Leadwood board addresses strays, pound

GRANT HUTCHINGS, grant.hutchings@dailyjournalonline.com

Leadwood’s Board of Aldermen held a meeting at City Hall on Monday, discussing continued ordinance violations and the status of the local dog pound.

Nancy Austin, the former wife of Leadwood’s previous mayor, Ed Austin, raised concerns about the privately-operated dog pound and questioned Alderman Aaron Penberthy about the rescue of a dog from a dilapidated house.

During her time at the podium, Austin began by praising Penberthy for his rumored act of rescuing a dog from a dilapidated house in Leadwood the previous month. She commended him as an advocate for those who cannot protect themselves.

The dog, described as an “emaciated, half-dead beagle,” was discovered on the balcony of a residence on 9th Street, a property owned by another local resident named Robert McClain. Penberthy described the condition of the house as something out of a horror movie, with a mummified possum nailed to the door.

Penberthy told those in the council chambers that, after the rescue, the dog was taken to the privately-operated pound, where both he and Mayor Robert Crump personally tended to the animals and provided them with food.

During the meeting on Monday, the Leadwood Board of Aldermen discussed the local dog pound, which was shut down months previously, but is still in operation privately as an alderman and the mayor look after the animals. 

The rescued dog had been at the pound since the previous month. When asked about the dog’s access to food and water while on the balcony, Penberthy responded that there was no access while he was there, but they provided the dog with water after the rescue.

Austin asked Penberthy whether the homeowner was aware that his dog had been taken from the balcony, to which Penberthy stated that he informed the homeowner’s daughter, since he is friends with her husband.

The discussion then shifted to the issue of the dog pound itself.

Austin expressed concerns about the use of city property for personal gain and questioned the board about a previous meeting where the decision to shut down the dog pound was made. She mentioned that she made the decision to place the dogs in an enclosure after two board members stepped down before discussing the matter. Austin clarified that taxpayers did not fund the pound’s operations.

Austin alleged that Penberthy committed felony burglary by taking the dog from the homeowner’s home without his knowledge or consent. She claimed that the dog was considered a farm animal and keeping the stolen dog was illegal since the homeowner, Robert McClain, was mentally unstable and in a cell.

In response to Austin’s statements, Crump reminded her that her speaking time was limited to five minutes, leading to a discussion about the time allotted for public statements. Eventually, Austin stepped down from the stand after being asked by Leadwood Police Chief Chris Heatherly.

Patty Heatherly, the chief’s wife, clarified that the chief was present during the rescue. She stated that rescuing the dog was not considered a felony.

During the meeting, the Board of Aldermen found the rule in the books stating that speakers have a base of five minutes to speak, or longer if the board allows it.