By Mike Sever
Record-Courier staff writer
David McIntyre knows how to get dogs adopted " hold an open house.
At least two of the 75 people who came to Tuesday's open house at the Portage County Dog Pound left with new additions to their household.
Tuesday's lineup of adoptable animals included everything from young dogs poking eager noses through the wire doors of their runs to gray-muzzled lab mixes quietly watching the visitors with sad, old eyes.
"They all just want a home to go to," McIntyre said.
Since taking over as county dog warden on April 1, McIntyre has spruced up the facility on Infirmary Road in Shalersville with fresh paint, new shelves and a general housecleaning.
A lot of the work was done by people sentenced to community service hours by Municipal Court Judge John Plough and other judges, McIntyre said.
Plough and all three Portage County commissioners were on hand for the open house.
McIntyre also has veterinarian technician students from the North Coast Medical Training Academy coming in weekly to wash and groom the dogs. Students were on hand at the open house to talk with visitors and show off the 35 dogs in the pound.
McIntyre said the numbers were up because "I'm being true to my word" and only putting down dogs that are too sick, injured or too mean to be adoptable.
It's also because many of the dogs picked up have collars but no tags.
The county pound, at 8120 Infirmary Road, is open for adoptions from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays. Available dogs may be seen at www.petfinder.com/shelters/OH184.html, the pound's Web site.