Post by -|Noel|- on Aug 11, 2006 16:10:15 GMT -5
Captain Vicky Guldbech
Capt. Vicky Guldbech has lived in San Francisco her entire life. She began her career working with animals as a kennel attendant at a private animal boarding facility, then moved on to become an animal control officer for the San Francisco SPCA. Capt. Guldbech continued her career in humane law enforcement by moving to Animal Care and Control (ACC) when the shelter opened its doors in 1989, and quickly advanced to become head of field services. She has attended all of the basic and advanced humane academies offered to animal control officers and is currently pursuing a degree in law.
What motivates you to come to work every day?
"I know that the animals need caring people to advocate for them — I love helping innocent beings. This job makes me a better person. I learn something new about life every day through the people and animals I deal with."
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Lieutenant Michael Scott
Lt. Michael Scott was born and raised in San Francisco, where he attended college and worked in retail sales before coming to Animal Care and Control. Lt. Scott has attended Humane Academy courses, both standard and advanced, and is also post-certified in peace officer standards and training. During his 14 years at the agency, Lt. Scott has enjoyed working with dogs and wildlife, and has adopted a Maltese-poodle mix named Mango.
What are your thoughts on animal cruelty?
"Until I came to ACC, I didn't think animal cruelty was a large problem. I thought it was just kids picking on cats or pulling dogs' tails — things like that. However, the things I've seen in the past 14 years have proved to me that humane law enforcement is a necessity. A person that takes out anger on an animal is of the weakest character. It's my goal to educate people and to prevent animal suffering."
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Officer Andy O'Brien
Officer Andy O'Brien was born and raised in Luton Town, Bedfordshire, England, and has lived in the Bay area for the past nine years. He holds a degree in management studies and supervisory management, and attended the Humane Academy of the United States, as well as being post-certified to conduct animal cruelty investigations and to make arrests. Before coming to the United States, Andy worked in a privately owned animal shelter, then served over five years in the British army on active duty in Northern Ireland. Andy started his career at Animal Care and Control as a volunteer almost six years ago. Andy has two dogs adopted from ACC named Monty and Biscuit.
What motivates you to come to work every day?
"There are not many people who can stomach most of the situations we deal with, physically and emotionally. Our job covers a wide range of situations, and I like to think that I reach out to both the animals and the people I meet as part of my job."
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Officer Andrea Runge
Officer Andrea Runge grew up in Sacramento, Calif., where she attended college and received a B.A. in government and economics from California State University, Sacramento. After college, Andrea traveled throughout the United States, Europe, Southeast Asia and Central America. After returning from her travels, Andrea worked for Greenpeace in Washington, D.C., lobbying Congress on nuclear issues affecting the environment. Andrea began her career at Animal Care and Control with a two-year stint as a volunteer, and has spent the past eight years as an animal control officer. Andrea shares her life with two parrots and a dog adopted from ACC.
Why is your job important?
"Like any other emergency worker, in areas of animal abuse, attacks and rescues, animal control officers are first responders. My job is important, but I am only part of a team. The shelter staff, volunteers, wildlife rehabilitators, rescue groups and adoptive families all have the same goal — that of improving the lives of animals in our city. I really am honored to do what I love."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Bing Dilts
Dr. Bing Dilts was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and raised in Los Angeles, Calif. She attended the University of California at Davis for nine years, where she received a bachelor's degree in animal science, a master's degree in animal science and a doctorate in veterinary medicine. Before coming to Animal Care and Control in 1995, Dr. Dilts was employed as an equine veterinarian. Dr. Dilts shares her home with a cat adopted from ACC.
Why is your job important?
"I am responsible for the health of 11,000 to 14,000 animals every year. This is a very important job, probably the most important job I have ever had. Because of my presence, the animals at Animal Care and Control get medical care, surgery and a better chance at life. Because of my work, many animals are saved and adopted that would otherwise be euthanized at other shelters. I am part of a group of dedicated people who care about the animals of San Francisco and who all work together to maintain San Francisco as an animal-friendly city."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sergeant Charmion Forrester
Sgt. Charmion Forrester was born and raised in the Bay area. She has worked as an animal control officer for the past 10 years. Charmion likes working with all animals, and especially enjoys helping out dogs with special needs. She frequently opens her home to foster and rescue dogs who need a place to stay and extra TLC. Charmion currently shares her home with a dog adopted from ACC.
