PETITION CLOSED

  • The time period for signing this petition has ended.
Don't Let Dogs Continue to Die - Get Skeldon Out of Office NOW
  1. Signatures
    266 out of 500
    Petitioning
    1. Commissioner (+ 2 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • Commissioner (Ben Konop)
      • President (Pete Gerken)
      • Commissioner (Tina Skeldon Wozniak)
  2. Created By
    Stephanie Feldstein
    Ypsilanti, MI
About this Petition Petition Letter

Lucas County (Toledo, OH) Dog Warden Tom Skeldon is notorious for the excessively low adoption/high kill rates at his shelter.

Think this doesn't apply to you if you don't live in Ohio? Think again. Skeldon was consulted as a so-called expert when Ontario was creating its breed ban. As long as he's in office, other communities questioning their animal control can use him to validate cruelty in their ranks. His practices and philosophy are a threat to animal welfare everywhere.

It's not just his deep and public hatred of pit bulls, but he also refuses to work with rescue groups and other shelters. A recent investigation found that he put down nearly 200 healthy, non-pit bull puppies in the last two years. According to the Toledo Area Humane Society, there is plenty of demand from good homes for the animals that Skeldon killed.

The questionable practices go beyond shelter adoption/euthansia rates. A committee was formed not long after one of his staff shot a tranquilizer into a small dog (that was on its own porch) with a high enough dose to kill it. The committee recommended several changes, including a moratorium on euthanizing puppies. Skeldon's response: 10 puppies dead after holding them for only one day.

Skeldon submitted a letter of resignation, with his last day in office at the end of this year. It's about time...but animals continue to suffer as long as he's  in office.

County Commissionor Konop wants him out of office now. Let the Commissioners know that you support Konop's proposal for immediate dismissal...before any other dogs have to die.

Recent Signatures

Please Dismiss Dog Warden Skeldon Immediately

Dear Lucas County Commissioners,

I am writing in support of Commissioner Konop's proposal to immediately dismiss Lucas County Dog Warden Tom Skeldon.

While I am pleased that he chose to resign, December 31st isn't soon enough for him to leave his office. Too many animals have already died under Skeldon's supervision, and every day that he remains in office is a threat to the animals in Lucas County. His blatant disregard of the Dog Warden Advisory Committee's recommendations proves that he cannot be trusted to run the shelter in a responsible, humane way.

In addition, the interim and future Dog Warden should be appointed based on recommendations from an independent review committee. Appointing the current dog pound manager will only allow the current inhumane culture to continue.

With Tom Skeldon's resignation, you have the opportunity to change the Lucas County reputation from one of cruelty and suffering to a model of compassion. Please start today by removing Skeldon from office immediately.

[Your name]

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