Skeldon to step away as dog warden

TOLEDO, Ohio - In a letter received by Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerken Thursday morning, County Dog Warden Tom Skeldon said he is going to retire from his post effective Jan. 31, 2010, a job he has held for the past 22 years.

Skeldon plans to use his leftover vacation time, which would make his final day at the pound at the end of December. In the letter, Skeldon said he felt privileged to have served the community for 22 years and that he took his position within the county seriously.

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READ: Lucas Co Dog Warden Tom Skeldon's letter to Commissioner Gerken


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Skeldon would not go on camera Thursday but did say over the phone to FOX Toledo News that he chose to retire now for the good of the community.

The announcement comes following waves of criticism regarding his treatment of animals. Recently, Commissioner Ben Konop criticized the large number of puppies Skeldon was putting to death.

"My leadership of the Dog Warden Department has become an increasing distraction to this community and there are many more important issues that we all need to focus on," he said in the letter. "People have lost their jobs, families are in distress, and there are children that need to be adopted."

Skeldon is leaving his post after 22 years of service to Lucas County and his association with 10 different county commissioners.

"Since 1987, I have had the privliege of serving the community of Lucas County as its Chief Dog Warden," Skeldon said in the letter. "I've spent my whole life around anials, having worked since an early age, at the Toledo Zoo ... (and) I have trained a variety of animals including many dogs. I trained dogs for four years for the US military including a tour in Vietnam."

A committee may be in the works to find the next permanent dog warden. This committee would be made up of members appointed by Commissioner Gerken and his colleagues, and it would be supported by the Commissioners' Human Resources department.

Bonnie Mitchell, the current Dog Pound Manager, will act as the interim dog warden as Skeldon moves into retirement and until a permanent replacement is found.

He defended his actions as the county's chief dog warden. He said that keeping the public safe was his first and foremost priority and that the relationships built and maintained with local police, sheriff departments and other organizations enabled his office to do an excellent job doing that.

Skeldon also pointed out his service was self-sufficient and didn't use any county taxpayer money.

The unjustified attacks, though, have been hard on his family, Skeldon told FOX Toledo over the phone.

Commissioner Gerken wanted to make it clear that Skeldon's retirement is not an admission of guilt.

"Tom is eligible to retire, because there's been a lot of discussion and controversy, and he thought it was taking away from the mission that everybody's trying to do - the county, his staff, and that mission has been diluted by a barrage of questions," Gerken said.

Commissioner Konop has been one of Skeldon's biggest critics, even calling for his removal last week.
Konop said Skeldon did the right thing.

"Now we can truly make strides in adopting out dogs, dramatically lowering our euthanasia rates and begin to erase the black eye that are county has received because of the treatment of dogs by this government," Konop said.

Commissioner Konop, though, he does not want to wait until Dec. 31 to see Skeldon go, so he will again request the dog warden's removal or suspension until his Jan. 31, 2010 retirement date. Konop is also against Gerken's request that each commissioner appoint one person to help advise on candidates for Skeldon's replacement, and with Mitchell serving as interim dog warden.

Commissioner Konop told FOX Toledo News media partner the Toledo Free Press, “It’s certainly a good day for the county. The actions of the dog warden were not reflective of the community. We now get a fresh start and a new perspective when it comes to looking out for the welfare of all of God’s creatures.”

Commissioner Tina Skeldon Wozniak offered the following statement: “I have received Dog Warden Tom Skeldon’s letter, and I wish him all the best in his well-earned retirement. I look forward to working with my colleagues and county administration to develop a transition plan that will identify a strong leader for that department in the future. I will also continue to work with the Dog Warden Advisory Committee to increase dog adoptions and establish the best policies and practices for the department.”

 Skeldon did say he will grant camera interviews to the local media next Monday, Nov. 23.

(FOX Toledo's Kristi Leigh contributed to this report)