Animal control gives close-up look to youth

Friday, June 12, 2009

On Tuesday, Vicki Millsap of Owings and James Campbell of Huntingtown participated in a ride along to experience a day in the life of a Calvert County animal control officer. They won this honor through a contest held by the Humane Society of Calvert County.

According to the Calvert Humane Society President Laurel Matthews, the contest, which was only open to Calvert County youth, was to let the participants see that animal control officers not only do day-to-day tasks like picking up stray animals, but also "provide resources and education to the community."

Calvert Humane Society board member Sally Lounsbury awarded Millsap and Campbell with a plaque and said that her organization was particularly impressed with their emphasis on spaying and neutering in their application essays.

"This [ride along] is something we'll do every year for Animal Control Appreciation Week," Lounsbury said.

Millsap, 18, who just graduated from Huntingtown High School last week, said that she prepared for the day by watching "animal cop" shows on T.V. and picked up a few stray cats with her officer mentor throughout the day.

She said that though she is currently planning to study art history at the College of Southern Maryland in the fall, she wouldn't rule out a career in animal control because "just the fact that you're helping out animals. … Ever since I was little, I loved animals," she said.

Campbell, 21, who currently works as a sub contractor, said that his experience during the ride along gave him something to strive for.

"It's a job that I would enjoy to have," Campbell said, adding "It would be a job that would do good for the county and state in general."

He said that something that touched him during the day was doing a follow-up at a house where "We saw five pit-bull puppies living under a car right now because it's the only shelter that they have."

Campbell rode with Animal Control Officer Tim Lewis while Millsap rode with Animal Control Officer Fred Sheckels, who said that Millsap seemed surprised by "the various and different things we do."

Sheckels said that what makes his job worthwhile for him is "dealing with the animals to protect them because they don't have a voice to protect themselves."

Lewis said he feels his job is gratifying because of the impact it has on humans as well.

"The most rewarding part is working with somebody who might have an issue or problem … helping an animal in need or helping a family keep an animal and take care of it properly," Lewis said.

He said the most challenging aspect to being an animal control officer "is when you can't save them all because you can't be everywhere at once."

According to Lewis, to become an animal control officer one must pass various police tests including a polygraph, but should also have some type of background in animal care or control.

"We work up and down from animal cruelty to just minor things. We work with a wide range of things and that makes it interesting; every day is a new challenge."

lbuck@somdnews.com