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Officer Ellie Sadler
Officer Ellie Sadler was born in Cambridge, England, and received a degree in combined science from Lancaster University, England. She is also a certified personal trainer. While in England, Ellie worked with animals (on a farm, for a veterinarian and with an animal rescue group). After moving to the United States, Ellie started her shelter career at the Kansas Humane Society, then moved to the Bay area five years ago and started her four-and-a-half-year career at San Francisco Animal Care and Control. Ellie especially enjoys working with wildlife — particularly opossums — and shares her home with Knuckles, a dog adopted from ACC.
Why is your job important?
"Without animal control officers, cruelty and neglect could become commonplace and socially acceptable. It is my duty to see that this never happens. I am responsible for protecting people from dangerous animals and for protecting animals from dangerous people."
Sergeant Jason Kent
Sgt. Jason Kent was born and raised in San Francisco, where he attended college. Jason has spent the past seven years as an animal control officer. Jason particularly enjoys working with wildlife and snakes. He shares his home with a pigeon and two snakes adopted from ACC.
What are your thoughts on animal cruelty?
"As psychologists have proven, crimes against animals can lead to violent crimes against humans — this is something prosecutors should take note of. If someone is enough of a coward to hurt a helpless creature, hurting humans is probably not far off. Getting animals out of abusive homes and into good homes is one of the best parts of the job."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officer Peter Flores
Officer Peter Flores has lived in San Francisco his entire life. Before coming to Animal Care and Control eight years ago, Peter gained experience with animals by working as an animal care attendant. He particularly enjoys working with the wildlife found in San Francisco, such as opossums, raccoons and skunks. Peter shares his home with a parrot he adopted from ACC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officer Larry Johnson
Officer Larry Johnson was born in Florence, S.C., and moved to the Bay area 30 years ago. Before coming to Animal Care and Control two years ago, Larry worked at a local veterinary hospital and ran his own dog-training business. Larry has five years of hands-on training of protection dogs. He especially enjoys working with pit bulls and reptiles as part of his job as an animal control officer.
What's most gratifying about your job?
"The most gratifying aspect of my job is that I get to work with animals, and that each experience is different — some are gratifying, others are sad."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officer Le-Ellis Brown
Officer Le-Ellis Brown is a San Francisco native. Before coming to Animal Care and Control, Le-Ellis worked at the San Francisco Zoo as an animal keeper, and particularly enjoyed interacting with the eagles and koalas. For the past six years, Le-Ellis has worked at Animal Care and Control, where he has discovered the joy of working with domestic animals. He shares his home with two snakes.
Why is your job important?
"My job is important because I feel that the animals don't have a voice to be heard, and it's my job to make sure that people know that cruelty to animals is illegal. It is my job to educate people so that animals are not mistreated and so that we can coexist in the world with animals being treated properly."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officer John Denny, San Francisco Police Department (SFPD)
Officer John Denny has lived in the Bay area for the past 40 years, and has spent 20 of those with the San Francisco Police Department. Officer Denny is based at Animal Care and Control, and has worked with the San Francisco Vicious and Dangerous Animal Unit since 1993. Officer Denny shares his home with three cats, two rescued and one adopted from ACC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sergeant Bill Herndon, San Francisco Police Department
Born and raised in the Bay area, Sgt. Bill Herndon has spent the past 27 years with the San Francisco Police Department, and eight of those years were spent on the SFPD SWAT Team. After the high-profile "San Francisco Dog Mauling" case in 2001, authorities in San Francisco realized that there was a need for the court system to oversee cases involving dangerous animals. Sgt. Herndon is now the hearing officer for the Vicious and Dangerous Animal Unit, and presides over weekly court cases involving animal bites and attacks. He shares his home with dogs, cats, a horse and chickens.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officer Jennifer Richardson
Officer Jennifer Richardson has left her ACC position since the filming of Animal Cops: San Francisco.
