It’s Canines to the Rescue
Everyone knows about K9s, dogs that help the military and police save lives and chase suspects, among other heroic missions, but who knew the East Hampton Town Animal Control Department had two dogs as auxiliary staff members? Said to be invaluable in the field, they are a Maltese named Gracie and an Australian shepherd named Tiki.
Heather Miller, who is in her eighth year as an animal control officer, partners with Gracie and Christie Fanti, who is in her first year, with Tiki. Early last week, the canines helped the women bring in a black Chow mix and a tan and white Chihuahua, which had been wandering around Camp Hero in Montauk for some time. After over a week, the team had success, with Ms. Fanti bringing in the Chihuahua on June 22, and Ms. Miller the Chow mix the following day.
Ms. Fanti described how trained dogs are helpful. Loose dogs in unfamiliar settings become fearful and suspicious, almost feral, and the sight of another dog relaxes them, she said. Ms. Miller explained that she had been able to lure a loose dog in Wainscott to her recently by feeding Gracie treats. “Dogs engage each other.” The two women and the canines comprise the staff of the department, with Betsy Bambrick its head as code enforcement officer.
The tale of the two dogs, which apparently were abandoned by their owners, is headed for a happy ending. But it wasn’t easy. The department has picked up 83 loose dogs this year. “These are the first we had to trap,” Ms. Miller said. “We didn’t have much information. The dogs just showed up.”
On Tuesday, Ms. Miller explained the process.
The first step is to put out a trap with food inside it. “The trap is tied open,” she said, on the theory that the dogs will become comfortable going in and out of it. The worst thing the public can do in such situations is to feed the strays, she said. “We want them hungry enough to go into the trap.”
When the dogs were corralled they were covered with ticks and taken immediately to the East Hampton Veterinary Group, headed by Dr. Paul Hollander. They were treated and are being boarded there.
According to Ms. Miller, the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons has found them healthy and adoptable. In the next day or so, Ms. Miller said, the Camp Hero pair will make the trip to ARF’s shelter on Daniel’s Hole Road in East Hampton, where they will be waiting to meet their new best friends. There is a 10-day waiting period to see if someone will come forward to claim the animals before they are offered for adoption, but, so far, “no owners have come forward,” Ms. Miller said.
When they are not picking up strays, the women enforce other local and state dog ordinances. East Hampton Village, which does not have an animal control department of its own, pays $5,000 annually for any services it may need from the town department.
Ms. Miller said the public should call the department’s hotline, 324-0085, during business hours to report loose dogs, adding that voicemail messages are checked throughout the day. During off-hours, Ms. Miller said, “if a dog is injured, or in distress, or a danger to the public,” the police should be called instead, at 537-7575. “But, do not call 911,” she said.