State Asked To Investigate Complaints At Harrison Co. Dog Pound

CADIZ, Ohio — After years of complaints, several lawsuits and heated county meetings, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department has asked the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation to investigate complaints at the county dog pound.Hours after the request, on Wednesday afternoon, the Gentle Barn Foundation of California, adopted all five dogs that representatives of the organization said were sick.The president of Gentle Barn said his organization received more than 10,000 complaints about the conditions at the pound, including from celebrities Alyssa Milano and Ellen DeGeneres.”We were told by a lot of people that there was deplorable conditions here for dogs,” said Jay Weiner.In addition, commissioners placed Harrison County Dog Warden Chris McMullion on unpaid suspension effective Wednesday, and there will be a hearing next week to discuss her possible termination.The shelter will remain open to the public, and Weiner said each of the five dogs Gentle Barn adopted will be neutered and spayed.”They’re going to get checked. One of the dogs for sure has parvo. They’re going to be taken care of medically and then we will work with them to evaluate them emotionally and we’ll find them homes,” Weiner said.Inside the pound Wednesday, a NEWS9 crews saw water bowls that were frozen and meager shelter. when NEWS9 questioned interim dog warden Tina DeWalt about the conditions, she said, “It is the best we can make it with what we have to work with. They are fed and watered. They have boxes and straw. As far as the walls and that, I just work here. I don’t even know what to say anymore.”The move to suspend McMullion came just an hour after Harrison County commissioners held a meeting and briefly discussed the matter.before the commissioners meeting, NEWS9 spoke with commissioners about photos posted on Facebook that are stirring up controversy about whether the pound is safe.The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said the pound should be shut down, claiming dogs have frostbite on their stomachs and paws and are living in deplorable conditions.In addition, Harrison County Commissioner Mike Vinka said someone erroneously posted on Facebook that he said all dogs at the pound should be euthanized after 72 hours.”The word ‘all’ is not correct,” Vinka said.But the alleged comment and photos prompted activists to show up at the county commission meeting.”They saw it on Facebook and there was some nasty name calling. it was uncalled for. People saying we are evil people, all based on these words on what other people are saying. and it’s just not true,” said Harrison County Commissioner Barbara Pincola. Graphic Images: Alleged Photos From Inside Dog Pound Vinka told NEWS9 that 72 hours is how long a dog pound in the state of Ohio has until the pound can release a dog to a shelter or dispose of it otherwise. Vinka said the pound only euthanizes dogs if they are sick and this year the pound has only done so four times.”We are a dog pound, not an animal shelter. The law states that we can do that,” Vinka said.Despite the constant negativity the pound is receiving, Pincola said, “The pound is being run well” and Vinka said, “The facility is clean. (The animals) are well taken care of.”In September, the Ohio SPCA filed a lawsuit against commissioners, McMullion and a former dog warden.The lawsuit claimed the group received complaints about the conditions at the pound including carcasses of dead animals not being promptly removed, food bowls caked in feces, and no heat during the winter months, except in the office.Attorney John Bell, of Bexley, Ohio, filed the suit on the society’s behalf and previously shared photos with NEWS9 that he said are feces on the floor of the dog pound.The lawsuit claimed, “The Harrison County Dog Pound is not open or available to the public for sufficient time and on such appropriate occasions for members of the public to have an adequate opportunity to redeem, drop off, claim or adopt animals.”The lawsuit also stated, “The Harrison County Dog Warden has used carbon monoxide as a method of euthanasia with newborn puppies, as well as aged or infirm animals.”McMullion previously told NEWS9 that they stopped using the gas chamber two years ago and had also said the conditions of the shelter are fine.Stay with NEWS9, WTOV9 Mobile and WTOV9.com for continuing coverage.

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