Humane Society of Richmond County Animal Cruelty Investigator Mark Pankey recently completed a week of training he believes will help him protect animal life.

“The training was really informative and helpful,” Pankey said. “I learned a lot of useful things about the law and courtroom situations, and a lot of stuff that will help me do my job.”

He completed the Level I Animal Control Academy in Raleigh April 3.

The training covers all aspects of animal control law, as well as animal behavior, diseases, animal handling, civil and criminal proceedings, animal cruelty and neglect.

Completion of all four levels fo the academy certify an individual for animal control positions nationwide.

Pankey has been an employee of the Humane Society for two years.

“Mark is an indispensable asset to the animal shelter,” Humane Society Director Candy Bacon said. “Mark's heart and soul is all about animals and their care.

“Every Wednesday he arrives at the shelter a little after 5 a.m. to load 20-plus animals into the shelter van for the trip to the spay and neuter clinic in Vass. Most Wednesdays, it's almost 6 p.m. before that last animal goes home with its owner and Mark can go home. He says he doesn't mind the 13 or 14 hour days; it means fewer animals coming through the shelter's euthanasia room.”

Pankey said he can’t do his job without the assistance of the community, however.

“I would like to encourage people to report instances of animal cruelty and neglect,” Pankey said. “Animals don’t have the same choices available to them that people do, but they deserve to be protected from cruelty like people do.”