From images on TV and in movies to books, the “the dog catcher” was usually depicted as an ugly, mean man who hated animals and grabbed them off the streets to bring them to “the pound,” where the implication was they’d never be seen again.

That depiction of animal control officers (at Marin Humane, we call them animal services officers) couldn’t be further from the truth.

The women and men serving as animal services officers go through rigorous training, and are skilled in investigations, animal handling, disaster response and wildlife rescue, among many other important aspects of animal welfare.

Marin Humane has 11 full-time animal services officers (ASOs) and the team operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year. ASOs come from a variety of backgrounds but the common thread among them is they’re passionate about helping animals — and people.

It may surprise people to learn just how much interaction our animal services officers have with people.

From mediating neighborhood disputes involving animals to providing outreach to pet guardians who’ve become unhoused, to educating communities about coexistence with wildlife, our officers are trained to serve not just the animals of Marin but also its people.

“A lot of people don’t realize that being an animal services officer means being able to work well with both sides of the leash, as we say,” says Nancy McKenney, chief executive officer of Marin Humane. “There’s almost always a person connected to that animal and it’s our job to respect that connection whenever possible.”

There’s no typical day in the life of an animal services officer. It may start with rescuing a deer stuck in a fence in Novato and end with an investigation into a case of animal neglect in Corte Madera, and the day after that, they might be reuniting a lost kitty with their worried family in Mill Valley.

In the spring, ASOs are especially busy helping newborn wildlife that often get into trouble. I was lucky enough to do a ride-along with one of our officers when we answered a call about ducklings that had fallen down a storm drain. Our officer climbed into the storm drain and rescued each one before safely reuniting them with their worried mom at a nearby pond. In cases where our officers suspect animals need medical attention, they transport them to our friends at WildCare for possible rehabilitation.

Not all calls end happily, though. Animal services officers are trained in humane euthanasia and sadly, there are times when they must perform this serious task.

“Sometimes, especially in the case with wildlife, when an animal’s injuries are so great or when transporting them would likely prove fatal, the most humane thing we can do is to end their suffering quickly and compassionately,” McKenney says.

The county of Marin and its cities don’t have their own animal control departments so they contract with Marin Humane, which also means our officers are responsible for enforcing county ordinances and working closely with law enforcement on criminal cases such as animal cruelty.

Sometimes the work of an animal services officer can be dangerous, like when they must remove a dog from a residence that’s just attacked someone. Our officers must do this with the utmost care — for both the animal’s sake and for the public’s safety.

This week is National Animal Services Officers Appreciation Week, so the next time you see one of Marin Humane’s trucks on the road or one of our officers out in the field, consider waving hello to these hardworking women and men who are creating a better Marin for animals and people.

Lisa Bloch is the director of marketing and communications for Marin Humane, which contributes Tails of Marin articles and welcomes animal-related questions and stories about the people and animals in our community. Go to marinhumane.org, find us on social media @marinhumane, or email lbloch@marinhumane.org.