When Dave Blyth arrived for his first day as director of Lucas County Canine Care & Control in March, he parked in the same spot he claimed 17 years ago as a deputy.

The parking space was one of the only things that stayed the same since he left LC4 in 2008, and coming back to the shelter was a “huge change” from the last time he was there.

Mr. Blyth was hired by the commissioners in February and began in the position March 5. The director of LC4 serves as the county’s dog warden, a position which has specific duties outlined in the Ohio Revised Code. Mr. Blyth said the most important of those responsibilities is public safety, and the job has a strong law enforcement aspect.

When he began the position, Mr. Blyth learned that there was a new focus on the welfare of dogs in the care of LC4, a change which he is excited to further at the county’s new facility at 1301 Monroe St., set to open this year. 

“There is an attitude now, that we didn’t have then, that says: ‘What about the dogs?’ ‘Are the dogs in a stressful environment?’ ‘Are we doing anything for the dog’s ability to flourish?’” Mr. Blyth said. “In the old days, what we did was we put dogs in the kennel, we fed them, and that was it.”

The new facility will have larger kennels, outdoor play areas, glass that floods the holding areas with sunlight, and indoor ventilation that keeps the air clean. The $35 million building will have capacity for up to 177 dogs, and construction will be complete this summer. There is no timeline for a move into the building.

Mr. Blyth is inheriting the project from prior leadership but said all of those things are improvements from the current facility, which was not built to be used as a dog pound. He said the new building is designed around the needs of dogs, which is a new and exciting concept for him.

“Dogs are being walked, dogs are being allowed to go out into the fenced area, and they can enjoy the sunshine. It’s a huge difference — it’s good for the dogs and also good for people who are concerned about the welfare of dogs. It’s good for them to know that at LC4, we’re doing everything we can,” he said.

At the new facility, each kennel has two sides that are separated by a removable divider. The larger of the two sides is meant for the dog’s general use, but the other is reserved for food and water, serves as a bathroom area, and allows employees to clean without removing the dogs completely.

Each room with kennels has less than a dozen dogs, and the walls have sound-absorbing plaster that deadens the echoes of barks. The rooms also have windows and quick access to separate outdoor yards so the dogs can get fresh air and play.

Commissioner Lisa Sobecki said the new facility will help serve the community better, but also provide a better space for dogs and staff alike.

“It’s just a win-win all around, it’s a really exciting $35 million investment into our dogs, our community, and our staff,” she said.

Mr. Blyth previously served as a deputy dog warden from 1981 to 2008, working for many years under Tom Skeldon, a divisive figure who drew criticism and praise for his relentless focus on “pit bulls,” which were not allowed to be adopted from the pound. Mr. Skeldon frequently had one of the highest kill rates in the state, euthanizing thousands of dogs each year.

Mr. Blyth told The Blade he was “sick in the heart” on several occasions knowing even the friendliest “pit bulls” in his van would be put to death because of Mr. Skeldon’s insistence that “pit bull” breeds had to be “destroyed.”

“Tom Skeldon had it in his head that every ‘pit bull’ had to be destroyed,” Mr. Blyth said. “I just think it’s wrong, and it just bothered me that you’re condemning a dog to the death penalty just because of the breed. Here’s the thing, I don’t want to get all gushy, but there’s never a dog born mean.”

He firmly believes that public safety is the agency’s number one function and said he would be “sick” to find out an adopted dog had hurt someone. However, he also said he’s not quick to sentence a dog to death.

“I wouldn’t want people thinking that the death of a dog is something that’s treated casually, because it’s not,” Mr. Blyth said. “We have written justification for every dog I sign off on … and I look the sheet over. I owe it to that dog — we’re about to put a dog to sleep, can I take a couple minutes to verify that’s the correct [decision]?”

Mr. Blyth succeeds Kelly Sears, whom the commissioners fired in September for a “lack of leadership” amid a flurry of criticism on social media surrounding a video of an employee spraying dogs with a hose and pushing a dog into its cage.

The county’s chief of staff and director of governmental affairs, Michael Hart, had served as the interim director since that time, before the commissioners eventually hired the new leaders.

Mr. Blyth said he believes the county commissioners were looking for someone familiar to steady the department but also wanted someone with a knowledge of the county second-in-command. Terra Bundy, who previously worked in human resources and labor relations at the county, was hired as the deputy director, a new position in LC4’s ranks.

According to a news release announcing her hire in February, Ms. Bundy was tasked with “refining the department’s policies and procedures and ensuring staff are trained and equipped for success.”

Ms. Sobecki said Mr. Blyth has been a good fit for the position so far, balancing his experience in law enforcement with a tender heart toward the dogs.

“He’s a compassionate person, and brings of wealth of knowledge, and I’m really excited for him to be able to be a part of this transition into this new facility,” she said.

Mr. Blyth has a degree in law enforcement from the University of Toledo and certifications from the National Animal Care and Control Association. He retired in 2020 after a dozen years as a business agent for the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, and unsuccessfully challenged state Rep. Josh Williams (R., Sylvania Twp.) in the 2024 general election as the Democratic nominee.

At 70, Mr. Blyth recognizes that starting a new career, familiar as it may be, does come with an eventual end in sight. However, he’s not rushing it.

“Let’s face it, at my age it’s safe to say I’m not at the dawn of my career,” Mr. Blyth said. “Terra [Bundy], having come from another position in the county, is a huge benefit because she knows exactly how the county works. … She’s totally capable on her own of running the department, and there will come a day when yours truly will shuffle off, and that day will happen whenever it happens.”