Officer Nick Walton shares a moment with a dog who is now up for adoption.
Photo via dogster.com
In children’s books and cartoons, the “dogcatcher” is always the bad guy who is trying to rob the animals of their freedom. But in real life, the animal-control officer is often more interested in rescuing and protecting the dogs he or she finds in the course of a day’s work. Here’s a great profile of Nick Walton, a 24-year-old animal-control officer in Fulton County, Georgia. As you’ll see, this man is a true dog lover, and he has devoted his professional life to doing what he can for the abused, abandoned, and neglected dogs in his area:
Every day when I go home, I try to focus on the animals I was able to save that day … that if I hadn’t been there, the outcome for that dog’s life could have been different. For me to take a dog back to the shelter and a few days later see an adoption stamp on the kennel card, that’s one of the best feelings I’ve ever had in my entire life. Yes, it’s a very dangerous job, I can’t sugarcoat it, but I find it exciting. It gives you an adrenaline rush, and you’re able to use that feeling to make a change for the positive.
This is a great read, and it will leave you with a lot of respect for people who do this difficult but rewarding job.