Madison County Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Floyd carries a gun on his hip and dog treats in his truck.
The dog warden began his law enforcement career in March of 1982. He worked corrections, then patrol, before becoming a homicide detective in Franklin County.
When he retired in 2012, he spent a couple years as director of the Franklin County coroner’s office.
But he missed the action.
“I’m a cop,” he said simply.
So when Sheriff Jim Sabin, who has known Floyd for about 35 years, offered him the job last fall, the answer was simple.
“At no point in my career did I think about being the dog warden,” Floyd admitted. “But it has investigative, rescue, law enforcement — there’s more to it than I thought.”
As dog warden, Floyd enforces state law which primarily includes dog licensing — required for all dogs more than three months old — and animal welfare.
“My goal is to get the dog back to its owner safely,” he said. “It’s not about the citations.”
In fact, citations are usually not issued unless the dog-owner duo are repeat offenders, he added.
Sabin pulled the dog warden position into his department in 2005 when Ohio law changed to allow the dog warden to be a law enforcement position rather than a separate department.
“It made sense because the dog warden does have enforcement duties and authority,” Sabin said. “Our office was the clearinghouse, if you will, not only for canine, but for all animal concerns.”
But Floyd is also an additional deputy on the roads, responding to calls for backup, Sabin said. He brings both a personable demeanor and a wealth of experience to the position — experience matched by only a handful of other deputies currently on staff, the sheriff added.
“We are very fortunate to have someone with all of those qualities, not only as dog warden, but as deputy,” Sabin said.
Floyd works closely with the Humane Society of Madison County. Any dog he picks up is taken directly to the shelter. The dog warden visits the shelter, usually twice every day, with a treat for every dog.
Floyd estimates he responds to 10 or more calls per day. The most frequent calls are for loose dogs or from concerned individuals, such as those who see a dog tied in a yard, he said.
Under Ohio law, a dog must have food, shelter and a fresh water supply. Such welfare calls are far more frequent than instances involving animal abuse, he noted.
Dogs in Ohio are also required to be leashed, tethered or fenced while outside. If a dog owner is convicted three times of failure to confine, the dog is recorded as a dangerous dog, which requires more expensive licensing and insurance.
Ohio does not recognize specific breeds as dangerous dogs anymore — state legislators have instead acknowledged that any dog can bite, Floyd said.
The dog warden also answers call about other animals — from cats and chicken to cows and horses.
His tools include a pole snatch, which helps him get control of angry dogs; a dog stretcher, which he used on a call about a dog hit by a car; a microchip reader, which returns a number that shelter employees can run to find an animal’s owner; and a variety of dog food and treats. The cages in the dog warden’s truck are lit and ventilated.
Area 4-H group Krazy 4 Clover recently raised money for Floyd to buy a new pole snatch, which is on its way, he said.
Madison County residents have a lot of pit bull mixes and hounds, he observed.
Floyd grew up with boxers. He currently owns a boxer-mastiff mix named Duke. He’s an animal lover — but a dog person, he said with a smile.
“Every dog that I catch, I’m saving its life, getting it back to its owner,” he said.
Madison County Sheriff’s Deputy and dog warden Chris Floyd brings a wealth of experience and a personable demeanor to his latest law enforcement position, Sheriff Jim Sabin said.
http://madison-press.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_dog-warden.jpg
Madison County Sheriff’s Deputy and dog warden Chris Floyd brings a wealth of experience and a personable demeanor to his latest law enforcement position, Sheriff Jim Sabin said.
Audrey Ingram | The Madison Press
Madison County Dog Warden Chris Floyd counts treats and dog food among his daily tools.
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Madison County Dog Warden Chris Floyd counts treats and dog food among his daily tools.
Audrey Ingram | The Madison Press
Retired homicide detective enjoys career change
By Audrey Ingram
aingram@civitasmedia.com
Reach Audrey Ingram at 740-852-1616, ext. 1615 or via Twitter @Audrey.MP.