improvement projects.
🐕 First Project: Keeping Dogs Cooler
Commissioner Scottie Powell said the nonprofit’s first major project will focus on improving conditions during the summer months.
“They are looking to install three vent fans and two to three large air movers in the non-climate-controlled area of the shelter,” Powell explained. “It’s to help with temperatures as we see them rise.”
Powell said the memorandum was needed because the county and the nonprofit will now be working together inside the same facility.
“We wanted to make sure we had a memorandum of understanding in terms of how we operate within the same space.”
He also praised the group’s early accomplishments.
“We appreciate the hard work they’ve put in. I know they’ve already gotten some vaccines and different donations. They’re working hard in collaboration with the shelter.”
💉 Already Making a Difference
Even before receiving formal approval, Scioto Hounds had already begun filling some of the shelter’s most immediate needs.
In recent weeks, the organization has helped secure:
- Vaccines for incoming dogs
- Thousands of pounds of donated dog food
- Rescue placements for multiple dogs, including a very pregnant mother dog
- Additional cooling equipment for kennel areas
Those efforts came after repeated public appeals from the shelter over the past several years seeking donations for basic necessities such as vaccines and food.
“Part of the Solution”
Commissioner Merit Smith said what impressed him most wasn’t just what Scioto Hounds had donated—but their approach.
“They got vaccines. They got some dog food. They did a walkthrough and talked about different things that could possibly be fixed.”
Smith noted that volunteers are focusing on improving a covered outdoor kennel area that is protected by a shed roof but is not climate controlled.
More importantly, he said, the relationship between the nonprofit and the shelter has been noticeably different from the past.
“They have been working closely with the dog pound, which is something that has not really happened in the past.”
“We’ve had a lot of criticism, but Scioto Hounds has now stepped up and said, ‘Hey, we don’t want to criticize—we actually want to step in and be a part of the solution.'”
“Doing a Fine Job”
Commissioner Will Mault echoed that sentiment with a brief but enthusiastic endorsement.
“Scioto Hounds is doing a fine job.”
Commissioners then unanimously approved the agreement.
A Different Kind of Headline
The approval comes after one of the most turbulent periods in the shelter’s history.
Over the past several months, the facility has been the focus of controversy involving:
- Allegations of mold and rodent problems
- Staffing shortages
- Employee complaints and resignations
- Questions about dangerous dog enforcement under Avery’s Law
- Delayed responses to animal complaints
- Concerns about funding and overcrowding
Against that backdrop, Thursday’s vote represented something different.
Rather than debating another controversy, commissioners were discussing new fans, better ventilation, donated vaccines, rescue partnerships, and volunteers willing to invest their own time and resources.
For a shelter that has spent much of the year making headlines for its problems, county leaders hope Scioto Hounds can help it start making headlines for its progress.
