For the Big Fix spay/neuter program, 2022 will be remembered as the year that the Wood County program achieved a milestone– surpassing the 1,000 mark for licensed pets that have been spayed or neutered.
On November 23, Steve Serchuk of Perrysburg–who instituted the program with assistance from the Wood and Lucas County commissioners– released the annual report. “Since its inception in 2017, 1,031 licensed dogs have been fixed, and in 2022, 123 dogs were spayed or neutered,” he said.
In Wood County this year, there were a total of 19,024 licensed dogs. According to information filed on the dog license application or renewal form, 5,455 are still not fixed. “That is 29 percent of all licensed dogs.” Mr. Serchuk noted.
The purpose of the program is to reduce the number of homeless dogs that end up at the county shelter, reduce the number of stray dogs, decrease dog bites, encourage families to license their dogs and increase the well-being of dogs’ lives, he explained.
Through the Big Fix, county residents who license their dogs can have their pet fixed for $15. “But,” Mr. Serchuk emphasized, “It is available only to residents with licensed dogs.”
He noted the license fee in 2023 will be $20 and he pointed out “the Big Fix program makes the Wood County dog license one of the best values in dog licenses in Ohio.”
The program’s budget this year totaled $17,048 with contributions from Wood County, $6,000; Toledo Community Foundation’s Midwest Happy Tails Animal Fund/Mr. Serchuk, $3,000; carryover from previous years due to COVID-19, $6,143 and dog license fee, $1,905.
Due to the pandemic and a shortage of veterinarians at Humane Ohio, only 127 dogs were fixed in 2022, leaving a carryover of $7,718 for 2023.
Of those dogs fixed this year, the majority were female, 74, compared to 49 males. Most of the furry friends came from Rossford and Lake Township, 15 apiece. They were followed by Bowling Green, 11; Troy Township, 10; Perrysburg Township, and Northwood seven each; Perrysburg, six; North Baltimore and Plain Township, five apiece; Liberty and Portage townships, four each; Walbridge and Bradner, three apiece, and Jerry City, Weston Township and Grand Rapids, two each. The remaining villages and townships in the county each had one, with the exceptions of Luckey, Risingsun, Hoytville, Bloomdale, Pemberville, Freedom Township and Grand Rapids Township which had no dogs fixed.
Mr. Serchuk said the oldest dog to be neutered was Charlie Brown, a 7 year old, and Sadie was the youngest at 10 weeks.
“An astounding 49 percent of the female dogs were in heat at the time of their spay surgeries and countless litters were prevented,” he added.
The top breeds for the program were pit bull type dogs, labrador retrievers and chihuahuas, and the most common names this year were Luna, Lucy and Teddy.
A Perrysburg Rotarian, Mr. Serchuk was inspired to start the Big Fix due to his love of animals. The low cost spay/neutering service is done through Humane Ohio of Toledo.
~Jane Maiolo