Animal Management Officers Bring Care and Compassion to Those They Serve
Mending fences to secure a dog who escaped a yard while the family was away; working for months to finally catch a stray dog to give him the care he needs; rescuing and adopting a kitten found in a dumpster covered in muck: these are just some of the examples of the work done by Arvada Police Animal Management Officers each and every day.
"Animal Management Officers for Arvada are filled with compassion for the animals they help and passionate about the role they play in the community," said Commander Kathy Foos. "While some might see this caring staff as simply dog catchers, they are far from the stereotypical characters portrayed in cartoons and movies.
Arvada's Animal Management Officers bring 75 years of experience to their jobs and are recognized as leaders in the community at various shelters and other animal awareness groups.
The team is comprised of six officers and a supervisor who respond to animal complaints and to promote responsible pet ownership through enforcement, mediation and education. All officers are State Certified through the Colorado Association of Animal Control Officers and the Department of Agriculture.
There is always an Animal Management Officer on-call after hours to respond to injured or dangerous domestic animals.
In addition to enforcement efforts, Animal Management Officers are tasked with presenting educational programs and participating in a host of community awareness events.
"The team works very hard at engaging the community in a positive way, and we take pride in helping ensure animals in our city thrive," said Animal Management Supervisor Becky Robison.
April 10 - 16 marks Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week.
The following is a breakdown of Arvada's Animal Management statistics for 2010.
2010 Animal Management Statistics |
|
|
Phone Calls |
7,364 |
|
Calls for Service |
6,685 |
|
Park Patrol Hours |
229 |
|
Reported Animal Bites |
145 |
|
Animals Returned to Owner (no impound) |
739 |
|
Animals Impounded at Foothills Animal Shelter |
346 |
|
Animal Returned to Owner (after being impounded) |
184 |
|
Animals Adopted from Foothills Animal Shelter |
108 |
|
Animals Euthanized at Foothills Animal Shelter |
54 |
|
Dead Animals Recovered |
514 |
|
Summonses Issued |
631 |
