Devoted to the dogs
Acting animal control o cer re ects on learning from Elsie Debay
ere are days Lindsay Russell longs for advice from her former co-worker and friend.
Russell, who currently handles animal control for the County of Colchester, trained and worked with Elsie Debay, who was killed in a car accident in April.
“I learned so much from her,” said Russell. “Even when she wasn’t with me, she would call and give me advice.
“I still haven’t really come to terms with not being able to see or talk to her again.”
In 2015, Russell was a student at Dal AC, training to be a veterinary technician, when she met Debay.
“I was involved in 300 Felines, and Elsie was passionate about any initiatives to control the cat population, so we met through that,” she recalled. “We developed a friendship, and after Elsie had an accident that injured her shoulder, another student, Taylor Jacobs, and I went to the pound each day to help with animal care and exercising, and kennel cleaning.”
Russell eventually trained in bylaw enforcement and lled in for Debay when needed.
“I got to hear so many stories from her, and I could learn from them,” she said. “Elsie always said there was never a day when she wasn’t learning.
“She was so quick. She could think on her feet and assess a situation quickly, and keep it from escalating. If a situation changed, she could roll with it. She was diplomatic, and really good at di using situations.
“She was always trying to hone my observation skills. She said the little things you notice could save your life some day.”
She noted Debay was also very knowledgeable about animal care and behaviour.
“Her approach wasn’t punitive, it was one of education. As long as people were honest and cooperative she would go over and above to help. She was very creative with potential solutions to problems.”
Animal control receives a lot of calls about dogs running at large, and excessive barking. Sometimes they’re contacted about dog bites,
dogs caught in snares or animals hit by cars. As well as dealing with dogs, the department administers the livestock fencing bylaw, and sometimes gets calls about livestock on roadways.
“People can call 24/7,” said Russell. “After hours, it’s on an emergency basis, but if it means an animal being safe, we’d rather go right away.”
She’s noticed a lot of the more unusual calls come in around the time of a full moon. One of these calls resulted in her trying to talk to a man clad only in a towel – one that seemed to be slipping lower all the time.
An unusual, but less stressful call was from someone who opened their door to nd a dog, with a balloon tied to its tail, standing on their step.
About a week after Debay’s death, Russell was out on a call which really brought the loss
home to her.
“It was a delicate situation, and it was a big challenge mentally,” she said. “I really felt her absence that day, not having her to coach me.”
Both women have given their own time to volunteer with Animal Rescue Coalition (ARC).
Following a 72-hour hold, adoptable dogs from the county pound go to ARC for veterinary care and rehoming. Russell helps with transport for dogs and home visits for potential adopters.
Another thing both women have done is adopt rescue dogs. Russell has a German shepherd called Ripley who she adopted while volunteering with the Miramichi SPCA, and recently adopted a second one, called Stella, through ARC.