The Bay Village Kennel, Construction and Operation
Cuyahoga County kennel staff shortage affects dog care: Animals in the News
By Donna J. Miller, The Plain Dealer
on April 11, 2013 at 9:45 AM, updated April 11, 2013 at 10:13 AM
CLEVELAND, Ohio — A skinny Rottweiler spent four weeks at the Cuyahoga County Kennelgobbling down food but failing to gain weight.
A 10-year-old poodle-mix named Jacob sat for 11 days at the kennel with pus and fur matted to his inflamed eyes.
The two dogs, and others, have languished at the kennel because it is understaffed and lacks procedures for tracking health problems, two officials told The Plain Dealer.
Sandy Smith, president of the Cuyahoga Humane Animal Control Board that advises the kennel, said the kennel’s health care team is focused on neutering dogs so they can be adopted, so dog wardens and volunteer dog walkers are left to notice health problems.
“They may tell the health care staff about health issues, but there is no formal process — for instance, a form to fill out that triggers veterinary assessment within 24 hours and a treatment plan — and dogs are falling through the cracks,” Smith said.

“Until last month, the kennel did not have a functioning scale. The vet and vet tech were guessing dogs’ weights. How could dogs receive the appropriate medicine, and how would staff know when dogs are losing weight?”
County Councilwoman Sunny Simon said the kennel is in transition after losing its manager a couple months ago.
“Things will improve significantly once a new kennel manager is in place, and that will be soon,” Simon said.
The Rottweiler’s bony condition stunned Amy Beichler, director of the Public Animal Welfare Society of Ohio, which took in the matted poodle-mix in December.
Beichler rushed Jacob to a veterinarian, who prescribed antibiotics, eye ointment and pain medication. Jacob has fully recovered from the eye infection.
“It is appalling that dogs are being allowed to suffer for days and weeks at a county facility that the public expects to provide humane care,” Beichler said.
Smith wants the kennel to work with more rescue groups to move dogs into foster homes.
She said more groups like PAWS would take dogs from the kennel if the county would waive its “pull” fee of $90, especially when the dog needs veterinary care.
“If a dog is elderly, or has health issues, or is difficult to place, and a rescue wants it, why can’t we just release the dog to them? Is it better to euthanize dogs than release them to responsible rescues for a lower fee or even no fee?” Smith wrote in a letter sent Tuesday to county officials.

“Considering that the treatment of many animals at the kennel recently has been neglectful and, frankly, inhumane, I think we all can agree that changes are necessary to ensure the welfare of the animals in the care of the Cuyahoga County Kennel. The animals feel pain and are suffering as a result of the inertia of the kennel staff and Cuyahoga County government.”
Simon, who founded the South Euclid Humane Society and dog park, understands Smith’s frustration with the time taken to hire qualified workers, but she points to achievements made since the new county government took over in 2011:
•Pit bulls are being offered for adoption, rather than euthanized.
•A second veterinary technician was hired, as well as a veterinarian who works as needed.
•Dogs beds are provided.
•The kennel is open Saturdays and two evenings to facilitate adoptions.
•Adopted dogs are microchipped.
“I will continue to advocate for more staff and better policies for the dogs and for getting them adopted,” Simon said.
PAWS took the Rottweiler to a Lakewood veterinarian Wednesday to have tests done to determine why he is eating but not gaining weight.
PUP! Where does it go? and Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District – About the program
Because dogs can’t flush.
Did you know dog droppings can impact our groundwater, streams, and lake? When it rains, bacteria from doggie doo can soak into groundwater, or be carried by rainwater to storm sewers which carry the flow to nearby streams. In both cases, the water is not treated at a wastewater treatment plant, and that’s not good for the environment.
One simple action can make an environmental difference: Pick Up Poop. We encourage you to take our PUP pledge to bag your pet waste and properly dispose of it in a trash receptacle. Not to mention, it’s the polite thing to do for your neighbors’ sake, especially when walking your pets in a park.
“But how is bagging my pet’s waste any better? Isn’t that just going into a landfill? Aren’t there better ways?” you ask.Others have asked, too, and we’ve offered a few answers.
Let’s talk dirty for a moment.
There are more than 90,000 dogs in Cuyahoga County. If each dog poops twice a day, that could be more than 45 tons of doggie droppings every day! That’s a lot of bacteria, and when it rains, that groundwater and surface runoff carries that bacteria to local waterways. Yuck.
Cleaning up after your dog is a simple step you can take help keep my watershed clean and waterways free of harmful bacteria.
Dog Bone Sale a Huge Success
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup barbeque sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon honey
3 tablespoons corn oil
1 egg
1/2 cup water
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, mix honey, oil, egg, water and barbeque sauce. Add to dry ingredients. Roll dough to 1/4-inch thick, cut with cookie cutter and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees. Makes 1 1/2 to 2 dozen bones (depends on size of cookie cutter).
Jackson Duffy, Jimmy Hanselman and Jack Mediate, third-graders at Westerly School
Pet Pictures with Santa
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bay family seeking donations to help save found dog.
