GREENE COUNTY — Greene County Animal Control says they’ve seen an uptick in dog dumping, and it’s causing major issues.
News Center 7′s Candace Price spoke to Greene County Animal Control about this growing concern and their warning to people who dump their pets.
Animal control officials say at this point, they are seeing two incidents of dog dumping per week.
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David Turner, Greene County Animal Control Supervisor, was called out Monday after he says nine dogs were dumped on the side of the road on the north side of Xenia.
Turner says when one woman stopped to help, one of the dogs became aggressive toward her and her young child. He says the woman ended up jumping out of her car and grabbing her baby.
The Director at Greene County Animal Control, Julie Holmes-Taylor, says while this isn’t a new issue, it has gotten worse.
“I think because resources are becoming harder and tapped out, it’s becoming more and more prevalent,” Holmes-Taylor said.
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Holmes-Taylor says most of the dumpers are your average dog owners.
“I think a lot of it is the perception that we’re going to judge them…A lot of it is lack of planning,” Holmes-Taylor said.
She also says some of the dog owners actually think they’re doing what’s best for the dog.
“A lot of them think ‘If I take it the shelter, they’re going to euthanize it. He’s got a better chance on his own,’” Holmes-Taylor said.
But she says what usually happens to the dogs is much worse.
“The reality is a lot of those dogs are killed on the highway,” Holmes-Taylor said.
She says the ones that do survive usually end up at animal control.
“Right now we’re at capacity, unfortunately, and like a lot of shelters, it’s a juggling act of us and everybody else,” Holmes-Taylor said.
Turner says if you do dump they will catch you.
“This day and age there’s cameras everywhere. Cameras all over the place. We’re going to get that information we’re going to find you,” Turner said.
Greene County Animal Control is not able to identify the man that dumped the nine dogs at this time, as the say they are working to have him charged.
They also say that right now they’re offering half price adoptions and could be offering free adoptions soon.