Look up the term, “Humble” in the dictionary.
adjective
having or showing a modest or low estimate of one’s own importance.
“He was humble about his stature as one of rock history’s most influential guitarists.“
That “use it in a sentence” example could have been: “Doug McCroskey is humble about his undying love for animals and his service to the residents of Ohio County.”
And that’s because it’s true, and that is why he and his wife, Ellen, now have five cats they have rescued instead of placing them up for adoption at the Ohio County Animal Shelter. McCroskey will tell you about his position as Dog Warden of Ohio County, but he has to be asked because he likely will not spring into stories about the complaint calls he and his staff receive and the frequent adventures they embark on in order to save a family pet from impending disaster.
His job takes him to all corners of the county, too, and it is not all meows and barks, either. McCroskey has rescued horses and other farm-type animals because the owners have been found to be failing when it comes to proper care.
Oh, and he has a story about a turtle, too.
What is the biggest misconception most people have about your position as dog warden of Ohio County?
Most people, I believe, think that all we do is drive around picking up people’s dogs and writing tickets. They don’t realize all the rescue and care calls we handle. Surprisingly, they also feel we needlessly euthanize animals, which is not at all the case. That’s by far the worst part of my job, and I avoid it as much as possible.
How many times have you been bitten in the line of duty, and how many times have you had to seek medical treatment?
I’ve probably been bitten a dozen times or more, though I rarely seek medical attention for bites. I’ve had a few bites that probably could have used a few stitches, but I bandage them up and keep going. Luckily, you learn and your reflexes improve on the job, and I haven’t been bitten for a while now. But I have had employees bitten badly enough to be taken to the hospital by ambulance. The last time that happened was a decade or more ago when one of the other officers was attacked by a vicious dog while attempting to load it into the truck. The injuries to his face and neck were severe, but he recovered nicely in time.
How does it make you feel when someone refers to you as the “dog catcher”?
It doesn’t bother me if someone calls me the “dog catcher,” but I am quick to explain to them the difference between the way I operate the department vs. the way it was operated under prior administrations. My wife Ellen, on the other hand, will let you know in a hurry if you are misinformed about my duties.
What is the best part, and the worst part, of your job?
The best part of my job is helping the animals and the people of Ohio County. It’s always a good day if I can help an owner get their dog home safely or adopt out an animal that’s been in the shelter for months. Going to people’s homes on calls often leads to more than just animal care; Ellen and I often end up taking someone a meal or helping them in some other way when one of us notices a “people” issue when I’m on a call. I’m also a mandated reporter, which means that I legally have to report any issues I might encounter on the job, such as child or elder abuse. I also will never drive by anything that looks like a domestic incident without trying to intervene.
The worst part of my job is without a doubt euthanizing animals. Ellen will tell you that she can tell in a heartbeat when I get home in the evening whether or not I’ve had to euthanize that day. It’s also hard to respond to a call about an injured animal and having to decide with the veterinarian what the best course of action is for that animal. Even though you often know what needs to be done, it never gets any easier.
When you are not working during this pandemic, how have you and your wife, Ellen, entertained yourselves?
During the past few months of the pandemic, we’ve both remained on the job, thankfully. To help pass the time, we’ve done some interior renovations on our home. We did have professionals install new flooring, but we tore up all the old carpet and did all the painting ourselves. When we weren’t busy with those projects, we just enjoyed the time at home with our cats, Suki, Dusty, Neko, Cookie, and Milo. Like so many others, Ellen also watched “Tiger King,” but I still haven’t taken time to watch it, and I probably won’t.
