Bryanna Munns has the perfect job. She is an Animal Law Enforcement (ALE) sergeant for Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO). Animal control services for DCSO are contracted through the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region (HSPPR), that also contracts with El Paso and Pueblo counties and the City of Centennial.

ALEs are authorized by the law enforcement agencies in the cities and counties they serve. Many are also agents of the Bureau of Animal Protection. The main objective of ALEs is “to make the community a safe place for pets and people,” according to the ALE website.

Bryanna grew up watching Animal Cops of Houston on Animal Planet. She was fascinated and enthralled by what she saw: law enforcement, pet ownership education and animal handling. Bryanna did not know how to access a job like that, but she knew ALE was her dream job.

Before starting her ALE career, Bryanna worked other animal service jobs, including dog daycares, veterinary hospitals and animal shelters. She has been with HSPPR and DCSO for five years, and a sergeant for the past year and a half.

HSPPR requires training and provides an academy for all new ALE officers. It is six weeks classroom learning and another two weeks minimum of hands-on training with an experienced officer, before they go solo. Classroom topics range from animal laws, speaking with the public, diffusing escalating situations and investigation techniques.

Bryanna’s typical day is split between the office and the field. The call load in Douglas County keeps her busy, but it is not so heavy that she feels rushed while on a call. She enjoys the variety her job offers but also appreciates the opportunity to be thorough during both investigations and following up.

Bryanna is willing to take the time to ensure that she is giving one hundred percent to have a positive outcome in every case. “I strive to do everything I can to help strengthen human/animal relationships in our community to foster cohesivity for all Douglas County residents – humans and animals,” she said.

Barking dogs, animal welfare concerns, animal rescue, returning lost pets and any other animal related calls keep Bryanna hopping all over the county. “We perform thorough investigations to ensure that we keep the people safe from animals, keep animals safe from people and help mitigate animal related issues in our community,” Bryanna said of a typical day.

On a not so typical day, Bryanna got a call about a kangaroo in the caller’s neighbor’s backyard. Thinking that could not be the situation, she and another ALE officer responded to find not a kangaroo, but a wallaby. The family recently adopted it as an emotional support animal for their child. They graciously showed the ALE officers the wallaby’s accommodations and introduced them to the marsupial.

When not on duty, Bryanna loves spending time with her own pets – Semper, a Pitbull mix, Rebel, a boxer mix, and Doug, a King Charles cavalier mix, and her cat, Gryffin Oli Vander. Bryanna loves camping, fishing, and relaxing outdoors. She also appreciates the beautiful place we live and work in. “I can’t get over the views we have all throughout Douglas County, it’s a beautiful place to call my office.”

 

 

By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Bryanna Munns