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WM “(1.00 CHRONICIJE - Wednesday. October 19. 201 I . 3 “IS" I I if I \ I EW kttchenerktacom @ 519-571-2828 . A1 #1111 AnsWering the call A day in the life of a K WHumane Society agent can be a tough one l BY Pater: DrsuoNn ' w . Some calls are not what they appear. ‘ Chronicle Staff ' OSPCA agents are occasionally misled by I ' callers. a result of neighbour disputes, confu- fanimal services and ()SP( LA agent Sheri sion or people annoyed with a dog’s barking 1 Walker had it her way. there would be no which is a noise complaint issue, not one to need for her job. ,: be dealt with by OSPCA officers. Walker said. People would take care of their pets, “ The officers will deal with emergency licence and spay/neuter them. (Iruelty to u. . wildlife calls. but any nuisance or “squirrel in animals would be a thing olthe past. an attic calls" are a matter for wildlife con- llnfnrtunalely. Walker said. that isn't the ‘ trol. reality. ' . f’ " ' Though contracted by the city to perform "(Zommon sense is not common," Walker ‘ " ' g7 animal control and pickup of dead animals said. sf »- on local roadways. Walker said it's important There's a long list of actions, or non- 1’" . the public realize K-Wâ€" Humane is a regis- uctions. that fire up the agent. In particular. . 57‘ A ‘ , tered charity. relying solely on donations for sht‘ cringes to find pets with severe injuries 1 ,1 L, 3‘5 its operations and independent of the city ‘ not prodded proper veterinary care and cats ' iii She said the public can help resolve ‘ and dogs left on balconies. g ' g. :5;_ issues more quickly by giving proper direc- She has seen what happens. in tions, addresses and as much information as “’l'oo many people in apartments leave ‘ ‘3 possible when theycallin aconcem. animals on balconies." Walker said. "A lot of ‘ â€" L - . » .. By far the most calls the society reCeives cats jump. they see at bird or a bug or they're { ‘ 1 . ' for help are for pets left in cars during heat ’ i I playing and they full. 9 f a - and cold and left outside without shelter. "If the cat's still alive by the time I get , . '3' ‘ '21: ‘ "I've gone to a car where there was more I there. they are in dire need and they have to .‘ 15;?" 3:1. for? "-. ' frost on the inside than the outside because he euthani7ed." A : ; $1. J ‘ .. i .- _ of the dog breathing,” she said. “You couldn't ; ()ne of five officers at the Kitchener ‘j . 712%.“ 1‘ *3 . S'- 7 even seeinside.” i Waterloo Humane Society. Walker said ' ‘1: ‘. ,, y . is: When it comes to the summer. Walker ' euthanasia was the one thing she didn't “I " i.“*',L:‘”.‘ " ' if said by the time a dog shows Visible signs of think she could handle when she transir â€" 1 3%} heat distress.itcanbetoolate. tinned to her position ll! years ago from 1 L' i" ”2‘- .4: Her adviceâ€"leave pets at home.And ifa y working security for nearly a decade at the ‘ ' . "L 333,. ' ‘ pet must be kept outdoors the only accept- ‘ (iity of Kitchener. ”a ‘ able option is an insulated dog shelter. she "I didn't know whether I'd be able to do it ‘ “ . said. when I started because l'rn an animal lover." f. .. ‘ ‘Even if it‘s nice out. if you don't have a she said. “But when you see how bad they're . .3" g M shelter and we get one of the flash storms. suffering, you're doing the right thing. . ’ .j ' 7' they still need somewhere to so.” Walker A “that helps." ' said. “Some people think you can just tie up I Walker‘s day starts with a scan of the mes- ... ‘ a dog in a yard. sages left by concerned citilcns overnight. _ . "You needan insulated dog shelter." l [he humane soctety does have an off-hours. Surrenders or removals because of family | tiltrt'atll officer. but only for emergencies ~ K‘W Humane Society animal services officer Sheri Walker with Daisy, a myearâ€"old hound break-ups arr/{gother heart-wrencher for f matters of Ilfc and death. mix awaiting adoption at the shelter. the agent. bu 5 said she looks at the posi- ; If there are no followups. she heads out mumm live side ofthings . to do a patrol of local parks, watching to of (Zruelty to Animals agent. Walker and Great Dane and her most recent addition of “You see (the animals) come in and how ensure dogs are leashed and everything is three of the other Kâ€"W officers have the a puppy. Walker also has two birds and {05- bad of shape they're in and then they get 5 under t onlrol. power to remove animals from homes. ters nursing mothers and their puppies, adopted and come back and you see the dif- j Offleash dogs in the city's parks also where warranted and also issue orders for The Chronicle recently accompanied ference," she said. 5 make her list of pet peeves. Too often. Walker veterinary services. The uniform includes a Walker on a morning ridevalong throughout Walker measures the bad with the good. i \illtl, dogs .in- at large. It‘s the law. that dogs bulletproof vest. and the job includes a lot of Kitchener»Waterloo. taking every day as it comes. while keeping \ltlv tin-leash except in designated parks. interagency work with the police. social serv~ Her first call of the day is a call she gets the end goal in mind. Mid she's okay with being the bad guy ices and other organimtions. often â€" an animal left outside without shel- “Sometimes people don't understand (the " Ihert- isn't at name you can call me that I But it's more of a lifestyle for Walker who. ter. job)” Walker said. “They only see the nega- ‘ hawn't been called." Walker said. "They're like most other staff at the shelter. has ti It's resolved more smoothly than many. live side of things and it's difficult some . t.tlkiiig to the uniform.” number of pets at home that she rescued. Walker said, with the owner choosing to sur- times I M an Ontario Society for the Prevention Her furry friends include a ITS-pound rendertheir animal to the SPCA. ”But in the end, it'sall about the animals." 1 .. .. .,. ,- «r i: flu“: was a.-. $ng so I? 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