Interview

My career choice isn't necessarily a sought after one; it involves a lot of raw emotion and a necessity for thick skin. For my interview, I had much more trouble then anticipated finding someone to interview locally. I called JSO, the humane society, the animal shelter and "the City" to almost no avail, typically receiving a, "They'll get back to you." It took a week for me to realize that no one was, "getting back to me." Thinking outside the box, I made the decision to use an out of state resource; no better then my hometown in Alaska. The interview answers are based on both current employment and previous; there are different laws in different cities, so some questions get answered in whatever city can provide the best example.
I interviewed Eddie Blackwood, who is a fresh hire as the new Director of Animal Protection for Ketchikan, Alaska. Although he just started his position in Ketchikan, he has approximately 10-15 years experience as both a director and animal cruelty investigator. One place of previous employment is Nashville, Tennessee, where he served as executive director, which is where some of the answers to questions are derived from.
Eddie graduated from a college in Canada with a degree in Animal Sciences; he continued his education with courses through MACA; Missouri Animal Control Association. They're nationally recognized for providing professional training, education and continued support for animal care and control. Once his training was completed, he took a job as the executive director in a county in Nashville, TN. From there, he continued his work in Mt.Juliet as director of animal control division for two years before accepting a position with the Ketchikan Borough as the director.
With his vast experience and education, I knew he was the right choice to ask the hard questions. When I asked about what cases he's seen and would be considered typical, the list astounded me; abuse, aggravated abuse, dog and cock fighting, hoarding and satanic rituals. When I questioned further about satanic rituals, as I was somewhat taken aback, he proceeded to inform me that most humane societies won't adopt out black cats during the month of October since most end up in positions they should never encounter. I am still trying to comprehend satanic rituals and what's involved with them.

Intrigued, I continued with, in his experience, he thought those from a lower income demographic were more likely to commit abuse against animals. To him, you can't assume, or stereotype, that just because those who are less fortunate are automatically inclined to abuse animals, but that anyone can do it; Michael Vic is a prime example. He's rich, influential, famous, but yet he still was involved with dog fighting. That's not to say that those in a lower income area aren't more inclined; lack of education, money and the mind frame of, "nothing to loose", is a big factor in abuse cases. Many people who are involved with aggravated animal cruelty, such as dog fighting, many times have had trouble with the law, some even WANT to go back to jail, unable to function in society; they're more likely to commit a crime to get caught and sent back. It's a scary thought knowing that people desire jail so they'll intentionally hurt another being for the opportunity to be sent back.

While on the subject of law enforcement, I brought up what the law enforcement side of being an ACI encompassed; that followed with what a day was like: A concerned citizen calls in, reporting a possible cruelty or neglect case. The officer will then respond following a drive by of the residence; if the residence looks suspect, the responding officer can call in to the local PD and request if there's ever been an incident at the residence. Sometimes, calling for backup is required. Once cleared, the officer will approach the property. They are NOT allowed on the property without permission; if permission isn't given, the officer must return to their vehicle. It's required that the officer seek a warrant depending on the situation. If the warrant is granted, the officer must be accompanied by local police and return to the property. Documentation is an absolute necessity; without pictures and interviews, if it gets taken to court at a later date you must have sufficient evidence. It's also essential to get the I.D. or D.L. number of the person being investigated as it's likely that they'll try and flee.

In some situations, excessive force is required. Unfortunately, in Ketchikan, animal control officers aren't legally able to carry weapons while on the job. If a situation ensues, they can call for backup. Eddie gave me an unfortunate example of an ACO in Michigan who was killed in the line of duty because she was wearing a uniform that resembled a police officer; the suspect she was approaching assumed she was a cop and shot her in the chest. She had no way to defend herself and passed away. I believe that all ACO should have the ability to carry some sort of weapon; Eddie insisted in his previous job in Nashville, they were allowed pepper spray and a baton to defend themselves with if it became necessary. To keep it from getting political, I'll end my opinions and keep it to the interview.

With animals, a gun won't stop them regardless. Animals are territorial animals, so approaching them in a respectable manner is essential. Eddie told me as long as you don't turn your back or run, they're unlikely to attach; in the off-chance they do, a catch pole is necessary. A catch pole is a 3-8 foot long rubber pole with a cable hoop at the end. The cable runs through the shaft of the pole, so when you're trying to capture a dog, you can loop it around the neck and tighten the hoop to gain control. Some of the animals have never experienced a collar or leash, and the result from the catch pole can have a devastating effect; animals may charge at the officer, attempt to attack or attempt to flee. There are so many dangers involved between people and animals, proper training is an absolute necessity and something I plan to pursue while I’m still enrolled in college.

At the end of our conversation, I decided to conclude with asking for advice. Of everything I was told, the horrors involved with the job, the law enforcement requirements, the schooling...the best piece of advice I was given? “Don’t get out of your truck without your catch pole.” I guess that’s something I need to engrain into my brain since I have a habit of leaving things behind.



Interview questions:

Name and length of time in position. Length of time in career field?
What sort of schooling and/or training did you accomplish?
Describe, in detail, a typical day.
Pertaining to the law enforcement side, what does the job encompass?
Do you think there’s more cases in a lower income demographic? If so, why?
What are the dangers involved? Are they elevated in a, again, lower income demographic?
What do you do in a dangerous situation?
Dangers involving animals?
What do you do if an owner refuses to sign over rights of their animals?
Any advice for someone looking to get into this career field?