The switch took effect Sept. 29, and three of the four are still answering calls for animals in distress.
Chief Deputy Anthony Dwyer said all three dog wardens — Julie Flanagan, Kurt Merbs and Tonya Henson — as well as Julie Holmes, who was the chief, were offered positions as deputy dog wardens. All but Holmes accepted the positions.
Holmes was offered a position as supervisor with pay 10 percent above the others, Dwyer said.
“She chose not to accept the position,” Dwyer said, adding the department is happy to have Flanagan, Merbs and Henson bring their years of experience to the office.
Holmes did not return calls or emails to the JournalNews seeking comment.
Merbs was promoted to dog warden supervisor Sept. 29 and will have a more hands-on position in supervising the deputy dog wardens, according to Dwyer.
Much of the administrative duties, including budgeting, will be handled internally by the sheriff’s office, allowing more time for actual response to animal calls, Dwyer said.
The sheriff’s office is currently looking to hire one or two part-time deputy dog wardens. Dwyer said. Patrol deputies will be helping on certain calls, but they will not be serving as dog wardens, he said.
“We believe we can make this a better operation,” Dwyer said, noting the department already dispatched for the dog warden’s office and the consolidation will improve communications among the dog wardens and the police.
In 2008, Jones proposed moving the dog warden office to his control to save the county money and allow more training for the wardens.
But an opinion from the county prosecutor’s office said the dog warden must report to the county commission by state statute.
A recent change in the law, which was part of the Ohio budget and championed by the Buckeye Sheriff’s Association, gave the option for a sheriff to serve as dog warden.
It is an option that commissioners and the sheriff’s office in Butler County say makes sense.
The county spends $418,000 annually, mostly money collected from dog licensing fees, on catching strays and impounding them at the Animal Friends Humane Society in Hamilton. The sheriff said he can save the county $50,000 by operating the office.
Jones said the sheriff’s office offers more resources for the deputy dog wardens and the operation will be run more efficiently.
“We are also looking for them to use their years of experience to educate our deputies about dealing with animals,” Jones said.
Butler County Commissioner Don Dixon said he will hold Jones to his cost savings promise during the two-year agreement.
“I think when you step back and look at it, it makes since for the taxpayers and the dogs,” Dixon said.
Commissioner T.C. Rogers said he will also be watching closely to make sure the right people are doing the job.
“I have told Rick, we want dog wardens and dog people in that position who have the ability to take care of dogs,” Rogers said. He said the commission felt moving the dog wardens to the sheriff’s office would mean a better managed department “and with that would bring more efficiencies.”
Henson, who has been in the business 16 years, said it is positive move.
“I don’t think the change will have any negative impact,” Henson said, noting the sheriff’s office will bring more training and resources.
“He is going to dress us up and clean us up,” Henson said with a chuckle. “And we are going to have the same duties. The sheriff will not have deputies out there catching or shooting anybody’s dog.”
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