As concerned members of the Medina County community in Ohio, we are calling for the immediate removal of Del Saffle as dog warden and Deputy Warden (D2) from their positions at the local dog shelter. We believe it is crucial to open up the position for a new warden who will bring a fresh perspective and prioritize the safety of both dogs and workers.

This petition is personal to us because it has come to our attention through testimonies of past workers, that the Warden does not put the best interests of the dogs first. For example, two dogs were stolen from another county,  brought to the shelter by the "finder" and the warden didn’t care to check out why they were brought in. He just wanted to adopt them out. But another worker, on their off days, called around to the county where the dogs came from, since the finder gave them that info, found out that the finder stole them from a yard and the owners were desperately looking for them. The finder was charged by the police and the dogs were returned to the owners.

Also, the Deputy Warden(D2) should not be working with dogs in any capacity. The testimonies have expressed concerns about D2's fear of big dogs who can't handle transferring the dogs, continuous underfeeding of the sheltered dogs and not wanting to do more than the bare minimum, which compromises their ability to handle them effectively and safely and puts their health at risk.

In-house incident reports rarely occurred at the shelter prior to 2023. This year alone, 6 in-house incidents were written about 4 pitties and 1 bulldog that the shelter has not been able to adopt out. Penciled in names were added on the left side of each page, indicating who should sign each report (this is supposed to be the witness of the incident on that day it happened. If it was done the day that it was recorded, why would their names be penciled in?

These incident reports were caused by improper dog transfers resulting in fights among the dogs. Another incident was caused because a dog had been in the shelter since October 2022. They are frustrated being in a kennel 24/7. This dog and the other 3 dogs don't get any walks, no play with humans and no attention because the workers sit up front and do the bare minimum. Such incidents also raise serious questions about both Del Saffle's leadership abilities and his commitment to ensuring a safe environment for all sheltered dogs and employees.

It's time for a change! This will allow for an opportunity to appoint someone who genuinely cares about animal welfare and possesses the necessary skills required for this important role.

Additionally, we demand that Deputy Warden(D2) be relieved from their duties involving handling or caring for dogs due to their fear of big dogs and underfeeding the sheltered dogs. It is essential that those responsible for overseeing animal welfare are confident in handling all types of canines without compromising safety and their health. 

Moreover, we call on Medina County authorities to conduct thorough background checks immediately for any interested volunteers. This step will help ensure that individuals working directly with animals have no history or record that could potentially jeopardize their safety or the well-being of the dogs in their care. We require that all volunteers, who passed the background check, start immediately with proper training and then begin at the shelter to help the workers and dogs effective immediately. 

Lastly, we request that a qualified behavioral trainer be allowed to work with Theo, Thor, Lenny, and Champ on a daily or weekly basis. These dogs have shown aggression towards other dogs and would benefit greatly from professional training to address their dog aggressive issues. By providing them with the necessary support and guidance, we can increase their chances of finding loving forever homes. They do NOT deserve to be euthanized because the Commissioners, County Administrator and Dog Warden don't want the responsibility of taking proper care of them and proper training. It's easier to just euthanize the dogs, even though the workers, including the Dog Warden, did not follow proper safety precautions and didn't execute proper transferring practices. Behavioral trainers can teach the workers and handle these dogs properly...that's what they are trained to do. Fundraisers will be set up to raise enough funds to bring in a trainer until the dogs can get to a rescue with available adopters.

We believe that by implementing these changes, Medina County can improve the overall safety and well-being of sheltered dogs while also fostering a more positive work environment for some of the dedicated employees. Let us come together as a community to ensure that our furry friends receive the care they deserve and not allow Del Saffle and Deputy Warden(D2) to work at the shelter another day.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of these animals and create lasting change within our local dog shelter.