Holmes County puts a leash on Freedom Fridays for dogs

MILLERSBURG − Concerns over liability, the potential for disturbances and other issue have led Holmes County commissioners to put a leash on the Freedom Fridays program recently enacted by Dog Warden Jonathan Beam.

The animals are not allowed in county buildings, said commissioners, unless they're service dogs.

The Holmes County Board of Commissioners addressed the matter at Monday's meeting after a shelter dog caused a disturbance in the county office building by barking.

Freedom Fridays is an initiative to get dogs out of the shelter environment and on hiking trails and other outdoor activities for an hour or so. The program began a few weeks ago, Beam said.

He said the program is meant to get the dogs acclimated to different environments and people. When volunteers take dogs out, they have a responsibility form advising them against taking the animals to large public places or public events.

When one of the volunteers recently brought a dog into a county building it caused a disturbance with its barking. Another dog also was in the building.

Beam noted he approves all the dogs that leave the shelter.

"I work with the dogs on a regular basis and I'm not going to send a dog out if I have any suspicion about how they would do with people," Beam said, noting the barking dog is friendly and likes to talk. "And the other dog that was up there was a puppy, eight months old."

Service animals permitted; all other dogs not allowed in county buildings

Commissioner Joe Miller said he has no problem with service animals being allowed in county buildings. Otherwise, pets are prohibited.

"We're taking on a big liability here," Miller said. "I am totally opposed to allowing people to bring their dogs to work. What if they want to bring their pet snake?"

"We don't want that to come back on us if the dog was to bite somebody," added Ray Eyler. "If somebody comes in with a small child, and that child goes toward the dog and then the dog jumps on the child and gets hurt, we're liable."

Dave Hall said the county also has to be mindful of people with allergies and the potential reactions to exposure to dogs or other animals.

Beam said that going forward, Freedom Fridays will include only outdoor activities such as trails, to get the dogs out and active.

"Sometimes dogs are just excited to get in a car and go somewhere," he said.

Miller said department heads should understand that service dogs are fine, but no pets are allowed in county buildings.

"We want to stop a potential problem before everyone starts doing it," he said.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

In other business, the commissioners issued a proclamation declaring April Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Miller said he believes every month should be awareness month when it comes to sexual assault.

Victim Advocacy Manager Kate Abruzzino and intern Nicole Golubksi from OneEighty were on hand to share information with the commissioners.

"OneEighty provides a variety of services to Wayne and Holmes counties, including addiction recovery, mental health and working with the homeless population," Abruzzino said. "We also have victim services, for domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking and even sex trafficking. This is the 22nd year of awareness month for sexual assault."

She said the focus this year is on working together, as it takes everyone to make a difference in supporting sexual assault.

"One of the first things we can do when somebody shares that they are a victim of sexual assault, we can start by believing and letting them know this should not have happened to them, and we are prepared to come forward with them to get some support."

She added that she has been doing a lot of work with the Amish and Plain Community locally.

"We're seeing a lot of folks from that community come forward, and it's been really powerful," she said.

Miller said that has been a hidden problem for a long time and it is good to see it being addressed.

Hall praised the Take Back the Night program and other such efforts as effective ways to let victims know that people are here to help them.

Bid approved for bridge replacement

The commissioners approved the bid received for the bridge replacement project on Berlin Township Road 123.

The bid was submitted by V.O. Menuez & Son of Millersburg for just under $1.2 million, which is the engineer's estimate for the project.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Holmes County commissioners deny dogs access to county buildings