Robinson Police Department

Q: I have cats coming into my garage at night. Can I call the Animal Control Officer to come take care of the problem?

A: The short answer is yes, but there are restrictions. More specifically, it depends upon whether the cat is a health danger or it is simply off its owner’s property.

The roles and duties of animal control officers vary widely. In Robinson, the animal control officer (ACO) is a member of the police department. They are trained and equipped to handle animal-related calls, but do not possess policing powers. In some communities the ACO may belong to an entirely separate municipal department, such as the health division.

Animals that are a health issue take priority over all other ACO calls for service. An example of a health issue involving cats could be a cat that is injured, sickly, or perhaps even infected with rabies. Always call the ACO if you suspect a stray animal is sick.

Generally speaking, if someone has a stray cat on their property, the property owner should take a couple of simple steps to try and alleviate the problem. Feeding a stray animal just keeps the animal coming back for more. We ask property owners to not feed any animal that does not belong to them. Many calls we receive regarding skunks occur because the skunk has found a ready supply of food outside the residence. While the food is intended for the family’s pet, skunks love feeding on this food too.

Property owners can also prevent stray animals from becoming a problem by keeping windows and doors closed. Blocking or plugging holes that would allow stray animals into areas where they are not wanted, such as under a residence or into a building, can also prevent strays from becoming a problem. We often receive calls about cats nesting in garages and find a simple solution to this problem is simply lowering the garage door.

If these steps have been followed and a stray animal is still a problem, then contact the ACO by calling the Robinson Police Department at 662-0525. The ACO will contact the property owner and explore the best solution to the problem. The best solution may require the resident or business owner to take all the steps necessary to alleviate their stray animal problem with the ACO being the last resort for helping with the problem. This article cannot address every stray animal problem so calling the ACO to discuss your individual stray animal problem is encouraged.

Stereotypes die hard, but the image of the typical animal control officer has changed remarkably. Long lampooned by cartoons as net-carrying villains, animal control officers are now considered on the frontline of protecting a community's pets and wild animals.

The general duties are the same, however, in regard to stray or lost pets: to protect the public's health, take care of lost animals and to reunite lost pets with their owners. The job requires investigating all bite cases, reports of cruelty and neglect and to handle all suspected rabid animals. They pick up dead or injured animals on public right-of-ways, as well as removing stray animals to the Waco Humane Society where they may be adopted or euthanized.

It's a far cry from simply being the city's "dog catcher." Police and city officials call on ACOs day and night to answer calls from the routine to the bizarre. In Robinson the ACO does not work nights and, unless the call for service involves a dangerous situation, the call may have to wait until the ACO is available the next day or even after the weekend. Because they are not trained in animal control, police officers often cannot and should not handle animal control problems unless the problem involves an immediate danger to someone.

On occasion, ACO must mediate disputes between neighbors when barking dogs or roaming cats create a public nuisance. And, of course, they do pick up strays. It's a job ACOs don't relish, which is why the National Animal Control Association strongly urges owners to have their pets well identified with tags, microchips and other methods.

The role of the animal control officer is an evolving one. Indeed, the stereotype of the dog-chasing municipal officer was not far off the mark, explains Jim Weverka, a spokesman for NACA. He says that ACO became necessary as people moved from rural areas to the cities, and wanted to own a dog. This was especially true for certain breeds that became popular in movies and television shows. Many of these dogs, bought on impulse, wound up on the streets or surrendered to the local authorities.

As cats began to become more popular, they were added to the list of animals that ACOs tried to help. In some places, "fad" pets made it necessary for ACOs to specialize due to the explosive growth of potbellied pigs, reptiles and other exotic pets.