Some dogs have a reputation for maliciousness.
A bad rap, says Sheri Modlin: There arent bad dogs, just bad owners.
She should know. At one time she and husband Randy had 12 Rottweilers considered to be vicious and unruly at their place south of Humboldt. A couple were theirs. Others came from owners who no longer wanted to care for the large dogs.
Sheri, 44, has long had a passion for dogs and for them to be treated with kindness and respect. Working as a paraprofessional with Humboldt students for years honed her patience and tweaked her caring attitude.
She has an infectious smile and gracious manner that translate well to dealing with kids and dogs or most anything else.
About five years ago, she volunteered to help Humboldts police officers tend to dogs that found their way to the local pound, and to find them homes. The dogs are sequestered in pens in the city maintenance compound at the north edge of Camp Hunter park, with the little waifs easily seen from a drive-by on First Street.
Her success is legendary, in part through Facebook posts; during the past five years only two have had to be euthanized.
As a volunteer, Sheri, with the help of her 13-year-old daughter Danica, kept the pens clean, made sure bowls had fresh water and food and took them on walks, exercise all dogs relish.
On May 17, Sheri officially became Humboldts go-to official as its animal control officer. She works five days a week. Truth be known, she also makes sure her wards are treated well after hours and on weekends.
The difference is that now she, rather than a patrol officer, responds to calls concerning dogs running loose or to investigate incidents of alleged cruelty. Sheri also may be a dog whisperer; hardly ever does a dog not surrender calmly during a pickup.
Sheri said donations were helpful. She encourages such things as soap and towels for frequent bathings. Blankets make the concrete floors more comfortable, and bleach is used in cleaning pens.
On Monday morning, three smaller dogs were in the pound and (from personal observation) were eager for attention, their tails wagging and a come hither look in their eyes.
One soon was retrieved by its owner. The little dog ran off when July 4 explosions became too much. A second dog was adopted this week.
Humboldt charges a $25 adoption fee and $50 if the animal needs to be neutered or spayed.
The adoption process is simple: A call to police headquarters, 473-2341, gets things started.
No dog is available for adoption the first week of incarceration. We give time for an owner to claim them, Sheri said. On average three dogs are impounded each week.