Capt. Vicky Guldbech has lived in San Francisco her entire life. She began her career working with animals as a kennel attendant at a private animal boarding facility, then moved on to become an animal control officer for the San Francisco SPCA. Capt. Guldbech continued her career in humane law enforcement by moving to Animal Care and Control (ACC) when the shelter opened its doors in 1989, and quickly advanced to become head of field services. She has attended all of the basic and advanced humane academies offered to animal control officers and is currently pursuing a degree in law.
What motivates you to come to work every day?
"I know that the animals need caring people to advocate for them — I love helping innocent beings. This job makes me a better person. I learn something new about life every day through the people and animals I deal with."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lieutenant Michael Scott
Lt. Michael Scott was born and raised in San Francisco, where he attended college and worked in retail sales before coming to Animal Care and Control. Lt. Scott has attended Humane Academy courses, both standard and advanced, and is also post-certified in peace officer standards and training. During his 14 years at the agency, Lt. Scott has enjoyed working with dogs and wildlife, and has adopted a Maltese-poodle mix named Mango.
What are your thoughts on animal cruelty?
"Until I came to ACC, I didn't think animal cruelty was a large problem. I thought it was just kids picking on cats or pulling dogs' tails — things like that. However, the things I've seen in the past 14 years have proved to me that humane law enforcement is a necessity. A person that takes out anger on an animal is of the weakest character. It's my goal to educate people and to prevent animal suffering."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officer Andy O'Brien
Officer Andy O'Brien was born and raised in Luton Town, Bedfordshire, England, and has lived in the Bay area for the past nine years. He holds a degree in management studies and supervisory management, and attended the Humane Academy of the United States, as well as being post-certified to conduct animal cruelty investigations and to make arrests. Before coming to the United States, Andy worked in a privately owned animal shelter, then served over five years in the British army on active duty in Northern Ireland. Andy started his career at Animal Care and Control as a volunteer almost six years ago. Andy has two dogs adopted from ACC named Monty and Biscuit.
What motivates you to come to work every day?
"There are not many people who can stomach most of the situations we deal with, physically and emotionally. Our job covers a wide range of situations, and I like to think that I reach out to both the animals and the people I meet as part of my job."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officer Andrea Runge
Officer Andrea Runge grew up in Sacramento, Calif., where she attended college and received a B.A. in government and economics from California State University, Sacramento. After college, Andrea traveled throughout the United States, Europe, Southeast Asia and Central America. After returning from her travels, Andrea worked for Greenpeace in Washington, D.C., lobbying Congress on nuclear issues affecting the environment. Andrea began her career at Animal Care and Control with a two-year stint as a volunteer, and has spent the past eight years as an animal control officer. Andrea shares her life with two parrots and a dog adopted from ACC.
Why is your job important?
"Like any other emergency worker, in areas of animal abuse, attacks and rescues, animal control officers are first responders. My job is important, but I am only part of a team. The shelter staff, volunteers, wildlife rehabilitators, rescue groups and adoptive families all have the same goal — that of improving the lives of animals in our city. I really am honored to do what I love."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Bing Dilts
Dr. Bing Dilts was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and raised in Los Angeles, Calif. She attended the University of California at Davis for nine years, where she received a bachelor's degree in animal science, a master's degree in animal science and a doctorate in veterinary medicine. Before coming to Animal Care and Control in 1995, Dr. Dilts was employed as an equine veterinarian. Dr. Dilts shares her home with a cat adopted from ACC.
Why is your job important?