However, this little dog will not survive without emergency dental care. She has level 4 dental disease. Please help little “Peanut” stay alive and be herself again by donating directly to the vet. My mom has covered over $300 in vet bills, but we cannot cover the remaining $1,200. DONATIONS CAN BE MADE DIRECTLY TO CREEKSIDE ANIMAL CLINIC AT 330-825-9556 ALSO DONATION JARS ARE LOCATED AT FRAGAPANES AND JAVA BAY IN BAY VILLAGE. For more information please email: tttsfound@aol.com to help little Peanut live.
Emerging Hero Dogs
“None left to rescue, none left to buy, none left to suffer, none left to die. None to be beaten, none to be kicked…all must be loved and all must be fixed”.
~ Author Unknown
DANIEL
Entry Category: Emerging Hero Dogs
Charity Partner: Pine Street Foundation (Canine Cancer Detection)
Location: Nutley, New Jersey
“Gas chambers” represent an outdated method of destroying homeless animals. Many people do not realize that such methods of destroying homeless dogs and cats are still employed today. Each year, millions of homeless dogs and cats are euthanized through this cruel process. Rarely has any animal survived a gas chamber. However, in October 2011, from a gas chamber in an Alabama animal shelter, this unbelievable survival story became reality for Daniel the beagle. Through improbable odds, Daniel was still wagging his tail after the gas chamber that he was locked in killed eighteen other dogs. The animal control officer responsible for operating the gas chamber could not bear the thought of a second attempt at ending the life of this remarkable little dog.
Daniel was put up for adoption and quickly spirited to a foster home in Tennessee where he was named after the Biblical survivor of the lion’s den. Next, with the help of Pilots and Paws, New Jersey based Eleventh Hour Rescue brought Daniel to New Jersey where the Dwyer Family of Nutley adopted him into a forever home. Daniel has taken nicely to the fun-loving life of a dog in a house with four other dogs. However, Daniel has also become quite the celebrity with appearances on local, national, and worldwide news outlets, highlighted by an exciting appearance on Anderson Cooper Live. Such renown has brought Daniel the opportunity to make a difference. Daniel’s adorable face and affable personality have made him a hero dog to thousands of his other canine brothers and sisters as he has become an advocate for shelter adoptions and anti-gassing laws in various state legislatures. “Daniel’s Law” will soon be passed in Pennsylvania to outlaw the use of the gas chamber.
Daniel is supporting the Pine Street Foundation, whose mission is to help people with cancer reach more informed treatment decisions through education and research. The organization’s research program also supports and informs its education programs by publishing the results of its work in reputable medical journals, and with that, the Pine Street Foundation is able to make the results of its efforts widely available to other researches, practitioners, and patients. The Pine Street Foundation’s program includes ground-breaking research in Canine Scent Detection, where they have trained dogs to identify the smell of breast and lung cancer on patients’ breath.
Have your pets blessed Oct. 4 at St. Raphael Church
Original Article from the Westlake | Bay Village Observer
by Anne Straitiff
Are your pets a blessing to you? Then let St. Raphael Church help you bless them in return. The eighth annual Blessing of the Pets will take place on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, Thursday, Oct. 4, at 6:30 p.m. on the front lawn of St. Raphael Church in Bay Village.
Individual blessings will be given to each animal. Dog treats from Landmark will be distributed and a garden statue of St. Francis will be given away. The event is free and all are welcome!
The following items will be collected for area animal shelters: canned dog and cat food, dry cat food (no dry dog food), pet crates/taxis, kitty litter, bleach, paper towels, anti-bacterial wipes, cash donations for medical supplies and veterinary visits, gift cards for Landmark, PetPeople, Petsmart, Pet Supplies Plus, or Petco.
St. Raphael is located at 525 Dover Center Rd., between Wolf Road and the railroad tracks.
Please note: Dogs should be on leashes; cats and other pets in carriers or cages. The event will be cancelled if it rains.
CLEVELAND APL TRAP-NEUTER-RETURN PROGRAMS
Article from the Cleveland Animal Protective League
Been “adopted” by the cat outside? Feral and free-roaming cats are the largest contributors to the cat overpopulation crisis. The Cleveland APL is committed to ending this developing tragedy and has a new TNR program to assist caretakers of feral (unsocialized, outdoor) cats. If you are feeding a cat outside, we invite you to be part of the overpopulation solution and take advantage of our services! Through our Animal Welfare Clinic, we offer the following services for feral cats and their caretakers:
Spay/Neuter Services
Feral and homeless cat appointments
Cleveland City limits
- Kittens and cats – $10 each
(as long as the City subsidy lasts, hopefully all year!)
Cuyahoga County suburbs (non-City)
- Kittens and cats – $10 each
(as long as the grant funding lasts, hopefully all year!)
Out-of-County
- Kittens – $25
- Cats – $40
Proof of in-county status will be required at the time of check-in for surgery.
The fee includes:
- Spay or neuter surgery
- Ear-tipping
- Rabies vaccine
- FVRCP vaccine
- Felv/FIV SNAP testing is available upon request for $30
Cleveland Residents Can Help Stray Cats for $10 >>
Trapping Education and Trap Loan Program
Humane traps are available to our clients for a non-refundable fee of $5 per trap. A fully refundable $45 deposit is collected when the trap is issued. Our TNR Services Coordinator will provide how-to demonstrations and written instructions on how to successfully and humanely trap feral cats. How-to workshops may be coordinated for groups of caretakers and other interested parties free of charge at the Cleveland APL.





