Kennel passes milestone

Dog Warden: Kennel has not had to euthanize an adoptable dog in over two years

Dog kennels get a reputation as depressing places akin to a dog’s death row, but that’s not the case at the Lorain County Dog Kennel.

The kennel, at 301 Hadaway Street in Elyria, has not had to euthanize an adoptable dog in over two years, according to Lorain County Dog Warden Tim Pihlblad.

He credits those who volunteer as a reason why the kennel hasn’t had to euthanize. A Facebook page called Volunteers of Lorain County Dog Kennel also features certain dogs from the kennel.

“The lady that runs it does a super job,” Pihlblad said. “If we get close to capacity, they’ll put the dogs that have been here the longest (up.) They’ll move those dogs in most cases.”

Tory Mitler is the administrator of the

Facebook page. She attributes the success to the crew at the kennel and the community on the page.

“We’ve got a good volunteer base now; people normally come and go, as is normal, but our core is great — we’ve got fantastic relationships with our rescues — and we’ll just get better and better,” she said over Facebook Messenger. “(April 14) was a fantastic example. I was notified just before close on (April 13) that they were full — no cages. The networking started, and we ended yesterday with 11 cages open and no dogs down.”

Pihllad also recognizes the boost added by the Lorain County Board of Commissioner’s featuring a dog from the kennel each week in their meetings and on social media.

“Anything that we can do to put the dog out there helps,” he said.

According to Pihlblad, once a dog is apprehended it is held by the kennel for three days, sent out for spaying and neutering, given its shots and is ready to be adopted.

Hopeful pet owners are charged a $66 adoption fee which includes a dog license, vaccines and their spaying and neutering procedures.

Pihlblad said in 2016 the kennel took 1,126 dogs off the streets of the county. Of those dogs, 460 were adopted, 429 were redeemed by their owners and 155 were rescued by other private rescue groups.

“We have certain groups that we work with,” Pihlblad said. “They’ll rescue the dog, vet it and then find foster homes for it.”

Pihlblad said despite the high number of dogs adopted from the kennel, he hasn’t seen evidence of people attempting to adopt them in order to turn a profit.

“I understand that it does happen, but our clientele comes from all over the place,” he said.

Pihlblad advises pet owners to be sure and get dog licenses, which makes up part of the kennel’s funding, along with adoption fees and redemption fees. The county sells dog licenses for $16 from December 1 to Jan. 31. After that, the licenses are $32.

“That’s really cheap insurance,” he said. “If we pick the dog up we can run the tag right from the truck and notify the owner.”

ERIC BONZAR — THE MORNING JOURNAL ‘Pit-mix’ Hercules peers out beyond the chain link at the Lorain County Dog Kennel, April 11. Dog Warden Tim Philblad says the kennel located at 301 Hadaway St., Elyria, has only about a 2 to 3 percent euthanasia rate. And overflow is handled not by...