Wayne County Dog Shelter celebrates a decade of caring for wayward dogs

The Wayne County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center will celebrate its 10th anniversary in September, commemorating a decade of caring for stray, abandoned and injured dogs in Wayne County. The shelter opened in September 2015, following the unexpected cancellation of a contract to provide care to the dogs.

Wayne County Administrator Patrick Herron played a key role in setting up the shelter, working nights and weekends alongside newly hired Dog Warden Katelyn Lehman during the early days of its inception to ensure each dog’s needs were met.

According to Herron, plans for a new shelter were designed but were never needed.

“We spoke with the owner of the business where the shelter is now located, and we were able to purchase that location,” he said. “It was perfect timing.”

While the timing was right, the business initially operated as a boarding kennel, grooming facility and obedience school, requiring a fair amount of work to convert it into a shelter. Lehman was ready for the challenge.

“We started receiving dogs the day I was hired,” Lehman said. “There was nothing in place. Adjustments had to be made, especially in medical care. It wasn’t a long stretch, but we needed to upgrade the facility in many areas to provide care to dogs coming through our doors.”

Without a medical facility or computer system to track dogs or process adoptions, Herron and Lehman worked expeditiously. They even enlisted the help of their own family members to get the shelter operational.

Bringing the shelter up to Ohio Revised Code standards was another area that needed to be addressed. Fortunately, Lehman’s experience, once again, paid off.

“I started my career in this field by cleaning cages and worked my way through every position, eventually becoming dog warden in Holmes County,” Lehman said. “So when this opportunity came up, I felt ready for it. Coming in wasn’t a total shock, but we were definitely building a shelter from the ground up.”

Lehman had the support of Herron, the Wayne County Commissioners and the sheriff’s office. With that support she was taking applications for adoption within a week of starting. There was still a long way to go, but the dogs were taken care of, and that was what was important. There were still no computers, no medical facility and no additional staff.

“Patrick and I were asking family members to help out,” Lehman said. “It was chaos, but we had a plan and a positive mindset. We got through day one, and I was excited about that. I knew that it would get better from that day on.”

Lehman, tackling one task at a time, eventually hired staff, installed a computer system and brought the building up to ORC standards.

Lehman’s love of dogs has never wavered.

“That was 10 years ago, and I am still as passionate about this shelter and the dogs that come here as I was when I began,” she said. “Any frustrating moments are short-lived.”

In a decade Lehman has assumed the dual roles of shelter manager and dog warden, carved out job descriptions and hired staff, and ensured it takes advantage of any available grants, especially for the medical facility.

One of the biggest supporters of the shelter is PAWS, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, charitable organization whose core mission is to provide support to the Wayne County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center.

“We gathered a group of people who are also passionate about dogs and formed PAWS,” Lehman said. “They have taken charge of fundraising. They apply for grants, and I can’t even estimate how vital they are to the shelter’s operation, our medical funds and everything we provide for our dogs.”

Residents benefit from the shelter through the reunification of lost pets, finding adoptable dogs and the opportunity to learn about responsible pet ownership. Enforcing licensing and confinement laws helps reduce nuisance complaints and enhances public safety. The shelter’s adoption program also accelerates the recovery of stray animals, reduces overcrowding and engages volunteers in meaningful community service.

The shelter has become a vital part of Wayne County. As it enters its second decade, its goals include maintaining no-kill rates, expanding access to spay and neuter services, increasing volunteer participation, purchasing a mobile adoption vehicle, and serving underserved communities.

To volunteer, donate and see the shelter’s calendar of events, visit www.waynedogshelter.org.

Dan Starcher is the public communications coordinator for Wayne County.