Dudley animal control officer quits, saying pit bull encounter was last straw

MASSACHUSETTS -- A second animal control officer has resigned after less than a year on the job because of what were described as challenging and dangerous working conditions caused by underfunding.

Selectmen appointed Peter M. Preble to the post of animal control officer in July. On Monday, the board accepted his resignation and promoted his assistant, Lauren Pasniewski, to fill the vacancy.

Mr. Preble resigned the day after a Feb. 17 incident with a "rather large, angry dog" in which he was ill-equipped and ill-prepared.

"I was placed in harm's way and also placed the lives of those around me, as well as the animal, at risk," he wrote in the resignation letter.

Mr. Preble was referring to when Christopher Walker of 14 Tanyard Road allegedly assaulted his mother Feb. 17 and then had police in a standoff at his home. Shots were fired before Mr. Walker surrendered and was arrested.

In the letter, Mr. Preble said he was called to the Tanyard Road home around 10:30 that night to remove a dog so police, who had a search warrant, could do the search. Upon entering the home, Mr. Preble said, he was confronted by a pit bull-type dog weighing about 70 pounds and in "a rather nasty mood."

"I have been given neither appropriate training nor the proper equipment to deal with such a situation," Mr. Preble wrote.

The dog was removed with what he called "great risk of harm" to himself and the Webster police officer and state trooper who assisted. Mr. Preble contacted the Southbridge animal control officer for help because he was left alone with the angry dog without means to take it to the Dudley shelter.

After just eight months on the job, Mr. Preble wrote, "This is unacceptable and I can no longer serve in this position without adequate training and equipment."

Selectmen have heard complaints of underfunded animal control services before.

Sheila Donohue resigned as animal control officer in September 2012, one day short of one year on the job.

Ms. Donohue cited "challenging" working conditions that included part-time pay for what turned out to be full-time work and the expectation that she use her personal equipment and her own vehicle to transport animals.

Ten months after Ms. Donahue's departure, Mr. Preble filled the vacancy.

He received a monthly stipend of $398.50 to be on call 24/7, to care for the shelter and its animals, and make veterinarian runs. He wrote that his request to the town administrator for more financial support was denied.

The animal control budget in Dudley is $7,950, with $5,400 for salaries and $2,550 for operating expenses.

A check with neighboring communities found a significant difference between what Dudley invests in hours and wages for animal control officers versus its neighbors.

Charlton budgets $41,186 for animal control. Of that, $37,818 is for salaries and $3,368 is for operating expenses.

In Oxford, the budget is $26,000, with $22,000 for salary and $4,600 for operating expenses. The Southbridge budget is $38,916, with $38,116 for salary and $800 for operating expenses.

Ms. Pasniewski was appointed to the Dudley post at a monthly stipend of $398.50.

(Worcester Telegram - ‎Mar 14, 2014‎)