Animal Control Officer is retiring but will never be forgotten

MORGAN—Klayton Pentz is a local hero, even if he doesn’t think so. On Wednesday, Jan. 11, the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office posted on their Facebook page, “Please join us in thanking our Animal Control Officer Klayton Pentz, who retired after six years of service, for his dedication to the citizens and animals of Morgan County. We wish him all the best!”

Pentz worked closely with Sheriff Corey Stark for the six years he served as the Morgan County Animal Control Officer. “Klayton would always help out any way he could,” said Stark. “You could call him any time, day or night, and he would answer the phone within one to two rings. He was always willing to come out and help.”

While he struggled with his job, Pentz made the best out of every moment. From misinformed phone calls about someone intoxicated on the job to funny stories he likes to share with others, Pentz took the comments with a grain of salt. “I have a great sense of humor,” Pentz said, “MS always produces a good story.”

Pentz, who has multiple sclerosis, retired from the position after only six years. Those years, however, were filled with learning experiences for Pentz. “A lot of what I was able to do, I owe to my family and the deputies,” said Pentz. “I only stepped down because I couldn’t do the job and give it the attention it deserves.”

A true Morganite, Pentz grew up around animals. And he knew most of the ranchers in the area, as well as their animals. “Most of my job was easy as I worked with livestock,” said Pentz. “I would typically know the owner, so I just had to wait for them to show up to get the animal.”

One of his favorite things about the job was getting to know the deputies. “I got to know the deputies on a personal level,” he said. “It changed my perspective on law enforcement, and I have a lot of respect for these guys.”

Pentz was diagnosed with MS when he was 21 years old. After seeing neurologists and going through testing, he received the diagnosis. “Even though he has MS, and it has been a huge battle, he worked as long as he could,” said Kaye Rhoades, Morgan County Records Clerk. “He is very courageous, and I admire him for that.”

Everyone who worked with Pentz expressed this admiration and love for Pentz. He made a difference in every life he touched. “He’s just a great guy, and we’re all sad to see him go,” said Stark.

Pentz has deep roots in Morgan. He was born and raised in the area, so when the position became available six years ago, he thought he could do the job well. It started as a part-time position, and after two years, Pentz was able to go full-time. While he mainly dealt with domestic animal calls, he occasionally had a wildlife call to deal with. “No matter the situation, the deputies were always willing to help me,” said Pentz.

Pentz was also the school’s crossing guard for at least two years. “The kids were fun, and they always had something to say that would make me laugh,” he said. “It was an honor working for the city and being the animal control officer.”