Page 4 - Kind News, March/Apr 2022

Q & A with an Animal
Control Officer

When you hear the words “animal control,”
what do you think of? Some people might feel
fear or worry, picturing cartoons of scary
“dog-catchers” chasing dogs around town
with nets. For animal control officer Jess
Thedinga, working in animal control means
being able to help and rescue pets and
wildlife every day. Her goal is to change how
people perceive, or what they think of, animal
control officers. She wants to show that
animal control officers love animals and are
here to help.

Kind News: What inspired you to
become an animal control officer?
Jess Thedinga: My first job was at an animal
hospital. Then I became a 911 dispatcher,
handling emergency calls, for 13 years. At that
job, I became the "animal person" that people
would ask animal questions.

KN: What are some common
misconceptions about animal control
officers?
JT: During quarantine, one of my close friends
convinced me to create a TikTok account.
Jess and Mona, a boa constrictor.

fun animal videos
made by kids.

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