Bow Wow Ball raises funds for Wayne Co. Dog Shelter
Wayne County Dog Shelter manager Summer Foss leads Louise through the crowd at the Bow Wow Ball fundraiser held recently at Greystone Event Center. Louise is the longest resident at the shelter and is looking for a forever home. To inquire about adopting Louise or any other dog, call 330-345-1018.
Since its inception in 2015, the Wayne County Dog Shelter has promoted responsible pet ownership. The shelter processes hundreds of dogs annually, providing essential medical care, nutritious food and a warm place to sleep. The shelter also emphasizes the importance of spaying and neutering to help combat the overpopulation crisis, offering educational programs that help inform the public about humane treatment and the benefits of adopting rather than shopping for pets.
“We had an influx of 53 dogs in February, and we are operating over capacity right now,” said Katelyn Lehman, dog warden and shelter director. “We were operating over capacity for most of 2024, and we had to set up additional kennels to care for them. So our mission is more important than ever.”
The Wayne County Dog Shelter operates on a limited budget and relies heavily on community support and fundraisers like the Bow Wow Ball to fulfill its mission. The event raised $28,479.81 to keep the overcrowded shelter providing care to the lost, stray and abandoned dogs in its care.
“We had the largest number of people register to attend the event this year,” Lehman said. “Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate, and about one-third couldn’t attend. This event is so important to the shelter because these funds provide all of the veterinary care to our dogs.”
Donating, volunteering or participating in its events ensures the shelter can continue to provide essential services to dogs awaiting adoption or for an owner to claim a lost family pet. Every dollar raised means more resources to care for the animals and enhance their quality of life.
At the heart of the mission is a team of volunteers and employees who rescue, rehabilitate and rehome dogs that have faced neglect or hardship. The team works to ensure each canine resident receives the medical care, socialization and training necessary to thrive.
Two people were honored at the event for exemplary service: Volunteer of the Year Roger Meredith and Employee of the Year Summer Foss, shelter manager.
In addition, the shelter is focused on increasing adoption rates, reducing the number of stray dogs and building partnerships with local organizations to enhance their reach.
To volunteer, donate or adopt, visit www.waynedogshelter.org.
Dan Starcher is the public communications coordinator for Wayne County.