Interview Officer Michelle Morgan

INTERVIEW BY RYAN LIU AND SAURAV GANDHI

MICHELLE MORGAN, SR. ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER

Q: Can you please give a quick intro ofyour job?

A: So my current position is Senior Animal Control Officer for the City of Sunnyvale, Department of Public Safety. City of Sunnyvale has their own animal control which is embedded into the police department, which is somewhat unique in this county. Most cities/counties either contact with a humane society to provide animal control services, or multiple cities will group together and form a joint powers for animal control services. We have two full time animal control officers here at Sunnyvale DPS, and we’re responsible for enforcing municipal code and state laws, as they pertain to animals.

Q: How has technology, and different STEM aspects aided you in your role?

A: Microchips. When we’re talking about animal identification, if I’m picking up a lost, stray, or an injured animal, some of the animals wear collars, and some of them don’t, especially cats. Collars can sometimes prove to be a potential choking hazard for the animals, so the owner sometimes decides to chip them instead of giving them a collar. The microchip is tiny, about the size of a piece of rice, and it is injected under the skin (almost like giving a vaccination). That microchip holds information and is usually in a series of letters and numbers. We then call the chip manufacturer, such as Home Again, and they keep a database of the owner’s name, address, and telephone numbers, and information on the animal. We have a chip reader that scans the chip underneath the animal’s skin and pulls up a series of letters and numbers that we use to help identify the animal and animal owner.

Q: How do you see technology being used more in the future with animals?

A: Perhaps with the microchip being able to store even more information in the databases that would help with the pet owner. For instance, a GPS. When people lose a pet, it’s really upsetting to them, and even for us too. When we know that someone is really looking for a lost animal, and we can’t find it, and they can’t find it, it can be very upsetting. It would be very helpful if animals had GPS, something like the microchip, so at least we can track their movement and return the animal back to its owner. There are currently GPS collars, but the idea of combining the GPS's technology with the microchip technology would be really helpful.

Q: Is there any career advice that you’d like to give to the readers of STEMATIX magazine?

A: I would say, if you have an interest in animals, the law piece is really interesting, and it’s ever changing so you can never get bored. I get to meet some amazing people, and amazing animals, so I would encourage anybody that has an interest in animals, animal law and welfare, and serving the public to explore this career further.