Holmes County Dog Warden launches kennel sponsorship program to boost medical care funding

Holmes County Dog Warden Jonathan Beam met with the Holmes County Commissioners Monday, Nov. 24 to discuss the department’s budget and some exciting news that could go a long way in providing even more quality care for the animals at the adoption center.

Beam said his department is excited to offer a new sponsorship program to those with a passion for supporting the dogs that are brought into the facility.

With rising medical costs continuing to infiltrate the daily routine of keeping the animals in good health, Beam said they are in the beginning stages of creating an opportunity for individuals or businesses to provide financial aid for the medical expenses involved in keeping the dogs healthy.

“We are exploring ideas to increase medical donations, and we are introducing a new sponsorship program this year,” Beam said.

Beam said they are inviting individuals and businesses to sponsor each of the facility’s 14 kennels through the 2026 Shelter Heroes Kennel program. He said there are gold plaque sponsorships for $500 annually or silver plaque sponsorships available at $250.

“If a business or individual sponsors, we will put either the gold or silver plaque up in that kennel,” Beam said, noting this is a fundraiser other kennel adoption centers have gone to.

He said in addition, each sponsor will be noted on the office’s website.

Beam said the goal is to get all 14 kennels sponsored by the end of the licensing season, with the proceeds going directly toward helping with medical expenses for the animals. He said each sponsorship would last for one year, and donors can choose to simply re-up their support each following year.

Beam said last year the department sponsored its seven-way vaccines, which businesses sponsored to cover the cost. All the dogs coming into the system receive that shot.

Beam also said they have people donate toward the cost of spaying and neutering dogs, which came to a total of $5,000.

An additional expense this year will be the purchase of new body armor for the staff, with the current sets of armor set to expire this year.

“The life expectancy of the armor is around five years, so we will need to make that purchase this year for new armor,” Beam said.

The new armor is estimated at a cost of $3,500, and the board of commissioners quickly agreed to pay for new armor for the four department personnel who would use it.

“We appreciate each one of you, and we want to make sure you’re safe,” Commissioner Dave Hall said.

Anyone interested in becoming a kennel sponsor, helping to sponsor any of the additional medical expenses for the dogs or interested in adopting a dog should visit www.holmescountydogwarden.com.

As for budgetary issues, Beam said the department is in the process of raising several fees to cover rising expenses.

Beam also said since the end of the pandemic, during which families turned to purchasing pets at a much higher rate and kennel numbers in the county grew exponentially, things have slowed down. Now the county is seeing some of the kennels that were established closing their doors, and the department is seeing requests for registered dogs being accepted by the county as the businesses close their doors.

“It’s been a slow decline in tag sales since the pandemic,” Beam said, noting the county has gone from 28,000 registered dogs to 23,000. “That reflects our revenue, but we’ve done enough with the dog and kennel fund the past eight years that we’ve been able to build a reserve. But we do need to increase the license fee to counterbalance that (drop in registrations).”

Beam said they continue to see kennels being closed, meaning there continues to be an influx of dogs requested to be rehomed by the county.

“We’re seeing breeders selling stock and not wanting to be in the business anymore,” Beam said. “We’re seeing pure-bred dogs showing up at shelters because kennels can’t sell them.”

Beam said in addition to raising license fees, they will add a charge for postage fees of $2 when the department mails out licenses through the post office. He said to avoid that charge, people can pick up their license at either the adoption center or at the county auditor’s office in downtown Millersburg.

The dog license fees will rise from $17-$19, and the annual kennel registration fees will see a rise from $85-$95.

The commissioners also spoke briefly about the continuing avenue of communication concerning progress on the capital fund being initiated to build a new dog warden facility down the road.

Hall said he has already spoken to several businesses interested in supporting that effort.

“I’ve got a couple of ideas I want to explore as far as how businesses can donate and what they can give,” Beam said.