That is what you'd think isn't it? I mean working in Animal Control you'd think that you would be involved with helping and saving animals. And actually on the application and in the interview (if you get that far!) you will get questions of your experience working with animals. I was asked on my interview and when I was a supervisor I asked those questions too.
Except that for just about, I'd say 80% of your calls and contact in the job, you look at and talk about animals but you don't actually take care of or 'save' anything! Almost all the routine calls would usually be the neighbor complaint about another neighbor. Their pet(s) running loose or being too noisy, smelly, skinny, fat, old, young, too close to the neighbors house or property line and on and on and on!
And yes, over my years I responded to calls for everything I listed above and much, much more.
I recall when I'd started in 1981 I was excited to be in 'law enforcement' and that is actually what you're in! It was (is) your job to 'enforce' the County and State laws as it relates to animals and animal care. You get the "guidelines" (if you screw up "you should have read the Standard Practice Manual") and you have to deal with the situations, both good and bad, generally by yourself.
I do agree that for many calls the main thing was educating the person or public. Most citizens never took the time to learn or even investigate the ordinances (laws) until you're knocking on their door. And while many laws were often more or less common since, others, not so much!
I know in an earlier post I mentioned the "animal lover" and those people could often be the worst offenders! Many thought that since they thought they 'knew' animals so well they couldn't be at fault.
I am again hoping to get more posts going on this blog. It was 25 years after all and all those days, experiences and memories. I just have to get them written!
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