"I am responsible for the health of 11,000 to 14,000 animals every year. This is a very important job, probably the most important job I have ever had. Because of my presence, the animals at Animal Care and Control get medical care, surgery and a better chance at life. Because of my work, many animals are saved and adopted that would otherwise be euthanized at other shelters. I am part of a group of dedicated people who care about the animals of San Francisco and who all work together to maintain San Francisco as an animal-friendly city."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sergeant Charmion Forrester
Sgt. Charmion Forrester was born and raised in the Bay area. She has worked as an animal control officer for the past 10 years. Charmion likes working with all animals, and especially enjoys helping out dogs with special needs. She frequently opens her home to foster and rescue dogs who need a place to stay and extra TLC. Charmion currently shares her home with a dog adopted from ACC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officer Ellie Sadler
Officer Ellie Sadler was born in Cambridge, England, and received a degree in combined science from Lancaster University, England. She is also a certified personal trainer. While in England, Ellie worked with animals (on a farm, for a veterinarian and with an animal rescue group). After moving to the United States, Ellie started her shelter career at the Kansas Humane Society, then moved to the Bay area five years ago and started her four-and-a-half-year career at San Francisco Animal Care and Control. Ellie especially enjoys working with wildlife — particularly opossums — and shares her home with Knuckles, a dog adopted from ACC.
Why is your job important?
"Without animal control officers, cruelty and neglect could become commonplace and socially acceptable. It is my duty to see that this never happens. I am responsible for protecting people from dangerous animals and for protecting animals from dangerous people."
Sergeant Jason Kent
Sgt. Jason Kent was born and raised in San Francisco, where he attended college. Jason has spent the past seven years as an animal control officer. Jason particularly enjoys working with wildlife and snakes. He shares his home with a pigeon and two snakes adopted from ACC.
What are your thoughts on animal cruelty?
"As psychologists have proven, crimes against animals can lead to violent crimes against humans — this is something prosecutors should take note of. If someone is enough of a coward to hurt a helpless creature, hurting humans is probably not far off. Getting animals out of abusive homes and into good homes is one of the best parts of the job."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officer Peter Flores
Officer Peter Flores has lived in San Francisco his entire life. Before coming to Animal Care and Control eight years ago, Peter gained experience with animals by working as an animal care attendant. He particularly enjoys working with the wildlife found in San Francisco, such as opossums, raccoons and skunks. Peter shares his home with a parrot he adopted from ACC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officer Larry Johnson
Officer Larry Johnson was born in Florence, S.C., and moved to the Bay area 30 years ago. Before coming to Animal Care and Control two years ago, Larry worked at a local veterinary hospital and ran his own dog-training business. Larry has five years of hands-on training of protection dogs. He especially enjoys working with pit bulls and reptiles as part of his job as an animal control officer.
What's most gratifying about your job?
"The most gratifying aspect of my job is that I get to work with animals, and that each experience is different — some are gratifying, others are sad."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officer Le-Ellis Brown
Officer Le-Ellis Brown is a San Francisco native. Before coming to Animal Care and Control, Le-Ellis worked at the San Francisco Zoo as an animal keeper, and particularly enjoyed interacting with the eagles and koalas. For the past six years, Le-Ellis has worked at Animal Care and Control, where he has discovered the joy of working with domestic animals. He shares his home with two snakes.
Why is your job important?
"My job is important because I feel that the animals don't have a voice to be heard, and it's my job to make sure that people know that cruelty to animals is illegal. It is my job to educate people so that animals are not mistreated and so that we can coexist in the world with animals being treated properly."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officer John Denny, San Francisco Police Department (SFPD)
Officer John Denny has lived in the Bay area for the past 40 years, and has spent 20 of those with the San Francisco Police Department. Officer Denny is based at Animal Care and Control, and has worked with the San Francisco Vicious and Dangerous Animal Unit since 1993. Officer Denny shares his home with three cats, two rescued and one adopted from ACC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sergeant Bill Herndon, San Francisco Police Department
Born and raised in the Bay area, Sgt. Bill Herndon has spent the past 27 years with the San Francisco Police Department, and eight of those years were spent on the SFPD SWAT Team. After the high-profile "San Francisco Dog Mauling" case in 2001, authorities in San Francisco realized that there was a need for the court system to oversee cases involving dangerous animals. Sgt. Herndon is now the hearing officer for the Vicious and Dangerous Animal Unit, and presides over weekly court cases involving animal bites and attacks. He shares his home with dogs, cats, a horse and chickens.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officer Jennifer Richardson
Officer Jennifer Richardson has left her ACC position since the filming of Animal Cops: San Francisco.