HOULTON, Maine — After five years of collecting strays for the town of Houlton, David Rairdon is hanging up his live traps.
On Monday, Rairdon announced he was retiring from his post as animal control officer for Houlton.
“It has been a good run,” he said. “I couldn’t have done that job without the help from the police department.”
Rairdon joined the HPD in December, 2016. When he joined the department, Rairdon already had 15 years of experience serving as an animal control officer for other communities. His last day with the Houlton Police Department is Tuesday, April 5.
“David has a very good temperament for this position,” Houlton Police Chief Tim DeLuca said. “He has a sincere love for animals and will be sorely missed.”
While the department searches for a replacement, its patrol officers will collect any strays that are reported. The department regularly has good luck reuniting stray dogs with their owners simply by posting photos of the animals on its Facebook page, the chief said.
“I’d say about 90 percent of the time we are able to find the owner before going to the shelter,” DeLuca said. “The animals will always be cared for.”
Anyone that is interested in this position is encouraged to contact the Houlton Police Department. We are open to training the right individual for the job.”
Rairdon’s passion for animals was evident by his volunteering to serve as the Maine animal control officer Northern regional director.
“I have enjoyed working for Houlton, but am not going to miss wondering if today is the day that I get bit again,” he joked.
Rairdon said he will miss working with the officers at the HPD, as well as those who are involved in caring for animals — Houlton Humane Society and the Ark Animal Sanctuary.
“You guys will always be in my thoughts,” he said. “It can be a thankless job sometimes, but it is also very rewarding. Especially when you reunite people with their pets.”
One of the more interesting cases, he said, was the time he had to go to the Irving Big Stop to retrieve a lizard that had escaped from a person who had been riding on the bus.
Rairdon is not completely retiring, because he will still handle ACO duties on a part-time basis for Ludlow and New Limerick.
