Dog Control Officer announces retirement

The Dog Control Officer (DCO) for four of Tioga County’s nine towns announced his retirement last week. Patrick Cartwright Jr., Dog Control Officer for the towns of Barton, Berkshire, Nichols and Richford, will retire effective June 1, 2018.

Cartwright, who served as the Deputy and Backup Dog Control Officer for three of the four towns for the last 15 years, took over as the Dog Control Officer in August of 2017 after then DCO Ron Raab retired. 

Cartwright explained, “After 15 years providing backup coverage, I was pleased to take over the position.”

Cartwright came to the position with not only has 15 years experience as a Deputy Dog Control Officer, but he is the former Chief Animal Cruelty Investigator / Humane Officer with Stray Haven Humane Society and SPCA where he was designated as a New York State Peace Officer, attended the Basic Course for Police Officer Academy, the Basic Course for Peace Officer Academy, as well as the National Law Enforcement Training Center in Sioux City, Iowa. 

In a release, Cartwright noted that he has held a 100 percent conviction rate on all cases that resulted in an arrest, or went to court.

Cartwright has also attended numerous animal related training programs over the last 15 years including Humane / Safe Animal Handling, Chemical Capture, Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue, Technical Animal Rescue, Pet First Aid, Animals in Disaster, Cruelty Investigation, Animal Law and more, and has served many roles in the community aside from being a Dog Control Officer

Cartwright’s retirement from the DCO position is effective June 1, 2018, and he and his family are relocating to South Carolina for what Cartwright described as better opportunities and warmer weather.  

Deputy Dog Control Officer Denise Liske will provide coverage until she is either appointed as the DCO or another DCO is appointed. There are already well-qualified applicants with experience as DCO that have applied, Cartwright noted, adding, “I will miss everyone in the community, but the time has come for a change.”