911 and Animal Control Staff Recoginized For Their Hard Work

Lee Sheriff Tracy Carter and two county commissioners were among those who thanked the county's team of animal control officers, who were honored during a meeting Tuesday at the Sheriff's Office. The praise was offered in observance of both National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week and National Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week, which runs from April 8-14 and gave local leaders a chance to recognize and reward the work of these two units.

Locally, the responsibility for animal law enforcement transferred from the Lee County Heath Department to the Sheriff's Department in February of 2011. Before the change, Commissioner Larry “Doc” Oldham said he had fielded numerous animal-related calls — which he brought to the county manager's attention.

Now, the deputies handling animal calls have the power to enforce laws and impose sanctions on violators. The transition, Oldham said, "didn't happen overnight"

"We had some kinks to work out," Oldham said, "but it's worked out great." The commissioner added, “If I don't do anything else on the board of commissioners, I'm proud of what happened here.”

According to its annual report, the Lee Sheriff's Animal Control Enforcement Division answered 2,972 calls for service — an average of 298 per month — in 2011, and picked up 679 animals. The division also logged 38 arrests, two rabies and adoption clinics, 823 rabies compliance checks, 94 criminal charges and three felony investigations.

Carter said animal control officers are involved in all aspects of local law enforcement, from emergency response to serving warrants. He cited one recent example in which an animal control officer helped apprehend a man who was wanted on a child support warrant.

“We're not just getting these guys out serving the community with animal control calls,” Carter said. “They're doing police work, too.”

Sgt. Gilbert Rodriguez, an animal control officer, said some of the most common calls involve bites and nuisance or at-large animals. Rabies vaccines “are one of the biggest issues we're adamant about,” he said. “It's one of the things we look for every time we go to a call.”

With changes made to the local animal control ordinance in the past year, Rodriguez said pet owners should be aware that an animal can not be tethered for longer than 12 consecutive hours in a 24-hour period, and they must be tethered by a coated cable, not a chain or rope, that is at least 15 feet long.

Those tethers must be attached to swivels to prevent twisting and entanglement. Adequate shade and water must always be within the animal's reach.

"We try to teach the community to be responsible pet owners," Rodriguez added, which includes vaccinating and spaying or neutering pets.

Commissioner Jim Womack said he'd received numerous congratulatory comments about animal control, “and I attribute that to the fact you guys are doing a great job of handling it.”

“I appreciate the hard work you've put into it,” the commissioner said.

The sheriff noted that this week is also National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, and he thanked those who serve in his office. “I want to say how much I appreciate our dispatchers; they are our lifeline,” he said. “They are very much a part of law enforcement like those who wear guns and badges.”