Metro Animal Services brings together pets and families

Published 11:55 am Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Connie Ellis said the best part of being with Metro Animal Services as an animal control officer is finally catching an animal who was difficult to get to.

She recalls the experience she had locating and catching a dog during a period of two days before bringing him in. It all worked out for him, too.

“He got a great home. He was the nicest dog,” she said.

With 11 years of experience in the field, she knows ways in which the community can pitch in an help find animals reunite with their owners or find a home.

“It’s really important to call,” she said.

Ellis said many people try to catch a stray animal themselves and, while intentions are often good, the animal may be scared off and is more likely to run away when animal control arrives.

Instead, people should call Metro Animal Services and describe where the animal was spotted. Another mistake is people may assume an animal is a stray, bring it home and not alert the shelter. If an owner is looking for the animal, they aren’t going to find it.

Metro Animal Services is located in Puyallup, but also serves Edgewood, Bonney Lake and Sumner. It has a hotline people may call after the shelter’s hours to discover if their animal was brought in.

Accommodating those cities and caring for the animals is achieved with the help of not only staff, but volunteers in the community. Some of the volunteers are high-school students and Ellis said many senior projects are linked to volunteering.

“Volunteers are a lifeline at this place,” she said.

Incoming animals are catalogued with a photograph and a binder containing the photos is kept up front. If after 72 of the shelter’s working hours, the animal isn’t claimed, it’s put up for adoption.

Ellis said if an owner isn’t discovered, Metro Animal Services ensures placement with a family for the animal.

“We know that they’re going to a safe home,” she said.

Assisting Ellis is Gail Leppell who loves seeing animals reunited with their owners.

“They’re so happy to see them,” she said.

The most frustrating part of both their jobs is when pet owners view pets as disposable. Ellis said it’s too common for someone to bring in their pet to the shelter without giving it the proper time to adjust. Sometimes people will quickly become frustrated if an animal isn’t behaving to their liking.

“It takes an animal time,” Ellis said.

To contact Metro Animal Services, call 253-841-5595. The missing animal hotline is 253-841-5592.