Healdsburg Animal Control Officer Ryan Pelleriti

I’ve been interested in the Healdsburg Animal Shelter for many years. We adopted our beloved Snoopy from the shelter many years ago, when our older son, Damien volunteered at the shelter. You can see a blog post from 2009 about that here. That includes my first experience with Ryan.

However, for all my contact with the shelter, I didn’t know much about what the Animal Control Officer does and what that work means for the City of Healdsburg and its community. Always being curious, I spent a few hours with Ryan Pelleriti last month to find out more.

Four years ago, Ryan Pelleriti was hired as a Healdsburg Animal Control Officer. He works under the auspices of the Healdsburg Animal Shelter although his job is funded, in part, through a contract with the City of Healdsburg.

Ryan’s office is at the south end of an out-dated mobile home. It forms one side of a dog run at Healdsburg Animal Shelter. This edifice, to use an elegant word for inelegant surroundings, is shared with the part-time bookkeeper, Penny Chambers, and executive director Julie Seal.

He first introduced me to Ruger, his own Doberman pincer who lay in the office on an aqua-colored blanket. Ruger moved between seeking affection in the form of pats to his glossy coat to trying to convince Ryan to let him sit on his lap.

Ruger is 72-pounds of lithe muscle. He’s kept in shape with Schutzhund training—which advances the dog’s fitness, along with Ryan’s own animal training knowledge.

“Schutzhund training is basically a German law enforcement training,” said Ryan, “It’s for a behavioral obedience certificate.”

He also volunteers as a helper with the sleeve (law enforcement dog attack training).

“I get more training myself,” he said, “and I work with other dogs, as well.”

Licensing and licensing compliance was our first topic.

“Licensing is a huge opportunity,” said Ryan. “For a license, the requisite is a rabies shot.

“So we know a significant portion of our community animals are up to date on their rabies vaccine,” he continued. “While active rabies is not as prominent here, as it is in the East, it still must be controlled.

“We have highly educated dog owners at a communitywide level,” he stated.

Fees for licenses range from just $15 for a spayed or neutered dog, to $30 for an unaltered pet. For seniors over 62 years of age the dog license free is just $7.50.

Ryan sees tracking fees as a benefit from two sides—rabies control and revenue. The revenue is set aside for medical treatment and impound of strays, as well as an investment in education for the department.

“If we cannot locate an owner, these costs are incurred by the Shelter,” Ryan said.

Fifty years ago, and animal control officer in the county was responsible mainly for packs of dogs that had been killing livestock. Most of the people in the area were known by the office.

Now, however, officers go to unknown situations with unknown animals, just like any other law enforcement officer.

“The ability to communicate is going to make or break a situation,” said Ryan. “The goal is the safety of the officer, the animal and the community.

“Nothing gets you comfortable dealing with owners more than doing it,” he continued. “My goal is to be as much an educational resource for the community.”

Ryan takes his job seriously. He has 34 units from Santa Rosa Junior College in Administration of Justice and Criminal Justice, including classes in the psychology of death and dying and patrol procedures. In addition, his continuing education encompasses 40 hours with the National Animal Control Association, as a level one graduate. He also completed the Humane Society University’s classes on Dog Behavior and Dog Bite Prevention for Law Enforcement Personnel. Ryan is also a graduate of the Marin humane Society’s Behavior Academy, level one.

A typical day includes four hours of patrol, starting at the south end of town and driving through neighborhoods, parks and schools.

“The more we can get out and educate the community on leash laws,” Ryan said. “The less animals running at large, the less bites—human and animal, we’re going to have.

“I balance education, enforcement and community presence,” he continued. “I’ve never been in a physical confrontation.

“That’s a track record we want to keep,” Ryan stated. “So we continue with contact and education.

“I’ve learned the ability to keep personal feelings away from the job,” he said. “It’s [an] essential part of the job.”

When he encounters a leash law violation, the first thing he does, according to protocol, is to run a license check. Over his tenure, Ryan is pleased to see compliance increasing.

“Compliance equals fees equal revenue for the Healdsburg Animal Shelter,” he stated. “We’re picking up fewer dogs.

“From a community safety standpoint that’s great,” he continued.

Records from 2006 indicate there were 104 strays at large in Healdsburg. In 2011 to-date figures are only 51. That’s a reduction by more than half.

Not every situation warrants a citation.

“On the first contact education is the officer’s discretion,” he said. “We try a warning and education first.

“Next is a correctable citation,” Ryan stated. That’s like a dog “fix-it” ticket. The owner is cited for non-compliance with licensing, but, if they get a license in the designed time, usually 14 days, the citation is signed off.

Part of his day is devoted to careful documentation of complaints or complaint responses. All reports are public documents, and can be requested by the public by filling our paperwork. Ryan has a white board in his office with the dates of follow-up calls.

“Even the smallest violation can end up in court,” he said. “An accurate, detailed, complete report reflects on the officer and the department.”

