Most people in Marin don’t realize that when they call for help from “animal control,” that help comes in the form of one (or more) of the highly skilled and dedicated animal services officers at Marin Humane.

Next week is National Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week, so we think it’s the perfect time to honor these amazing, hardworking heroes.

The county doesn’t have its own animal control department. For more than 60 years, it has contracted with Marin Humane to provide vital services including cruelty and neglect investigations, stray animal and wildlife rescues, dog licensing, lost and found services, bite complaints and animal disaster response.

Marin Humane has 10 full-time animal services officers, and the team operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Animal services officers come from a variety of backgrounds but the common thread among them is that they’re passionate about helping animals — and people.

The team is led by Shiny Caldwell, who came to Marin Humane with a background in national animal crimes investigation and spent several years as a humane law enforcement officer in San Diego. With an education in veterinary medicine, wildlife forensic and conservation ecology, and animal welfare and ethics, Shiny continues to keep Marin Humane on the forefront of animal welfare. “I got into animal services because I’ve always had a soft spot for animals and a strong desire to help people,” Caldwell said. “This field gives me the opportunity to do both in meaningful and long-lasting ways. My two cats, Winnie and Donkey, came to me from a cruelty case, and they’re a daily reminder of why this work matters. I’m proud to lead a team that brings empathy, resilience and heart to every call.”

Marin Humane animal services officers go through rigorous training, and are skilled in investigation, animal handling, disaster response and wildlife rescue, among many other important aspects of animal welfare.

While you’d expect these officers to have daily interactions with animals, it may surprise you to learn just how much interaction they have with people. From mediating neighborhood disputes involving animals to providing outreach to pet guardians who are experiencing homelessness 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,” said 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.”

And it’s not easy work. Marin Humane animal services officers are responsible for relieving the suffering of wildlife too injured or ill to be rehabilitated through humane euthanasia. They must navigate complex dynamics working with pet guardians experiencing homelessness. And they must face heartbreaking situations where animals were harmed or neglected. But they also get to reunite lost pets with their worried families, rescue wildlife and pets from dangerous situations and bring them to safety, and provide critical education to the community about animal welfare and pet disaster preparedness.

So the next time you see one of our awesome animal services officers out in the field or driving our special trucks, consider giving them a friendly wave. They deserve our appreciation during their special week — and all year round.

Lisa Bloch is marketing and communications director for Marin Humane which contributes Tails of Marin and welcomes questions and comments from the community. Visit marinhumane.org or email lbloch@marinhumane.org.