Growing up in a farming community there were many dogs and dog problems we encountered. I will spare you the details of what happened to some of our dogs. In short, sheep ranchers show no mercy whenever a pack of dogs would get into their sheep fields. There was a young man, about 6 years older than me by the name of Darrell, whose family were rice farmers and had their fair share of dogs. After Darrell served two years in the army he returned home and got a job with the county as a animal control officer, better known as the 'dog catcher', which was a position with the Sheriff's Department. He drove around in a county truck with a cage in the back to hold problem dogs. He would receive the usual daily calls on his radio from the dispatcher about somebody's neighbors dog(s) causing trouble, or a stray dog that needed to be picked up. In most cases he was able to settle a dispute between neighbors or find the rightful owner(s) of some stray dogs. But, at the end of some days Darrell had to take the remaining dogs in the cage to the dog pound, where they were kept for a certain amount time waiting to be claimed, adopted or sent over the rainbow bridge. As a kid Darrell was fond of dogs and he did not care to bring dogs to the pound after a few weeks on the job, so he started dumping them out in the country. It wasn't long before Darrell was no longer employed by the County.
If you think you have or had a tough job in your life, just think of being a dog catcher.
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ReplyDeleteAre you familiar with Lee Bartholomew, Douglas County's "Dog Catcher" (aka Animal Control Officer) assigned to the Sheriff's Dept.? In 2019, Lee was honored by being named by the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) as one of our Nation's Top Ten Animal Defenders. In 2013, he had executed a search warrant to rescue more than 70+ neglected cats.
ReplyDeleteThat same year, Deputy Bartholomew also co-authored a proposed state felony animal neglect law and testified before the Oregon Senate about how it could close loopholes and do more to protect animals. Bartholomew also worked to rescue a severely malnourished horse named Grace, seizing her in 2010 from a Douglas County property (under an emergency aid exception to getting a warrant). Bartholomew was concerned Grace would die within the time it took to get a warrant.
When Grace's owners argued that Bartholomew violated the state Constitution and Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, the Oregon Supreme Court later determined that he was legally justified in removing Grace from the property. In 2018, the court made a landmark ruling that said animals deserve the same basic protections as humans.
Here's a great story in the Roseburg News-Review about Lee and how he keeps up with his caseload. He's had some interesting run-ins with llamas, kangaroos, ferrets, and he especially doesn't care for little Chihuahuas. He's only been bit seven times! https://www.nrtoday.com/news/public_safety/how-douglas-county-s-lone-animal-control-officer-attempts-to-keep-up-with-his-caseload/article_673d226a-7a3b-5a01-bbbd-90e217f3adf3.html
Thanks for this. Did not know about him.
DeleteYeah, I wouldn't have lasted a day on that job.
ReplyDeleteA dog of any size could not survive around that shot-gun crazy man. We lost 6 dogs to that trigger-happy _________!
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