Humane officer: February saw 181 animal-control calls; board hears concerns about dog dumping

Anne, the county’s humane officer, told the Ross County Board of Commissioners on March 2 that animal-control staff handled 181 calls in February, bringing in 55 animals and recording 56 euthanizations, including some animals carried over from prior months.

"In the month of February we ran 181 calls. And we brought in 55 of that 181 and then there was 56 euthanized," Anne said, describing the recent intake and outcome statistics. She said staff have been finding dogs abandoned along U.S. 35 and State Route 50 and recounted finding litters and a mother dog giving birth in the field.

The report prompted brief discussion of training and job titles. Anne said she and a colleague completed dangerous-dog training and noted that the agency may change the label on business cards from "dog warden" to "humane officer." "Humane officer sounds nice," a board member said during the exchange.

Staff and commissioners also discussed how to track intakes and stays and asked whether animals are being enrolled in required classes after dangerous-dog incidents. Anne said staff and a colleague had gone through the required class and that some animals would be enrolled in follow-up programs.

The board did not take formal action on animal-control policy during the meeting; the discussion was presented as a department report and informational update. The county did not specify long-term plans or additional funding requests related to the shelter numbers in the transcript.

The meeting then proceeded to other agenda items, including routine appropriations and project updates.