If an intact (unaltered) dog is running at large in Healdsburg twice during a calendar year, the animal control officer can require a spay or neuter of that dog.

“But,” said Ryan, “It’s very rare.

“We have an educated community that spays and neuters their dogs,” he continued.

Barking complaints, however, are up.

“I believe it’s because more people know we’re here,” Ryan stated. “They know it’s a service available to them.

“We usually dispatch an officer,” he said. “We’ve had amazing success with our barking ordinance investigations.

Ryan works five days a week, Monday through Friday. Animal Control Officer Sherri Tanterelli fills the position on Saturdays.

For after hours dog calls, the Healdsburg Police Department has a list of contacts who are willing to come out for strays. Officer Pelleriti is on that list, though last, as he lives in Santa Rosa.

Other department services include cat traps and education on how to set one, alternate contacts for barking ordinance violations, as well as a list of tips for owners to try on barking dogs.

“Barking dogs are often under-stimulated,” Ryan stated. “We coach owners to address their dog’s needs, trying one tip at a time.”

Ryan revealed he’s spearheading a new internship program coming up next semester in conjunction with Healdsburg High School. For students interested in animal shelters, animal control or welfare or in law enforcement can apply for the internship.

“We’ll have an interview board,” he said. “We’ll screen interested candidates to pick the best one.

“It will be a semester-long internship,” he ended.

Ryan himself served an internship with the Santa Rosa Police Department.

He dreams of a time when there will be a scholarship fund, as well, to support those youth in reaching their animal welfare educational goals.

The ride-along

The following Monday, I again met with Officer Pelleriti, this time to ride along on his daily route.

I learned that the first thing, every time he entered the van, he logged in time and mileage on the vehicle log program. There are also areas to log in complaints, citations, warnings and education. These statistics are included in year end reports.

Ryan carries two “bibles” along with him. The first is Animal Law, published yearly. It is a handbook of animal regulation in the State of California and the dog-eared volume runs 670 pages long. It includes some food and agriculture laws, which pertain to animal control, as well.

The other book is a binder of animal regulations, specific to Healdsburg. PRyan was a fundamental part in creating the field manual. He worked with the Healdsburg Police Department and Sonoma County Animal Regulation to create it. Now, if someone new comes into the job, the scope of the work is in writing and no one has to begin from scratch.

Within the first five minutes of my ride-along, Ryan hit the brakes as a small black dog surged into the road right in front of the van. I looked out my window upon a small, wiggling body with a fast-wagging tail. Pellerit warned me not to exit the van.

By the time he got his door open, though, that little dog was there to greet him and Ryan told me it was safe to get out.

He quickly slipped a leash on the little fellow and looked around. Using his radio, he called and asked for a license check on the house of the yard where the dog had come from. No luck.

Soon he noticed two young men, standing back but looking toward the van, where the pooch was now shut into a kennel.

Ryan walked toward the young men, holding out his hand and introducing himself. It turns out that the younger of the two was the dog’s owner. A check had shown no licensed dog at this house, so he asked them about it.

They walked back to the van with him and were given back their pup, whose name is Astro. Astro is an intact male. Ryan took the opportunity to educate the young men on the Healdsburg licensing requirement, including the price for an intact dog, and reinforced that it is less expensive to license a neutered dog.

He chose not to issue a citation but will do a follow up home visit in seven days to see if the owner had complied. If not, the owner will be issued the correctable citation and will have to comply within 14 days.

The conversation was relaxed, the owner happy to have his dog. It was one of those educational opportunities.

I commended Ryan on his relaxed and friendly demeanor and his simple educational style.

“Every person we come into contact with is an education opportunity for what we do,” he replied.

I noticed that Ryan gave the leash he’d placed on Astro to the owner.

“It’s a simple way to demonstrate the leash law,” he said. “V.I.P. Pet Clinic provides these leashes.”

We continued south of town to the Park and Ride and turned around. The area west of the railroad tracks is the City of Healdsburg, the area east is unincorporated Sonoma County. So I got a lesson in Healdsburg geography, as well.

While Ryan will respond to a stay call at Memorial Beach, on occasion, the rangers there have their own protocol for stays.

Road Kill

I asked Ryan if taking care of road kill was part of his job.

“Yes,” he said simply. “I pick up small, deceased wildlife and domestic animals.

“Bigger animals, like deer, are handled by public works,” he continued.

“We have freezers at the shelter,” he said. “We bag the animals in plastic and a company from Sacramento picks up the carcasses.”

En Route

From the southernmost tip of Healdsburg we swung back, then east to Badger Park. The park was once a “hot spot of off leash activity,” according to Ryan.

“We’ve been able to reduce it significantly,” he stated. “I have a great rapport with the staff at Parks and Rec.

“I asked them to be my eyes,” he said. The first thing they noticed was there were not enough signs. The City pays for signs at the parks.

