ASHLAND — Deputy Curtis Hall’s K-9 partner of roughly five years recently retired — but the officer didn’t totally get away from dogs.
Since July 1, Hall has worked as the Ashland County Dog Shelter’s new “warden” of sorts.
Warden is in quotes because Hall is still employed by the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office — and he’s still a deputy with enforcement and patrolling duties.
“He’s a deputy with additional duties,” said commissioner Jim Justice.
Under state law, county commissioners can appoint the sheriff to enforce laws surrounding stray dogs instead of hiring a dog warden.
It then becomes the sheriff’s office’s responsibility to appoint a deputy as a “deputy dog warden,” according to the law.
The county’s former dog warden, Joe Eggerton, resigned in May shortly after public records revealed commissioners bailed out the shelter with $130,251 in order to keep the doors open there through 2024.
The shortfall, an Ashland Source investigation found, was related to higher utility bills, failure to renew 943 dog licenses and higher wages.
Instead of hiring a new warden, commissioners opted to lean on the sheriff’s office. Hall’s responsibilities include responding to calls about at-large dogs, bites and going after licenses.
He’ll also handle large animal investigations with the Humane Society of Ashland County.
The administrative side of the operation falls to Sherri Maneese, the deputy clerk of the Ashland County commissioners office.
Hall’s new responsibilities have not come with a pay raise. He will continue to be paid according to the pay scales established in the Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, the union that represents the sheriff’s office.
His salary, according to the latest agreement, is $61,327. Maneese received a $1 per hour raise in June.
Commissioner Justice said the arrangement with the sheriff’s office runs through the end of this year. At that point, the commissioners will evaluate the new structure and make a decision on its permanence by voting on a memorandum of understanding.
There’s precedent in Ashland County for sheriff deputies stepping into dog warden duties temporarily. But Justice doesn’t remember a time when a deputy planned to do it for an extended period of time.
“It’s uncharted territory,” he said.
So far, Hall has a positive outlook on his new responsibilities.
“I think it’s fun, I like it a lot actually,” Hall said of the new job role.
Getting residents to renew expired dog licenses is a huge task, he acknowledged. But his approach will be “with respect and education.”
“Hopefully, we won’t have this issue again — 943 expired dog licenses is resolvable, but it’ll take some time,” he said.
So far, he’s helped resolve 14 dog licenses that were either duplicates in Ashland County’s tracking system or deceased dogs. Some of the residents have just renewed the licenses, he said.
Hall said he hopes to find creative ways to get that 943 number closer to zero. He said he’ll call dog owners first, or he’ll visit their homes to have an in-person conversation.
“I also want to be present at public events, just reminding people on the information and to get (dog licenses) handled,” he said, adding that residents are more than welcome to reach out to him via email at chall@ashlandcounty.org.
The Ashland County Sheriff’s office also plans to send out a letter to all dog owners with lapsed licenses in the near future.
“It’s community policing,” Hall said. “I’m just happy to be forward-looking. We’re all working toward a positive change.”