PRINCETON —
Stacey Shinault was looking for a job that was different and a challenge. Going on her second month as an animal control officer, she believes she's found what she's looking for.
One of the most challenging aspects of the position is that Shinault never knows what the next day will bring. One minute she can be filing reports on the computer in the animal control office. The next minute might see her and fellow animal control officer Tracy Monninger trying to get several horses out of last Saturday's cold and snow.
“It's hard to say what a typical day is like,” Shinault said. “You never really know what's going to happen.”
Shinault returns to the horses. Last Saturday, Shinault and Monniger battled cold, snow and willful animals to get the horses to a safer place. In her view, the animals are willful because they've learned from experience not to trust humans.
Normally, Shinault has a bright and smiling face, but it darkens when she talks about the animals that she has to go out and get.
“It takes everything that we have to get these animals,” Shinault said.
This means taking a balanced approach. At times, she has to be gentle to help the animals to overcome their human related fears. Once, they get a chance to get the animal out of the situation, they have to take it.
And Shinault knows that it's for the animal's good to get them out of a bad situation. A lot of the animals, for example, have never seen a veterinarian before.
She adds, “Sometimes, some of the animals that we have to get from an owner are in worse shape than some of the strays that we catch.”
Her face begins to brighten.
“It makes you feel good to help the animals,” Shinault adds with a smile. “We have a wonderful rescue coordinator and she'll do what she can to get them into a rescue.”
Keeping on a positive note, Shinault turns to her partner, Monninger. In her view, Monninger is a great trainer. She said that she appreciated Monninger's positive attitude, and that her constructive criticism helps her to get better at her job.
“There's a bond between us that you can't explain,” Shinault said.
When she's not helping animals out of a bad situation in Mercer County, Shinault enjoys spending time with her daughter, Shay.
— Contact Matt Christian at mchristian@ptonline.net.
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Stacey Shinault Matt Christian
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Mercer County Animal Control Officer Stacey Shinault looks up information about a case on a computer Thursday. Matt Christian
Discussion
February 24, 2013
Nothing typical about this animal control officer's day
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