“We met with the City and asked for more leash law signs,” he continued. “The City accommodated the request.”

One plus officer for 12,000 people is not a huge resource but Ryan has spent a lot of time building relationships, not just with the Park and Rec department, but with the police department, as well.

“Those relationships have enabled us to grow professionally over the last few years,” Ryan said proudly.

We continued from Badger Park to the senior community. Everywhere we go he waves at people as we pass. He seems to know a lot of people. We turn just before we get to the “closed” portion of South Fitch Mountain Road, then go up McDonough Heights.

During the year, a cat had been shot with pellets or a b-b gun. The cat was okay but a vet had to remove the pellets. The community in the area rallied around and placed posters looking for the cat’s assailants. Ryan also stepped up patrols. There have been no other reports of wounded animals.

“I look for mentorship opportunities,” said Ryan. “We get the best possible education by starting with youth.

“A negative experience with someone in uniform,” he continued, “can last a lifetime.

Animal Welfare

There are often animal welfare complaints. Sometimes it is from a neighbor or someone who sees a living condition or behavior they want checked.

Ryan, who remains easy to talk to throughout the ride-along, said he looks for three things first—food, water and shelter. Are those being provided to the animal for a significant amount of time during a 24-hour period? The fourth thing he looks at is the animal’s health. Is it pain free? If an animal is thin, is it a senior dog? Does it have open wounds?

“I have to look at things dispassionately,” he said. “I assess carefully with no preconceived notions.

“Then I ask myself, can we make the situation work with the owner,” he continued. “Ninety-nine percent of the time, the owner loves his or her animal.”

“People are culturally and generationally different,” stated Ryan. “Most calls and concerns are not something that require charges or investigation.

Though right now, they are faced with a serious poisoning investigation.

In the late spring and summer, animal control gets a lot of calls about dogs in vehicles. Typically an owner will have parked in the shade but over time the sun begins to shine in the car. He looks for dogs getting into the foot well of the car, where it is coolest.

Ryan carries a thermometer in the van—it’s one of his most important tool, as it offers a quantitative measurement of the heat inside a vehicle. He snugs a leash onto the device and puts it through an open window to learn the interior temperature of the vehicle.

There are important protocols to follow before breaking into a car.

“It’s an emotionally charged situation,” Ryan acknowledged. “We have a good response planned.”

By this time, we’d passed Rec Park and were on Powell Avenue.

“This is an open area,” he stated. “I get good visuals by just driving down the street.”

Partnerships

Ryan has worked hard to develop a network of people—professionals, as well as other community members.

“I’ve developed this job into a professional animal control department,” he said. “One thing that shows that is I now get agency assist calls from the PD [police department].

“I can go into the Healdsburg Police Department and relate to them as a uniformed officer,” Ryan stated.

“We’re providing agencies with professional assistance,” he stated.

Healdsburg Animal Shelter Executive Director Julie Seal agrees.

“Ryan has single-handedly grown the animal care and control department,” she stated. “He has made it a role model for Sonoma County with proactive animal control services and building great relationships with community members.”

I asked Art Cruz from the Healdsburg Park and Rec Department about Ryan.

“We call him, and he’s on it,” said Cruz. “We can always rely on him.”

“I’ve worked with Ryan for a number of years,” said Lt. Kevin Young, of the Healdsburg Police Department.

“He’s certainly developed in providing a high quality animal control service to the community,” Young continued. “Animal control issues aren’t just enforcement.

“There’s a deep emotional component,” said Young. “He excels at tailoring his response to the situation.

 “He knows animal behavior,” he ended. “We get positive reports.”

The Mentality

Ryan listens to a scanner while on patrol.

In the field manual, the protocol for handling complaints for potentially dangerous dogs is written out.

“It can be difficult,” he said. “I think I have the right mentality.

“It’s taken me four years of growing,” he continued. “I think I do a pretty good job on keeping my emotions out of the picture.

“We’re here for a reason—public safety, community relations and education,” he said. “Enforcement is not the focus.

“Voluntary compliance is the focus, education the means,” Ryan summed up his philosophy.

Working at HAS

“When you work at the Healdsburg Animal Shelter, it’s a care-giving business,” he said. “We do certain jobs as a team.

“In this shelter environment it’s like a family,” he continued. “We have to be there for each other.

“We’re coworkers,” he said. “It’s almost like a family.”

Tools of the Trade

We end the ride-along with a quick review of the tools of the trade. From the first aid kit, to the “rigid leash,” each tool serves a purpose in the trade. There are even snake tongs and tube with sack for rattlesnake calls. Bolt cutters and other small tools round out the equipment. Of course, they always carry water.

I left the Healdsburg Animal Shelter a little more knowledgeable about the workings of the animal control officer. I found Ryan to be professional, kind and dedicated—just what Healdsburg needs in an animal control officer.