Commissioners swear in Kelsey Leftwich as Lorain County Dog Warden

Commissioners officially swore in Kelsey Leftwich as the new Lorain County Dog Warden on Friday. Leftwich started Sept. 29. Her job involves supervising staff, managing kennel operations and enforcing state and local animal control laws. The number of adoptions, dog license sales and redemptions — owners recovering their dogs after they get loose and are taken in by authorities — are up since she started, Leftwich said. Leftwich said the county kennel, which houses stray dogs at 301 Hadaway St., had 37 adoptions in October, up from 20 in September. With all of those adoptions, the kennel now has only 23 canine residents with capacity for 64. Its most recent longest resident stayed there for 102 days before being adopted on Oct. 31, she said. The second-longest resident, who was there 67 days, was adopted Thursday, Leftwich said. Leftwich has volunteered at the kennel since 2017. She said 21 people volunteered 400 total hours in October. Leftwich, who has two dogs of her own and also fosters dogs prior to adoption, said she was "very grateful for the opportunity" to serve as dog warden. The kennel recently completed a more than $1 million expansion and upgrade. Leftwich said visiting rooms and play yards are better for dogs and the facility is "more welcoming to people." "The dogs' well-being has increased and I've been grateful for that," she said. Interim County Administrator Karen Perkins said the dog kennel is fully self-funded through dog license sales and donations. No general fund money is used to support it, she said. Leftwich "has been a pleasure to work with" since she started, Perkins said. Leftwich also gave an update on "River," a black Lab mix rescued from the edge of a dam in the Black River by the Elyria Fire Department on Oct. 21. River, about 2 years old and 60 pounds with some sight impairment, is "very playful" and "loves other dogs," Leftwich said. He's available to be adopted, she said. Leftwich is a certified animal control officer through the National Animal Control Association. She has in the past assisted the Sheffield Lake Police Department with catching stray dogs. She is also a board member of the Erie Shores Humane Society, a volunteer foster parent for several animal rescue groups and is the former Sheffield Lake clerk of courts.Contact Dave O'Brien at 440-329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com.