I was thinking back to how things had evolved over the years, tech wise.
When I started with the department back in 1981, the field officers basically got a citation book, a Thomas Guide map book of San Bernardino County, a rope 'leash', a 'control stick', and a set of keys to a regular Chevy 1/2 or 3/4 ton standard cab pick up with the bed removed and cages welded on the frame instead. Back then we didn't have "HT's" or Handy Talkies, or any cell phones (yet). The only radio in several of the trucks was the VHF radio that in the cars/trucks that was a 'head' unit with a channel selector and a microphone under the dash area with the main radio box that was the size of a large briefcase behind the seat in the trucks, in the trunks in the cars and in the very back in the station wagons the department had.
When 'on-call' each person was given a numerical pager. You'd get a page and have to hunt down a pay phone booth and call in. At least there was the '800' number so it usually didn't cost the quarter to call.
As the years went by most ACO's would acquire or make equipment that would help make the job easier for them.
Pet stores, no Petsmarts yet, could provide decent quality leashes and such. And there were a few companies around that could be found that you could buy equipment from. I located a company in Texas, now long gone, that I spent over $150.00 on for a different kind of control stick and a smaller cat sized model too. Everyone thought I was crazy to spend that much of my own money, but I liked them! The issued control sticks made the 'noose' smaller by pulling the wire from the back. This new type had a tube within a tube with an offset cam to lock it in place. The larger dog sized control stick had the feature of a pull to release "bite bar" that opened the noose and released the animal. Great for very aggressive dogs. I still have the dog control sticks, the cat one failed and could no longer be repaired since the company had gone out of business.
We did start to get better vehicles and by the late 1980's and dual gas tank trucks were in the "fleet" purchases that our department got. Good range but still only AM radios and those lousy vinyl covered seats. Guaranteed to cause a sweaty butt and back!
Before the county upgraded to the 800 megahertz "trunked" systems the VHF radios sent out a tone with the radio signal. After few months it was easy to hear that tone all over the place! Our dispatchers also had to say the station ID at various times during the day.
In those VHF days we had to share the frequency with several other agencies. It could often make it a bit difficult to get a word in edgewise too!
With the trunked radios the stations were all still there but the computer could keep them separated so it seemed like the radio was all ours then.
By the late 1980's even though there was no Internet yet, there were companies springing up that catered to the Animal Control field.
More later........
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