By Melanie Davis
David Simpkins is retiring, again.
Simpkins moved to Deep Gap nearly 14 years ago with his
wife and son after retiring from a 20-year military career
with the U.S. Navy. He chose the area because his mother
had been raised in Ashe County, and Simpkins had spent time
in the High County with family over the years.
David Simpkins sits
with Bruiser, a gentle, playful pit bull. Bruiser
was just visiting the Animal Care and Control officers.
He already has a loving home. Photo
by Mark Mitchell
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Shortly after his arrival in the High Country, Simpkins
“fell into” a conversation with Mark Combs, then
operations manager of the Animal Control Office. Both were
retired military and the conversation turned to Simpkins’
experience in training narcotics and explosives dogs for
the Navy.
Combs reacted by mentioning an upcoming opening at the Animal
Control facility for officers. Although he was retired,
Simpkins still planned to work and applied for the job.
Five years later, he was made Chief Animal Control Officer.
Now, nearly seven and one half years later, Simpkins is
retiring from the position.
The decision came about due to the high stress level of
the position. “Euthanizing animals is difficult, but
can’t be avoided. The number of animals versus the
number of perspective homes just doesn’t equal out,”
Simpkins said.
“The decision has to be made on what can stay in the
limited space and that isn’t an easy thing to do,”
he said. “On the other hand, we wouldn’t have
anyone working here that it didn’t bother.”
The euthanization of animals isn’t the only source
of stress in the position. The second part, Simpkins explains,
is responding to cruelty cases.
“Unfortunately, we see people who treat animals like
a piece of property rather than a living being, similar
to their lawnmower,” he said. The office of Animal
Care and Control, as it has recently renamed, is also an
enforcement agency of state law and county ordinance
The county does provide annual stress management training
to the officers. Simpkins said, although it helps, year
after year of seeing animals hurt, sick, or adoptable animals
put down, is like filling a balloon.
Although Simpkins speaks of the hardships involved in working
for Animal Care and Control, he also emphasizes the rewarding
aspects, as well.
“It has been a positive experience to work with a lot
of good people – the other officers and the volunteers,”
he said.
The education aspect of animal control can help turn a bad
situation around. He explained that in a few animal cruelty
cases, the owner was simply unaware. Upon approaching the
individual, Simpkins said the owner may then change their
behavior.
Finding an animal a new home is one of the largest rewards
in the position. Simpkins recalls one cat in particular.
A few years ago a Russian Blue breed of cat came into the
shelter. A photo was placed on the Web site and Simpkins
got a call from a man in Florida seeking to adopt “Racky.”
The man told Simpkins the cat looked just like a pet that
had to be put down due to cancer and the man mailed the
adoption fee. He then paid a local veterinarian technician
to drive Racky to Charlotte and put him on a plane to Florida.
“He sent me photos and kept in touch on the cat’s
well being. It was such a nice outcome for the animal,”
Simpkin said.
The inter-agency relationships are another positive aspect
for Simpkins in his position.
“We are very fortunate in our relationship with the
humane society. For whatever reason, that isn’t common
between the two agencies in other areas,” he said.
“But in Watauga we are able to maintain an understanding
and a friendship.”
Simpkins also acknowledged working with the Friends for
Life organization. “They have doubled our adoption
rates.”
The foster home program through Friends for Life is also
a benefit in keeping animals out of the shelter, which he
explains agitates and upsets the pets. Simpkins said there
are currently 22 dogs in foster care in Watauga County.
Simpkins will take more than his experiences with him into
retirement. Ellie Mae is already a part of his family.
“About eight years ago, a seven week old coon hound,
black and tan, came into the shelter. I wasn’t much
of a coon hound person, but she was the prettiest little
puppy,” he said.
Simpkins played with the puppy for a few days after she
came in, and then suddenly she became ill with Parvo, a
potentially deadly virus.
“There was no way I could euthanize her. So, I took
to my vet and paid the bill and adopted her,” he said.
Now Ellie Mae is eight years old and a healthy 80 pounds.
“It is hard not to take home more pets, but I believe
in taking care of my dogs. That can be difficult if you
own too many,” Simpkins said. He has only Ellie Mae
since having to put his 14 year old black lab to sleep recently.
On the whole, Watauga County’s homeless animal population
is lower than some neighboring counties. Last year the facility
handled 1,456 animals, as compared to Caldwell County which
handled nearly 6,000.
Simpkins said those numbers are a part of the reward of
the position. “We are fortunate to have great working
relationships with the Humane Society and Friends for Life.
The low-cost spay and neuter, which is offered through the
Humane Society and our office, seems to helping.” he
said. “As a county, the population is growing, but
the number of homeless animals isn’t and that is a
good sign that something we’re doing is working.”
“I can’t stress spay and neuter enough. People
need to seriously consider the benefits. We wouldn’t
have the problem we do if everyone would take advantage
of the low-cost program,” he said.
The Animal Care and Control Office does need volunteers
to help walk, bath and groom the dogs. For more information
or to inquire about adoption call (828) 262-1672.
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