Controlling the animals
When one is truly happy with their job, the line between work and fun is blurred to the point where it doesn’t really exist. Every job has its ups and downs, but being a Logan city animal control officer seems a lot more up then down. On an average day, animal control officer Brian Lay could be catching strays or helping park rangers take care of wildlife.
Lay said during the winter months they only get two or three calls a day, but during the summer they get upwards of 18 calls. These calls could range from a stray running around the neighborhood to a vicious dog destroying property and threatening people.
When not on a call, the officers drive around in their own specialized animal control trucks to find loose or stray animals.
“When you drive around you only see a couple around, but if you go anywhere else you see strays everywhere,” Lay said, concerning the effectiveness of the animal control in the area.
When Lay joined the force in 1997, there were only two officers that patrolled throughout the day. In 2000, Logan City added an additional officer to make three officers spanning a 15-hour time period in the day.
“When we are off duty, the police take care of it. Unless it’s something they can’t handle and they get in touch with us,” Lay said.
As an animal control officer, Lay spends most of his day responding to calls. Lay said his worst calls are animal noise calls.
“The dog could be barking for a while and we get the call and we go out there, but then the dog has stopped making noise. Then when we leave, we get complaints because we didn’t do anything,” Lay said.
Lay said the best part of his job is the challenge of capturing stray pets.
“It’s kind of like hunting, you have to outsmart the animal,” he said.
Once they capture the strays, the officers take them to the Cache Humane Society, located at 200 N. 2370 West, to be impounded. There, they look for the registration of the animal and try to contact the owner. Lay said the animal control isn’t there to take away animals from owners, but rather to protect the public and keep the animal from hurting themselves or others.
The animals are then kept at the Humane Society for four days in impound for their owners to pick them up. Lay estimated that half the dogs impounded are claimed by the owners.
“Usually, people around here care about their animals,” he said.
After the fifth day, the custody of the animal is turned to the Humane Society to be put up for adoption or, in the worst case scenario, to be euthanized. Lay estimated out of the half that are not claimed, about half are put up for adoption and half are euthanized.
“We are set up for the purpose of saving animals; giving them the chance to survive,” said Alyssa Walker, front office manager of the Cache Humane Society.
The Society currently has space for 50 to 60 dogs and 40 to 50 cats up for adoption, Walker said. The 2-year-old shelter is filled to the brim with animals.
“We are filling up, with all of the surrenders currently. We have had nine this last week,” she said.
“The worst part about the job is helping out with euthanizing the animals, just feeling them get all tense and then suddenly limp,” Lay said. “That is why you should spay and neuter your animals. Unless you are holding them when they die, you shouldn’t make that call.”
When an animal is turned over to the Humane Society, they are “fixed” for this reason.
Walker said the Cache Humane Society currently offers a foster program.
“We have six puppies and a dog in foster care … we are currently looking for more foster homes, we are trying to expand that program,” she said.
From bats to cats to iguanas, the Logan city animal control officers aim to serve and protect. Animal Control can be contacted through the police department or through their own dispatcher at 435-716-9489.
– alexander.h.van_oene@aggiemail.usu.edu