TEWKSBURY — Tewksbury and Billerica Animal Control Officer Ashley Chmiel was not too long ago chosen as the Animal Control Officer of the Year for 2022. The award, given by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA) and the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL), was announced in early November.
The award honors an animal management officer whose efforts of their local people by means ofout the yr have promoted accountable pet possession, based on the MSPCA and the ARL. The award was introduced in late October at a banquet held by the Animal Control Officers Association of Massachusetts.
Recipients of the award manifest a devoted, humane perspective towards the therapy and well-being of all animals, successfully implement pet accountability legal guidelines, conduct public consciousness and humane teaching programs, and keep cooperative working relationships with different companies concerned with animals, similar to state and native authorities departments, different ACOs, and animal safety teams.
Officer Chmiel’s nominations for ACO of the Year included a quantity of accolades, heralding her dedication to animals and group, professionalism, and compassion, together with glorious organizational and communication expertise.
Colleague and Tewksbury Animal inspector Pam Thomas was thrilled to listen to of Ashley’s award.
Said Thomas of Chmiel, “her work ethic is certainly award winning! She is dedicated to the welfare of all animals regardless if domestic or wild! She works tirelessly trying to educate and inform the public on many different platforms. She continues to go above and beyond on a risky basis. Even when she’s not working she’s accessible to her team including myself.”
One of Chmiel’s foremost objectives is to teach pet house owners, based on a press launch from the group. Informing pet house owners of accountability legal guidelines and serving to folks make needed adjustments is the first line of motion. Chmiel hopes to solely use enforcement if the sharing of data and assets doesn’t clear up points. She typically makes use of the Billerica & Tewksbury ACO Facebook web page to speak academic data with the public.
One story that was shared about Officer Chmiel was her name to go to a house with 97 cats after Tewksbury Police and Fire observed the situations throughout a medical emergency. Chmiel coordinated the response by contacting non-profit organizations to help in the assortment cats at the house, in addition to splitting the consumption in order to not over-burden one location.
Chmiel spent rather a lot of time speaking with the proprietor, who simply misplaced his spouse. Chmiel knew that going from a house full of animals to an entire empty nest can be troublesome for this proprietor, and advocated for his well-being by working with the shelters and veterinarians to determine two cats he may take again after being handled.
As described in the release, Chmiel’s understanding and compassion for the proprietor led to her working with the Board of Health {and professional} cleaners in order that two cats may very well be given again to the proprietor.
Tewksbury Health Director Shannon Gillis mentioned, “Ashley has been an incredible resource for the Health Department from education to enforcement. She is very passionate about her job as well as the well-being of animals. She is always willing to go the extra mile. This award is extremely impressive and couldn’t have gone to a better person!”