'Dog Catcher' Reality

I am proud to say I was part of the animal control field for a chunk of time. I have had and still have oodles of 'animal control' friends.
So what is it that keeps us within a 'job' that is veiwed as so shameful?
Here are a few reasons you may never have thought about....

The utmost important fact....The mission for greater good (and to help keep our sanity) is to reunite a pet with its family.
Usually a lost pet is reunited with a GREAT family that had an unfortunate occurance.
A simple hole in a usually well-cared for fence from an untimely visit of a bear or a ground hog can wreck havoc on the family pet. Or perhaps Fido simply successfully jumped the fence after the deer....

In any event, pets can get lost. Pets can be taken. Sometimes purposely, sometimes accidentally.
It is the well meaning folk that climb out of their car and catch the dog on the side of the street preventing its untimely demise from the likes of a motor vehicle accident that deserve a hand of thanks.

So, let us begin with the Professional Animal Control Officer. At his or her disposal are numerous tools too work with in returning a lost pet to his or her home...uninjured. Professionals know how to approach a fearfully shy (or fearfully aggressive pet) without doing harm to themseves or the pet in question.
They have the networks in place to find owners within the local areas and notify the numerous police departments to aid in returning the pet to its rightful home promptly. If his home cannot be located immediately than a trip to the animal holding pen is imminent. Here is where the ever growing list of Lost Pets is searched and where pets may be in fact reunited with their endearing owners. These professional know that searching for owners can take days, not just a flash in the night.

Some pets have tags... (some lose them...those S hooks aren't fool proof you know!)
Some pets are tattooed....How do you trace those anyway!?
And now in the 2000's even more increasing in popularity are those of whom are microchipped (probably a more effective means)...If the person finding the pet has access to a scanner...that is.

In addition to the professional animal control officer (ACO), we have 'The Resident' animal rescuer. These are the well-meaning rescuers (who we LOVE as well) that typically take a pet to their residence while trying to locate an owner.
The pet is safe (thankfully). But the chances of finding the owner have been notably stressed. Most efforts will become unsuccessful. Unsuccessful only because they do not have the resources or experience to be as effective as a trained professional.

For those with good intentions...not contacting the local professionals is a bad idea. The pet you have found may not be realized as missing for 24 hours. (A neighbor could be watching the pet, or he may have escaped at night and the owner is hoping he will return by daytime). Lost reports typically are called in within 12 hours to 7 days of the pet being presumed 'missing'.

Here is another dilemma...
If there is a LOST report on file already when you find the pet, your description and the owners description may be quite different!! You are seeing a Shepherd Mix at the end of the leash, & the owner is adamant that their Collie Mix is missing. (Chances are it IS the same dog!)

In any standard...(or not) here is a report of MISSING: blue cat ; 4 years old missing since March (yes, missing for 3 months time). You have what you believe to be 15 year old grey cat that you just found. ...Guess what , in our experience they CAN be one of the same. That person should be contacted and given the ability to see if the cat is theirs.
Tomatoe/Tomatto/Tomato

** When dealing with Animal Control, If you are worried that the pet will be euthanized, and you would like to keep him...let them know this UPFRONT. Your do diligence of calling the professional department each day is acceptable to check on the pet's status.

Now we will focus on the last 'rescuer'...(of whom I do not fancy AT ALL).
We refer to these prevelant rescuers as the 'Presumptuous Rescuer'.
"Who would 'DUMP' such a wonderful pet?", is typically this person's thought process.

These well meaning people take the rescued pet to their home and fail to notify any professional agency for days or weeks. They may forget the actual location/town in which the pet was found.
As an example: "Where did you find him?
A friend found him in New York City. (A devastating answer)
A section of Brooklyn. The nearest cross street. Anything other than such vagueness would be better in returning him to his home.

Often 'The Presumptous' keep the pet or give the pet to a friend as expressed above. And even more occasionally they are pushed to relinquish the pet to a shelter if something becomes challenging.

It should be stated now...This pet will nearly NEVER be returned to his original home.

Sadly, the three year old child who may have accidentally opened the door to call 'Daddy', let the dog escape.
The little boy cries hysterically and lives with the fact that their 'puppy' is now gone. Missing.
...Not a great situation for anyone.

A happy ending to such a story would certainly depend on the rescuer involved.

***A note for those who are 'Presumptuous'...there comes a point when remembering that we are all human. This is important. Mistakes and errors on the part of any child, neighbor, mother or father happen. To return the missing pet to his original owner is KIND and responsible.
If you are fearful of the environment in which the pet is living, you may certainly contact the SPCA and the police department to have the situation scrutinized more thoroughly.

But for now in your grasp is a happy wonderful dog;
& No matter how hard 'Daddy' tries to find him...their dog may have already been rehomed by you. Please, take the right actions.

**It is an unfortunate fact that most lost pets are NOT found by there owners. Not out of lack of resources in looking, but because of the 'Presumptuous'.

You've seen it on television, the 2 Rottweillers attacking a person walking by.
The German Shepherd that bites the passerby on a bicycle numerous times.
The mom curled over her child as she is bitten on the side and back by an attacking pet.
It happens.
No matter what the breed. A pet may attack. Jack Russel, German Shepherd, Kerry Blue Terrier, Pit Bull....ANY BREED.
No matter how much we want to believe it can not happen...it does.

When bites occur they are usually NOT NEARLY as devastating as listed above. Often they are the result of misreading dog behavior, body language, or even more largly a part of this is: denial by the pet owner.
These owners may have a history of trouble with their pets doing little things that, individually, are not perceived as a threat.
However, as animal control officers know, violation after violation can lead to a devastating aftermath. Severe Injury to a human or death of the dog.
Simply said, not all pet owners are good pet owners. Not all pet owners understand their responsibility to society when choosing and raising pet. Many do not even realize or acknowledge that their pet is not being led...but is doing the leading. These owners are in fact...Blinded by Love. These are certainly situations that are encountered by ACO's over and over again.

How about the lady down the road who shares her home with 70 cats?
Surely the litterbox issue (or lack thereof is noticable).
Perhaps she is feeding them (and frequently not herself). Each and every cat has a name, a personality and a favorite place to sleep. You are astonished by quietness, facinated by the need to be surrounded by so many felines and
you are aware of the smell as you pass the home.
"The house is a health hazard", you think over and over again. 'It must be condemned."
Now the unthinkable happens... she passes away.
Who do think handles all of those animals in various states of health, behaviour, and temperment? Yes, the ACO.

Then we have the older fellow, sitting quietly on his bench in the park...
'The Pigeon Feeder'.
Hundreds of pigeons flocking for food day after day. Littering the park with feces. Flocks doubling in size and residents angered by the excessive feces on cars.
A nuisance yes. Complaints run rampant.
Who deals with these types of situations? Yes, the ACO.

Animal control officers and the police department often work in unison when people and pets are involved. Occasionally exciting, always unbelieveable and usually exhausting. These professionals handle more complaints in a day than you do on your job in a year.
Thank them.
They are a necessary part of our life and society & all who endear canines and felines.

After all of these harrowing experiences ACO's hand over the 'victims' to the loving staff of animal shelters across the country. It takes a ton of heart to let go, but they do it time and time again.

Rehoming an unclaimed pet, lost pet that has not been found, or an abandoned pet takes a large amount of time and dedication. It needs a new staff dedicated to this pocess in itself.
These experiences from start to finish build bonds; strong bonds in which the pet is the priority.
It now takes the unbiased opinion of the shelter staff to offer up a pet that is appropriate for adoption.
If you would like additional information regarding shelters and their staff please visit
http://www.squidoo.com/caredfordogsncats.