February 7, 2013

  • Feb 3 2013 5:43AM

    I am sitting here very frustrated in my thoughts. The Animal Control officer today was just doing his job, and he was polite and listened to me when he came over. I have no complaints about that. However, he made some very serious mistakes that concern me about his performance of his job.

    1. He showed up with a cat cage to transport a hamster in. The holes in the cage were big enough that she could have crawled through. However, in her condition she likely would have gotten her head through ad then not been able to push her body through because one foot is not working properly. She could have strangled in transport.

    2. He didn't see any problem with transporting a tiny animal without any insulation around her, in weather well below freezing. Even if his truck was warm already, the shock of the icy air hitting her directly as he walked across the parking lot could be enough to kill her. He clearly isn't aware that not only can her tiny body not hold heat, but hamsters are from Syria, and are suited only to warm temperatures. They can suffer if they have a draft in their cage indoors. Transporting her as he intended would have been as cruel as me leaving her on my back step to freeze.

    3. As he was leaving, I suggested he wash his hands in my sink. He declined, saying he had hand sanitiser in the truck. I guess he's one of those people that believes alcohol gel will remove any traces of faeces, urine, blood, saliva, and hair that may have been on his hands from handling Nibbler. Knowing this upsets me, because he not only handled Nibbler and could easily have infected her with something, but he also touched Rocket as he came in the door, because Rocket was trying to escape into the hallway. I know Rocket is healthy, but who knows what stray and sick animals he's been handling throughout the day?

    Unfortunately I didn't think to note his name, so I can't report him anonymously. I feel strongly that this needs to be reported, but I also don't want the Humane Society getting on my back when I just got them off my back.

    I e-mailed a friend who works for the Humane Society but is on maternity leave right now. She responded:

    "If you are concerned voice your concerns definitely. Do it diplomatically. Don't make it about complaining make it about having concerns and there shouldn't be any problems. They keep record of what officers go where so that's not a problem. Good luck and I'm glad nibbler is doing well."

    I'll write a letter, mostly cut and paste of my above post.