A judge ruled that Henderson’s Animal Protection Services department can maintain custody of three dogs that were taken from a resident in January, which puts the pooches on track for adoption, the city said in a press release Wednesday.
Animal control and Henderson police officers responded to a residence — the city didn’t specify the address — in January after receiving a tip. Arriving officers discovered five dogs and two cats living in poor conditions in the home’s garage, the city said. The news release said the animals were seized in order to receive medical care and are now healthy.
The animal owner in a March 2 hearing voluntarily relinquished two dogs and two cats and the judge ordered the owner to also surrender three American Eskimo dogs, the city said.
Judge Alicia Albritton ruled there was “clear and convincing evidence” that the owner of the animals, Myranda Moyer-Boughton, 24, was unfit to provide adequate care and shelter for them, a docket sheet from Henderson Municipal Court shows.
Moyer-Boughton was also ordered to transfer her pets to an animal shelter, rescue organization or another person, and must pay Animal Protection Services $2,500, according to the docket. The city said the three American Eskimos will be transferred to a local animal rescue and that the other animals have already been adopted.
Moyer-Boughton said in a phone interview Wednesday that the city confiscated her animals only four days after having moved to the area from Pennsylvania, though she added the animals arrived at her Henderson rental before she was fully moved in. A notice from Henderson was left on her door Jan. 16 stating that her animals had been confiscated, but when she went to claim the pets, Moyer-Boughton said she was placed under arrest.
Henderson Justice Court records show Moyer-Boughton was arraigned Jan. 27 on felony four charges of willfully or maliciously torturing or maiming an animal. Court records show Moyer-Boughton in that case has a hearing scheduled for April 7, and that she is being represented by a public defender.
Moyer-Boughton denied mistreating her pets and said she would explore options to get back the American Eskimo dogs she forfeited at last week’s hearing.
“If I could go back and do this again, I probably would never bring my animals here until I fully moved in,” Moyer-Boughton said. “I would go back and change everything.”
The hearing was the first in Municipal Court since animal control moved under the purview of the Henderson Department of Community Development and Services last July, the city said.
The Henderson Municipal Code states animal control personnel must notify owners of animals impounded due to cruelty, overcrowding, neglect, or illegal breeding of their right to request a hearing with the Henderson Municipal Court if they intend to reclaim their animals.
Contact Casey Harrison at charrison@reviewjournal.com. Follow him on X, @Casey_Harrison1.
