Throughout April, Alley Cat Allies is honoring the work of dedicated animal control agencies, animal shelters, and their staff with our Animal Care & Control Appreciation Month! National Animal Care & Control Appreciation Week is April 9-15, but we’ve decided to extend the celebration. Animal control officers (ACOs) and animal shelter staff are on the front lines helping cats and have the power to make a positive impact for cats in their communities.
We’ll be highlighting exceptional animal shelter staff and animal control officers weekly, and we’re also hosting two webinars: The Benefits of a Community, Animal, and Shelter Supported Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) Program on April 13 and Working With Animal Control and Shelters to Save More Cats on April 26. These are just a few of the things we’re doing to celebratestay tuned for more throughout the month!
Sgt. Erin Brogan, Shenandoah County Sheriff’s Office
Animal control officer Sgt. Erin Brogan on the job in Shenandoah County, VA.
Saving the lives of 70 cats and promoting Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) in a community is all part of the job for animal control officer Sgt. Erin Brogan of the Shenandoah County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia. The key to her lifesaving work is knowing that it’s not just about animalsit’s about people, too.
Alley Cat Allies is proud to celebrate her as part of our Animal Care & Control Appreciation Month. Brogan is committed to making her community a more humane place by working with animals and people.
“Yes, it’s about animals, but it’s about compassion and care for the community,” she says.
Brogan, who has been an ACO for two years and worked in law enforcement since 2007, recently rescued 70 cats from a hoarding situation. Many had upper respiratory infections, but by working with other community organizations and local rescues, she saved all their lives. This is impressive, because in situations like thiswhen shelters aren’t prepared to take in and care for so many animals at onceeuthanasia is sometimes an outcome.
Cats are a large part of Brogan’s work!
Brogan secured protective suits for her officers for safety with hoarding cases.
She continues her lifesaving work by educating her officers about TNR, so they can provide information to callers who ask about outdoor cats. She’s also planning for her officers to attend neighborhood watch meetings to spread the word in person. Her goal is to empower her community to save more animals and improve people’s lives, too.
Brogan receives the Humanitarian Award at this year’s Virginia Federation of Humane Societies (VFHS) Conference, with VFHS board member Melisa Miller-Piselli (left), VFHS president Debra Griggs, and Shenandoah County Sheriff Timothy C. Carter.
For all her work establishing positive relationships in the community and creating a positive image of animal control, the Virginia Federation of Humane Societies honored Brogan with the Humanitarian Award at its conference this year.
Thanks for your work for the cats, Sgt. Brogan!
Read about the other featured officers and organizations for Animal Care & Control Appreciation Month: Macomb County Animal Control, City of El Paso Department of Animal Services, and Johnson County Animal Control