Dear Doug:
You have climbed through holes and pipes no one else would to save a living creature. A pet; a trapped deer; or a rabid raccoon. You have chased bats inside houses, pythons in backyards, and feral cats in most of Ohio County’s neighborhoods. You have handled creepy critters, vicious dogs, and abominable animal abuse cases.
You began your role as Dog Warden of Ohio County when the “crazy cat lady” was an acceptable way to describe a woman who opted over the years to continue collecting kitties for their homes, and it had to be difficult to follow an individual in the position who was known, in our best recollection, as the “dog catcher.” Somehow, through many years, you flipped that feel, and we hope you realize that following your official retirement with Ohio County just yesterday.
We thank you for those 24 years. Beyond your wife and immediate family, it is not likely many know your day-to-day adventures, the sacrifices, and the dedication you carried with you on and off the job. You never promoted your successes – your wife, Ellen, did that on her own. You never complained either (she kinda filled in there for ya, too, now didn’t she?) even though your official title should have been “Animal Warden” since you dealt with much more than pups on our puny portion of the planet.
You traipsed through farmland searching for murderous coyotes; you have saved starving livestock, and you returned runaways and the lost all the while stomaching those overnight shelter dumps, the ignorant confusion over canary breeds, and those cross-eyed glares from unreasonable residents during patrol routes.
But do not worry, Doug. You may have retired as the Ohio County Dog Warden, but each and every of those adopted stray cats will continue to blanket you on the ol’ recliner each and every evening, and the critters will continue nesting under the deck.
And that’s simply because of your compassion.
Appreciate you,
Animal Lovers Like You
