News
Hundreds Pay Respects to King

Three Trails in 30 Years

Around the Area

Briefs

Range of Projects Displayed at Expo

Estancia Teen Gets Worldwide Education

CNM To Offer Courses in Edgewood

DWI Memorial Needs Help To Stay Open

Bidding Process To Start on Arts Center

Mother of 5 Arrested in Fatal Stabbing

More
News

HOME	CLASSIFIEDS	OBITUARIES	SPORTS	OPINION

Thursday, March 8, 2007

Deputies' Duties Expanding

By Beth Hahn
Mountain View Telegraph
    The next suspect taken into custody by Torrance County sheriff's deputies could be a dog or a cat.
    To increase efficiency in the county's animal control department and to provide more services to residents, sheriff's deputies are being trained— and eventually will be certified— as animal control officers in addition to their law enforcement duties.
    Sheriff Clarence Gibson said the department receives dozens of animal control complaints each day and deputies are often first on the scene for those complaints.
    "I thought it would be a good idea to get the deputies some training so that they know how to handle animals in those kinds of situations," he said.
    The county will still employ animal control officer Mike Ring and Estancia Valley Regional Animal Shelter director Cindi Sullivan as animal control officers. Ring is the only full-time animal control officer.
    Gibson said sheriff's deputies need the training to deal with the animals at scenes.
    "I don't want anybody getting bit or anything," he said during a training session Monday.
    Sullivan attended the sheriff's department training and gave deputies a 20-minute course on handling dogs, what expertise she can provide the department and some basic ideas for interacting with dogs.
    Among the tips Sullivan gave the deputies were the door-slam test and advice to always carry dog biscuits in their patrol cars.
    To see if a dog is friendly or aggressive, Sullivan suggested that deputies open and slam their car doors— without leaving the unit— to see how the dog will react.
    "If the dog comes barreling at you, just stay in your car and call me or (Ring)," she said.
    Some dogs can be won over with dog biscuits, she said.
    "Give them a (biscuit) or a piece of your sandwich," Sullivan said.
    The key to dealing with dogs, she explained to the deputies, is to be resourceful.
    Sullivan gave several examples of her ideas as well as a few anecdotes from others on how they have dealt with aggressive or protective dogs.
    One EMT, Sullivan said, was called to a home where three dogs would not let emergency personnel out of the vehicle even though the owner needed medical attention.
    Sullivan said the EMT inflated a few latex gloves and batted them out of the ambulance's window.
    "It worked like a charm," she said. "The dogs started chasing the gloves and (EMTs) got into the house where the man needed medical attention."
    If deputies have any doubts about a dog— or any other animal— they can call Sullivan or Ring, she said.
    The training is meant to enable deputies to handle some animal control calls while she and Ring are on others, Sullivan said.
    In most cases, she said, animal control problems can be solved with a phone call or conversation with the person who is having the problem.
    After the training session, Gibson said he plans to continue animal control training for the deputies when possible.
    "It's something that we really need in this county," he said.