Mahoning County pound out of space; dogs need homes

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mahoning County dog warden has issued an urgent appeal for the public to adopt dogs from the county pound.

“The kennel is full, and there is a desperate need to find homes for dogs currently housed at the pound,” said Dog Warden Matt Ditchey.

“Many dogs are at immediate risk of being euthanized if they are not adopted,” Ditchey said in a news release.

“Once we run out of space, there’s nothing I can do,” Ditchey said in a Friday interview. The pound now houses 53 dogs, and its capacity is about 55, he said.

All local animal-rescue organizations and shelters are operating at or near capacity, he added.

To encourage more adoptions from the pound, Friends of Fido, an animal-welfare group, is offering free spaying or neutering under its “Black Beauties” promotion for all black dogs adopted to indoor homes and under its “Wacky Wednesdays” promotion for all dogs adopted to indoor homes Wednesdays.

The pound is open until 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

All dogs adopted from the pound must be spayed or neutered, and reference checks will be done on adopters.

Since he became dog warden in May 2011, Ditchey said he has not euthanized any dogs except those that were extremely aggressive, severely injured or seriously ill.

He said, however, that may have to change soon, and the pound may have to euthanize simply due to overcrowding.

The pound now houses many large dogs, which are less popular for adoption because they require more food, space and exercise than smaller dogs, Ditchey added.