Not just the dog catcher: The Courage and Compassion of Our Animal Service Officers
- Michael Bricker Sr.
- Dec 26, 2024
- 3 min read
When you think of animal service officers, what comes to mind? For many, it’s the stereotype perpetuated by TV shows, movies, and other media—the so-called “dog catcher,” often depicted as the bad guy. But in reality, nothing could be further from the truth.
Our Animal Service Officers (ASOs) are heroes in every sense of the word. Day in and day out, they put themselves in harm’s way to rescue animals and protect our community. Their job is demanding, dangerous, and emotionally draining—but it’s also life-changing.
Today, I want to share two incredible stories that prove our officers aren’t just catching dogs—they’re saving lives, often at great personal risk.
Saving an Opossum on the Overpass
Officer Menadue was recently called to a busy overpass where an opossum was in a precarious and life-threatening situation. With cars speeding by, many might have thought there was no hope for this little creature. But Officer Menadue didn’t hesitate. With skill and determination, they carefully navigated the chaos of the overpass to safely capture and relocate the opossum.
This rescue reminds us that our team doesn’t just save dogs and cats. From opossums to birds to turtles, our officers are trained and ready to assist all animals in need. Every life matters, and this opossum is now safely back in the wild thanks to Officer Menadue’s quick thinking and dedication.
Myrtle: A Bridge, A Scare, and A New Beginning
Then there’s Myrtle, a terrified dog stranded on a bridge—a dangerous place for anyone, let alone a frightened animal unsure of her surroundings. This rescue required patience, expertise, and a strategic approach.
Officers Cooper and Supervisor Gibson worked together to ensure Myrtle’s safety, using slow, methodical movements and specialized tools like nets. Drawing on their years of experience and teamwork, they were able to keep Myrtle calm and carefully capture her before anything tragic could happen.
Now back at the shelter, Myrtle is starting a new chapter. While she was understandably nervous at first, she’s begun bonding with our staff and showing small but significant signs of trust. Even more exciting? Since the rescue video was shared, Myrtle has drawn lots of interest from the public, giving us hope that her forever home might be just around the corner.
Not Special, Just Daily
As amazing as these videos are, here’s the thing: they’re not special. These rescues happen every single day. Since I arrived here a year ago, I’ve been encouraging our officers to capture videos of their work. At first, they were reluctant—not because they didn’t want to, but because they truly didn’t see the value.
Their response was often, “We’re just doing our job.”
But here’s why these videos matter: the public can sometimes be hard on animal service officers—and really all shelter workers. That criticism often comes from not understanding the full scope of what we do. These videos provide that much-needed insight. They show the hard work, dedication, and heart our officers pour into every call to ensure both the safety of the public and the animals in our community.
Serving the Largest City in the U.S.
These two stories are just a glimpse of what our ASOs do every day. Jacksonville, Florida, is the largest city in the United States by land area, and our team answers over 30,000 calls for service each year. From rescuing opossums on overpasses to ensuring dogs like Myrtle get a second chance, their work is as diverse as it is impactful.
Their job isn’t glamorous—it’s often dangerous, physically demanding, and emotionally challenging. Yet, they show up, day after day, because they believe every animal deserves a chance at safety and love.
Watch Their Heroism in Action
We’ve included two incredible videos that showcase the bravery and skill of our officers:
• Officer Menadue rescuing an opossum on a busy overpass, a testament to how we save all animals, not just cats and dogs.
• The strategic and heartwarming rescue of Myrtle by Officers Cooper and Supervisor Gibson, a scared dog on a bridge who is now beginning her journey toward healing and trust.
These moments exemplify the dedication of our ASOs. They are true heroes, and I’m so proud to work alongside such an extraordinary team.
Animal Control Officers are truly the front lines in animal welfare, but their crucial and life saving contributions are often overlooked. Thank you so much for show casing them.