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Was at my former co-worker's wedding last weekend, and got to see many of my old Animal Control colleagues.
While in the buffet line, I chatted with a dispatcher, V, who retired last year, and who recently celebrated her 75th birthday. She shared a couple gems with me.
1. You young whippersnapper!
First, understand that V is one kickass lady. Her house is covered with crazy psuedo erotic art and she's a gamer. Seriously. Has a PS3, XBox, and Wii, and plays them all. Looking at her, though, all you see is a meek, sweet little old lady in a bright pink sweater. Her voice is also very soft and girlish. That's important for this story.
V was on the phone with an increasingly frustrated woman who was demanding Animal Control do something that for legal, practical, or logical purposes we just couldn't do. V tried to explain to her why said demand was impossible, but to no avail.
Finally, the woman snapped at V, "Now you listen, young lady! I'm 40 years old and I expect you to treat me with some more respect!"
V replied calmly, "Ma'am, I have children older than you are. I think you owe me some respect."
The citizen was very polite after that.
2. Well, technically, you're correct...
A woman called in a near panic wanting a wild animal removed from her home. V got her to calm down enough to explain the problem.
Apparently this woman's husband was out of town, and she was getting ready to host a dinner party. Her storage freezer started to malfunction, and the wild animal was inside...
It was deer. Not a deer, but deer meat that had been in storage since her husband had brought it home from an earlier hunting trip. She wanted officers to come and remove the meat before it started stinking up her party.
V explained that Animal Control would not help her clean out her freezer. The woman's response? "But you're Animal Control, aren't you? It's an aaaanimall!"
God, I miss working there.
While in the buffet line, I chatted with a dispatcher, V, who retired last year, and who recently celebrated her 75th birthday. She shared a couple gems with me.
1. You young whippersnapper!
First, understand that V is one kickass lady. Her house is covered with crazy psuedo erotic art and she's a gamer. Seriously. Has a PS3, XBox, and Wii, and plays them all. Looking at her, though, all you see is a meek, sweet little old lady in a bright pink sweater. Her voice is also very soft and girlish. That's important for this story.
V was on the phone with an increasingly frustrated woman who was demanding Animal Control do something that for legal, practical, or logical purposes we just couldn't do. V tried to explain to her why said demand was impossible, but to no avail.
Finally, the woman snapped at V, "Now you listen, young lady! I'm 40 years old and I expect you to treat me with some more respect!"
V replied calmly, "Ma'am, I have children older than you are. I think you owe me some respect."
The citizen was very polite after that.
2. Well, technically, you're correct...
A woman called in a near panic wanting a wild animal removed from her home. V got her to calm down enough to explain the problem.
Apparently this woman's husband was out of town, and she was getting ready to host a dinner party. Her storage freezer started to malfunction, and the wild animal was inside...
It was deer. Not a deer, but deer meat that had been in storage since her husband had brought it home from an earlier hunting trip. She wanted officers to come and remove the meat before it started stinking up her party.
V explained that Animal Control would not help her clean out her freezer. The woman's response? "But you're Animal Control, aren't you? It's an aaaanimall!"
God, I miss working there.
"You'd feel a Hell of a lot better if you'd just rip into the occasional customer." 
). And I love being seen as much younger than I really am.
I wish I could work with such a kick-ass lady as your co-worker.
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