One of the most frequently overlooked champions of animals are Animal Control officers. For some reason, Animal Control has often been portrayed as cruel or careless (Disney – we’re looking at you), viewing animals as a problem or an inconvenience. But this portrayal could not be farther from the truth. Perhaps by better understanding what these hard-working men and women do on the job, we can better truly appreciate what they do for animals and for all of us.
Animal Rescue
The primary activity of Animal Control officers is to rescue and/or secure animals. Whether it’s a family of newborn kittens, an escaped python, or even hurt wildlife, Animal Control literally comes to save the day for the animals (and sometimes humans!) involved. When an individual sees or finds an animal in need, it’s often unwise for that person to approach the animal involved as they may have injuries, illnesses, or simply be fearful or hurt and therefore may be a risk to the person attempting the rescue. For Animal Control, this is just another day. These workers are educated, trained, and experienced in situations and dealing with a variety of animals. They also have safety and trapping equipment in order to ensure their own safety as well as the safety and transport of the animals. When you see an animal in danger or don’t feel completely comfortable attempting to help or contain it, contact Animal Control and provide them with as many details as possible.
Preparation for Rehoming
After local Animal Control officers respond to a situation and are able to rescue and contain an animal, they are then responsible for transporting the animal appropriately. Sometimes this may be as simple as re-releasing the animal back where it belongs (such as when a fox accidentally finds its way into a city) but often is more involved. For many domestic animals that are common pets, the animals receive veterinary care as needed and then are re-homed, usually through assistance provided by the ASPCA or local animal shelters. Animal Control is committed to making sure that animals are appropriately re-housed as often as possible; a dog who has been found not to interact well with other dogs will be placed with a family or individual without other pets rather than euthanized. Animal Control workers put a tremendous amount of effort into ensuring the long-term health and safety of the animals and of the community as a whole.
Animal Control is about more than catching and disposing of animals – they are dedicated, hard-working members of the community who perform an important role that is all too often overlooked by society. They are animal lovers who put themselves at risk over and over to protect the animals under their care as well as members of the community. Every time you hear a story about an animal escaping from a zoo or an overgrown or illegal wild or exotic animal being released in the news, there are Animal Control officers on the other end of that story, keeping us safe by running risks to their own safety. Truly appreciate and thank your local Animal Control staff today.
photo credit: Beverly & Pack via photopin cc