By JC REINDL
BLADE STAFF WRITER
Early this year, Lester Cunningham took in three stray dogs that he found wandering around his neighborhood in the cold.
And when one of them gave birth a week later, the 49-year-old South Toledoan found himself the unexpected caregiver to 12 more mixed chow-and-shepherd puppies.
He now owned more dogs than he ever imagined and could possibly care for. "They were really nice puppies … but I couldn't keep all of them," he said.
Yesterday, Mr. Cunningham recalled how on Feb. 26 he took 10 of the pups - then about 8 weeks old and all seemingly healthy - to the Lucas County pound. He surrendered the dogs to the office of Dog Warden Tom Skeldon expecting that each and every one would find a new, caring home.
"I was under the impression that the puppies had a good chance of being adopted out because they're puppies," said Mr. Cunningham, recalling how the staff at the dog pound oohed and aahed over the cute pups.
But none made it out of the warden's kennel. According to the agency's surrender logs - all 10 puppies were killed the day after Mr. Cunningham dropped them off.
Mr. Cunningham was shocked and distraught yesterday to learn from The Blade that Mr. Skeldon killed every puppy he brought in. He said he always assumed they found new homes.
"We were all under the impression that these puppies would get a chance to make it," he said.
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For Lucas County Commissioner Ben Konop, who tried unsuccessfully this month to fire Mr. Skeldon for the hundreds of adoptable dogs he's killed, the quick deaths of the 10 puppies further demonstrates the need for immediate changes at the warden's office.
"It makes me physically ill to think the county is in some sense sanctioning this behavior," the commissioner said. "There is no excuse for this. To me it shows beyond a reasonable doubt why there needs to be changes in leadership at the dog warden."
Mr. Skeldon yesterday did not return repeated requests for comment throughout the day on puppy killing at the pound.
Records documenting the fate of the 10 puppies were also faxed to the warden's attention yesterday morning, but he refused to come to the phone when called by a reporter.
Commissioner Konop also accused the warden of violating the written agreement on puppy surrender forms by killing the pups the day after they arrived. That document, signed by owners who surrender dogs to the pound, states, "I understand that the dog described, if not suitable for sale, may be humanely destroyed."
"I can't imagine any logical reason to kill 10 healthy, non-"pit bull" puppies less than 24 hours after they were turned in," Mr. Konop said. "It's disgusting."
A temporary moratorium on nearly all puppy killings at the pound was one of three recommendations endorsed last week by the county's Dog Warden Advisory Committee. Commissioners have yet to act on the recommendations or be formally presented with them, officials said.
So far this year, records show that 78 puppies have been killed at the county dog pound, most so-called "pit bull" puppies that Mr. Skeldon kills because he considers them "vicious" under Ohio law.
Pete Gerken, president of the commissioners and a backer of Mr. Skeldon, also refused to return calls from The Blade.
Of puppy euthanasia in general, Commissioner Tina Skeldon Wozniak, the warden's first cousin, issued the following statement:
"All of the commissioners are committed to increasing the number of dogs adopted and decreasing the number euthanized. That's why we are working closely with our Dog Warden Advisory Committee to identify changes that will achieve these objectives. … I hope that all dog owners will remember to get their dog spayed or neutered so we can control our overall pet population and prevent unnecessary euthanasia."
One of Mr. Cunningham's puppies found a new home, while he kept one of the stray's 12 puppies for himself, saving its life. That dog, Bailey, is growing into a friendly, healthy, and smart adult dog with a few lovable quirks.
"One ear sticks up like a shepherd, the other flops down like a chow," he said with a laugh.
Contact JC Reindl at:
jreindl@theblade.com
or 419-724-6065.