The Board of Lucas County Commissioners voted to appoint Dave Blyth as the director of Lucas County Canine Care and Control (LC4) and chief Lucas County dog warden.
Blyth has knowledge and experience in canine care and control, and is very familiar with Lucas County’s operations. He served as a deputy dog warden at LC4 from 1981 to 2008. He has a degree in law enforcement from the University of Toledo and certifications from the National Animal Care and Control Association.
“LC4 has at times struggled over the years to strike the right balance between animal control and animal welfare. At the end of the day, the department’s core function is public safety,” the commissioners said in a joint statement. “We believe we can provide effective animal control while also providing a high level of service to the animals in our care and dog owners in our community. We know that Director Blyth can strike this balance, and we are eager to bring him on board and move the department forward.”
As director, Blyth will oversee the enforcement of the animal control laws outlined in Ohio Revised Code Chapter 955, supervise the care of impounded dogs, promote public awareness of dog licensing and control requirements and direct the daily operations of LC4. He also will oversee the team’s transition into a new facility this year.
“I want to thank the Lucas County Commissioners for the opportunity to return to the place where I started my career in public service,” Director Blyth said.
The board also voted to appoint Terra Bundy as the deputy director of LC4, a position new to the table of organization. In addition to assisting in day-today operations, she will be responsible for refining the department’s policies and procedures and ensuring staff are trained and equipped for success.
Bundy has a background in human resources and labor relations, and knowledge of Lucas County operations.
Both are expected to start in March.