BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — Space for animals at the Wood County Dog Shelter and Wood County Humane Society is becoming an issue.
"We're worried about getting to that level where we don't have space when dogs come in," said Jodi Harding, the county's Chief Dog Warden.
Harding says the county dog shelter is quickly filling up and surrounding shelters have reported fewer dogs and cats leaving.
"We have 21 dogs in our shelter right now," Harding said. "Typically on average, on any given day we will have 8-10 dogs, so obviously we are way up in our numbers right now."
The shelter only has 35 spaces for dogs, so the space is limited. And last week, Harding says a person from Toledo brought seven pit bulls to the shelter's doorstep.
"They were overheated, they were dehydrated, they're emaciated," Harding said. "They were covered in their own feces. They were actually driven here down I-75 with the door partly open because the cage didn't fit all the way, so the cage was just bungee-corded into the van."
Typically, the shelter would not take in the dogs as its primary responsibility is to patrol the county and impound any stray and unlicensed dogs.
However, Harding says the dogs were in such bad condition that the shelter had no choice but to take them in.
"They just needed our help," she said.
Meanwhile, just minutes down the road at the county humane society, the shelter's interim manager, Kelly Wolbert, says the space issue is even worse.
"We've been over capacity for going on 3-4 months," she said.
Wolbert says the society has six dog kennels and 22 cat kennels. However, it currently has 10 dogs and 36 cats, some of which are in-house and others that are in foster care and could be returned at any time.
"At any point, our numbers could double in an hour, in a week, in a day," she said.
And the phones never go silent, either.
The humane society is the only one in the county with humane agents — a staff of just 2. Wolbert says they are receiving phone calls for surrenders, foster care inquiries, needed assistance and other requests frequently.
"I've had calls from Michigan, people who have worked their way from above Detroit and called every county on the way down, trying to find placement for an animal and everywhere is filling up, everywhere is full," she said.
So, how can the problem be solved?
For humane agent Rob Goewey, it's about education.
"Education is key, and that's where all humane agents are across the board and that's what we're trying to do: educate the community in how to take care of the animals," Goewey said. "What is needed for an animal, how to feed an animal, how to water your animal, how to take care of them in the cold how to take care of them in the heat."
If you are in need of help with taking care of your animal, the humane society does offer food assistance, dog training, and other support services.
To find out more information, click here.