“It will be nice if they have air conditioning on those hot days,” said Dunn of his animal passengers. “So will I now,” after the unit quit functioning in the old truck more than a year ago.He also responds to calls not related to four-footed creatures. “The bees are swarming” said Dunn, who is the only city Animal Control officer in the county who responds to such calls, which are on the rise due to the season.The city’s Animal Regulation officer since 1980 when the program began, he estimates, “We have about half-a-million miles on the road so far” related to the job. “I really want to thank” the Council and others responsible “for securing the truck for me and the animals,” Dunn noted. “We’ll put it to good use.”
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(Above left) The 2008 Chevrolet truck, purchased from Santa Paula Chevrolet, was painted to match other SPPD vehicles and outfitted with a special shell for animal control (photo by Don Johnson). McGruff the Crime Fighting Dog (above right) is impressed with the Santa Paula Police Department’s new Animal Regulation vehicle. |
SPPD Animal Regulation: New vehicle a doggone good ride
June 11, 2008
Santa Paula Police Department
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula TimesEven McGruff the Crime Fighting Dog is impressed with the Santa Paula Police Department’s new Animal Regulation vehicle, a doggone good ride that replaced the SPPD’s 1998 open-bed pickup - which had clocked more than 160,000 miles - with critter crates in the back. Lieutenant Mike Saviers said that Animal Regulation Officer John Dunn responds to 50 calls a week “minimum” as he examined the truck that carries the department’s motto: “Committed to Community Service.”The 2008 Chevrolet truck, purchased from Santa Paula Chevrolet, was painted to match other SPPD vehicles and outfitted with a special shell for animal control that “was quite expensive,” noted Police Chief Steve MacKinnon. The shell is outfitted with everything needed for effective animal control, from an animal stretcher to a snare pole, and offers animal passengers heating and air conditioning, a far cry from the open-bed truck and carrying cages used in the past.As an example, the “stretcher is used if a dog hit by a car is reported to be on the side of the road,” and the snare pole, said MacKinnon, is essential for keeping a safe distance between a human and an unruly animal. The total cost of the truck and shell is about $30,000, but McGruff indicated the investment is well worth the cost, although he seemed nervous when asked to pose behind the barred door.Dunn’s minimum of 50 calls each week covers a range of issues that can arise at any time. “He gets called a lot in the evening hours and weekends” to respond to reports of injured animals, strays and barking dogs, said MacKinnon. The city also offers “lots of cages” and Have a Heart traps for critters such as squirrels, raccoons and opossums that, when caught, are returned to the wild.Animal Regulation is much on the mind of the SPPD, which is crafting a program - including a grace period - to increase dog licensing. MacKinnon said that, “based on our population” and Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animal guidelines, it is estimated that there are about 4,000 dogs in the city. Revenue generated by dog licensing - a sure fire way of ensuring a dog can be identified if lost - could perhaps provide funds for a part-time SPPD staffer.
