Adam Gordon, Marion County Animal Control Officer pats the head of dog MCAC 00546a as he takes his last breath after being euthanized. " I have to put up a wall try and try not to think about the animal. I have to distance myself from it and focus on the technique and safety and not let my passion for animals take over," Gordon said before he began the euthanizing procedure. "I like to think that this is the most humaine way of doing this." When they determine that a dog is going to be euthanized they cease refering to it with the dogs actual name, instead replacing it with a number. "It is easier for us (Adam and I ) to distance ourselfs from the job we have to do if we don't attach their name to them," Bille Jo Clark said.Sandra Martin helps Marion County Animal Control Officer Adam Gordon put a second puppy in the crate to be taken to the Shelter. Martin surrendered her animals to the Shelter because she was unable to properly provide an adaquate home for them. In total Martin surrendered three dogs which will then be assessed to determine if they are adoptable pets. Adam Gordon pets Henry the Guinea Pig while co-worker Billie Jo Clark cleans his cage. Gordon's passion for animals is what keeps him doing his job. He hopes that he can make people take responsibility and care for their animals rather than thinking of their animals as property. Gordon hopes that he can continue educating people about the necessity for animal control and responsibility for the animals within the community.Adam Gordon introduces himself to Carol Bishop's Serval cat Sereena at the County Attorney's office. Sereena, a wild cat by nature has started to adapt to domestic life," Her favorite thing is to sit and watch T.V. with us at night," says Bishop. "We have taken her around town introducing her to all kinds of people to get her comfortable with humans in hopes she disassociates humans as a threat," Bishop says. The Bishops came to Gordon many months before getting Sereena to make sure that she would abide by all the Animal Control regulations put in place by the County and the State.
