Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 19, 1992 TAG: 9203190406
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: WENDI GIBSON EAST CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But come April, Vinton's first animal control officer will retire to his wife and woodworking shop at his Bedford County home.
While he's looking forward to some sunny days without the hassle of getting up for work, he says he's going to miss his job and, more than that, his friends.
"Oh, I plan on coming to the Farmers' Market to sell some woodworking. If people don't buy anything, I don't care; at least I'll get to see my friends."
As Vinton's only animal control officer, Weeks is more than a dogcatcher. He's also a skunk-trapper for many "widow people," a source of relief for potential snake victims and an advocate for animal lovers and -haters alike.
In his 11 years on the job, Weeks has never picked up a stray pup that he hasn't given a dog treat. And he still carries the same 1 1/2-ounce can of dog repellant spray that he was given his first day on the job. It's not empty.
That makes him far from a mean old dogcatcher. He'll follow a lost pet around until it leads him to its owner - before resorting to a trip to the Roanoke Valley Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' shelter.
And if he must, he's careful to explain to neighborhood kids what he's doing. Then he'll request special care for the dropped-off animal at the SPCA.
On quiet days, he even comes back to check on the animal.
"I'd love to take just every one home. It seems cruel to walk off and leave," he said recently as he watched some barking puppies through a chain-link fence.
He says he even gets that happy feeling of a boy on Christmas Day when he hears of a pet's going back to its family.
Weeks estimates that about 95 percent of the animals he impounds are picked up or adopted.
And it's not just canines or felines he's taking care of. On occasion, he's taken an opossum or raccoon caught in a skunk trap to the river to be freed. "Half the time they stand and look back, as if to say, `Thank you.' "
He's also liberated blacksnakes near the river.
Weeks' love for animals has grown from a lifetime of what he believes is God-given compassion.
"I believe everything has a right to life," he says. Weeks, 62, has shot only two dogs in his Vinton days, and only because they were sick. One had bitten a child, and the other had chased some people to the top of a car.
And he's only tranquilized one dog, which was showing symptoms of disease. After injecting it, Weeks took it to SPCA, where it was treated and later adopted.
"A gun is painful, and it does hurt. If I miss or overdose, I could kill it," he explains. "It's a terrible feeling when you're gonna have to cause pain or hurt to something - or someone."
He doesn't have a pet of his own now, but would love one if he had the time to devote to it. Weeks firmly believes animals need as much love and attention as we give ourselves.
Because he plans to stay busy building more wooden cabinets and shelves like the ones he has built for the Vinton Police Department, he's just afraid he would neglect a pet.
Aside from his woodworking hobby, Weeks also plans to spend some time restoring his 1950 Chevrolet pickup and '66 Ford Fairlane, "knock-around" vehicles he's picked up in the last couple of years.
And he envisions taking Phyllis, his wife of 44 years, to Europe for their 50th wedding anniversary.
by CNB