TOWNSEND -- Mary Letourneau is the animal control officer for Townsend and Ashby. She has been with Ashby for five years and Townsend for two years. She handles the calls for both towns. Both Officer Letourneau and her husband Keith are licensed through the state as problem animal control agents and have taken many courses in animal control science. Officer Letourneau's background also includes volunteering for the Fitchburg Animal Clinic and experience with livestock and wildlife. Officer Letourneau grew up in both Townsend and Ashby. She states she has always been bringing home stray animals and truly loves what she does for a job. So far, Officer Letourneau has been able to find homes for all the rescued animals without resorting to euthanasia. She said, "You've got to love it."

Generally, Animal Control duties are limited to domestic animals. Officer Letourneau has taken that to the next level and has addressed and handled wild- animal complaints that are beyond her job description. When asked what she is seeing the most of, she stated the majority of the calls are for loose or barking dogs and stray or feral cats. Officer Letourneau said these calls are on the rise for both Townsend and Ashby. "Families can't afford to feed or take care of their pets in this economy," she said.

In one instance, Officer Letourneau was called to Fitchburg to assist a barking dog in a vacant lot. When she showed up, they found one dog roaming in the brush and a mother dog

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was tied to tree giving birth. Two of the puppies had rolled down into the embankment and the mother dog was barking for her pups. They unleashed the mother dog and found the two pups in the brush. The dogs were taken to Twin City Animal Hospital, which ended up with nine new puppies by the end of the night, Officer Letourneau said.

"On 09/09/09 (Sept. 9, 2009) we had nine puppies. How can people do that to an animal?" said Keith Letourneau.

When asked her most memorable call she has been on, Officer Letourneau stated "Joey."

While volunteering in July 1995, she got a call to assist an emaciated dog by a mailbox in Ashby. The dog was an older Lab mix and weighed only 17 pounds. The dog was skin and bones and so weak, the story immediately hit the Channel Five News. The dog was rushed to Townsend Veterinary Clinic, which had just opened up, and was given a 10 percent chance to live. The veterinarian filled the dog up with fluids and Officer Letourneau took the dog home because no overnight care available. She said the dog just needed food. She filled it up with food and fluids all weekend and ended up naming him Joey. Joey also had a huge tumor that was cancerous on his back and with donations from the exposure on Channel Five News; Joey was able to have it removed. He steadily gained weight and Officer Letourneau ended up adopting him. She said "he was just a love." Sadly, Joey just passed away in May of this year.

Officer Letourneau has encountered many wildlife calls during the course of her job. A call she recently received was from the McFadden family of Townsend. Jill McFadden and family of 12 Hillside Drive in Townsend went away for a week on vacation this past summer and when they came home they had a new tenant, a woodchuck under their front porch. Jill McFadden stated she called animal control and Officer Letourneau returned her call promptly and asked many questions before coming out. "She really wanted to make sure what she was dealing with" said Jill McFadden. Officer Letourneau came out that night and set up three traps. She came out twice a day, fed the traps and caught the baby woodchuck in a week. "She was very informative and really tried to educate you and also provided information on animals she was trying to find a home for," said Jill McFadden. The family thought that she really knew what she was doing and were thankful.

The Keras family of 17 Hillside in Townsend encountered a flying squirrel in one of the bedrooms. Mom, Noreen Keras, said she heard a noise in a corner and when she turned on the lights the flying squirrel was sitting on her wicker chair. The family tried to catch it with a net and fruit loops and gave up and called animal control. Officer Letourneau came out promptly, and after s short time, caught it with her gloved hands on the curtains. "She just grabbed it with her hands and put it in an open jar and held her hand over it and took it outside," said mom, Noreen Keras. Noreen Keras stated she was very grateful to the officer and that the flying squirrel was removed so quickly.

The expense budget that Townsend gives to Animal Control is only $4,000 a year. That has to cover boarding, food, veterinary bills, blankets and towels. Letourneau said the money did not cover her total costs. Letourneau said she and her husband pay for a lot of out of pocket expenses to keep things going. "It's true love for these animals," said Officer Letourneau.

Officer Letourneau said people can drop off donations such as pet food, clean blankets, and towels on her porch at 352 Main St. in Townsend anytime. Officer Letourneau can be reached at aco.at@verizon.net or at 978-597-5868.