Article published November 14, 2009
Prominent vet supports boycotting dog-tag fees
Cut in funding could force warden to change
Dr. Bob Esplin, owner and founder of SylvaniaVET, wants immediate changes in the dog warden's operation.
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THE BLADE
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By JC REINDL
BLADE STAFF WRITER
Frustrated with the policies and practices of the Lucas County dog warden, a prominent Sylvania veterinarian said yesterday he would support a dog license boycott if serious changes aren't made soon.
"I'd like to see a complete change in the way the dog warden is administered and run," said Dr. Bob Esplin, owner and founder of SylvaniaVET on Holland-Sylvania Road. "If the county commissioners aren't going to stand up and do what most of the dog-owning population in Lucas County thinks is right, then what we could do is, we could withhold purchasing dog licenses."
Dog-license fees are the prime source of revenue for the county dog warden and its $1.7 million annual budget, which receives no funding from the county's general fund. Lucas County's $25 fee is believed to be the highest in the state.
Dog owners are required by law to buy an annual license for their pet once it's over 3 months of age, or they could be charged with a misdemeanor.
Dog Warden Tom Skeldon holds licensed dogs at the pound at least 14 business days before he kills them. Unlicensed dogs are held only three days.
Dr. Esplin said he normally would not condone such an act of civil disobedience. But the commissioners' failure to bring about significant reform in the warden's high kill rate, low adoption rate, high license fee, and active discrimination against "pit bulls," would make the boycott a necessary "last resort" if they continue to stall, he said. "Then we could put financial pressure on the county commissioners because they wouldn't be able to pay their bills," Dr. Esplin said.He helped persuade the warden in 2007 to begin using a donated scanning device to check dogs for implanted microchips that can identify their owners.
Not all the dog warden's critics are on board with the boycott.
Jean Keating, co-founder of Ohio Coalition of Dog Advocates, said she respects Dr. Esplin but fears a boycott could paradoxically result in more dogs being killed, as the waiting period would shorten to three days from 14. "That could lead to a lot of problems if your dog gets picked up," Ms. Keating said. "I hate to go against Dr. Bob - like I said, he's my vet and has done a lot of good things for my dogs over the years - but for the neighborhoods [Mr. Skeldon] targets, that could kill a lot of dogs."
Animal rescue groups and elected officials have stepped up criticism of Mr. Skeldon's office in recent weeks, particularly over the number of dogs being killed.
The pound euthanized 2,483 dogs last year, representing a 77 percent kill rate.
Members of a dog warden advisory committee have faulted the warden for euthanizing too many dogs and not adopting out enough. The committee recommended Thursday that the warden enact a temporary moratorium on killing nearly all puppies under 3 months of age.
The county commissioners this week voted 2-1 to allow the warden to keep his job, rejecting a motion by Commissioner Ben Konop that Mr. Skeldon be fired.
On Dr. Esplin's boycott idea, Mr. Konop said: "I definitely share his frustrations - there does need to be a change urgently - but I'm not to the point yet where I would back a violation of the law to achieve that change."
Rather than an outright boycott of the licenses, Ms. Keating said she would like to see the license fee lowered to $20. Such a decrease is warranted, she said, because the warden failed to enact any of the five suggestions for improving services made in 2007 when the commissioners agreed to the warden's request for a $5 fee increase.
Dr. Esplin said a boycott wouldn't be necessary if the public manages to influence the commissioners to force the warden to change. "All I want to do is send a message to the commissioners that the public is not happy," he said.
Contact JC Reindl at:
jreindl@theblade.com
or 419-724-6065.
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