Dog death blamed on warden

TOLEDO, Ohio - The Teneycks of East Toledo are blaming Lucas County Dog Warden Tom Skeldon and his office for the death of their canine named Bear.

""He was part of this family, he really was, he was a good dog," said Troy Teneyck. "He was a teddy bear. He was a cool dog. He was big. I loved him. That's about it."

Bear, a tan-colored Chow, got out Sunday night. Teneyck said moments later a car turned down their Dearborn Avenue road and hit his dog. He was Bear quickly recover and took off after the car.

"A silver charger came by, hit the dog, and kept going through the red light," he said. "Then my dog took off running down the side street."

Teneyck and his wife, Tammy, spent Sunday evening and into Monday looking for the dog. They eventually went to the pound but could not find the Chow. Ultimately the Teneycks reported Bear missing.

"Well, she said if he's hurt, don't worry, because we hold hurt animals for three days before we put them down," Troy said. "That's the law."

Wednesday morning, the Teneycks said the county dog warden called to tell them they put Bear to sleep.

The Chow was found, but suffered a broken leg.

"Because of a broken leg, he had a broken leg, that's all, and they put him down," Troy said. "They didn't even call us and let us see him or anything."

Skeldon told FOX Toledo News that his department followed procedure. The dog warden said Toledo police crews found the battered canine late Tuesday evening, limping on Heffner Street, a few miles east near I-280 from the Teneyck's house.

The dog warden told FOX Toledo News the Chow was taken to an area emergency veterinarian, but it was the vet's opinion that the most humane thing to do would be to put the dog down right away.

"It wasn't their call to make," Troy said. "I mean, he was out there for three days. He was going to live. I mean, a broken leg can be fixed."

Tammy said she has spoken with an attorney.

"(Our lawyer said) something definitely needs to be done about this," she said. "She said, 'you would not believe all the calls I get about the Toledo dog warden'."