Stuck Duck, Lamb On The Lam, Found Dog: Just Another Day ACO Says

EAST HAVEN, CT — It was quite the eventful day Tuesday for Owen Little, East Haven’s animal control officer. Though he says it’s all in a day’s work as a guy committed to public service.

Tuesday. There was the lamb on the lam in town. Then, the long-waited and hoped-for recovery of a dog who’d been missing for 11 days. But the day began with a mama duck trapped in a catch basin, her babies a step away from disaster.

Otherwise, just another day in the life of an ACO.

“There will never be ‘hero’ anywhere near my name, but it’s really such a blessing to be a public servant. I think I make a little bit of a difference, make some kind of change everyday.”

Little is a humble guy.

Tuesday morning, an East Haven firefighter was riding his bike when he heard an unusual sound, which turned out to be a duck whose wings were stuck in a catch basin at the exit of the Dunkin’ on Hemingway Avenue. The firefighter called Little. And, for good measure, East Haven firefighters responded as well.

The rescue of the mother duck and her ducklings was shared by East Haven fire Chief Matt Marcarelli on Facebook. In one photo shared with Patch by Little, the animal control officer can be seen on the ground with his hands inside the trap, helping to rescue the ducks. He told Patch that this year, for whatever reason, there have been far more ducks-in-distress calls than usual. A duck and ducklings in all kinds of locations needing help; the Home Depot parking lot, for example.

Once the mother had been freed, she hovered and “dive-bombed” Little as he had placed her young in a bucket to walk over to a nearby marsh for release into safety. Moms will be moms when it comes to their young, he agreed.

Meanwhile, a sheep was wandering around town.

“A lamb on the lam,” he joked. But in all seriousness. He was surprised that the sheep, whose home is in the Strong Street area, Little said, had gotten loose somehow and walked toward Route 80. By the time Little and assistant animal control officer Emily Higgins found the sheep, it was by then “confused, lost, just running amok.” Little said a good Samaritan happened by and between that person he and Higgins, the sheep was corralled inside a nearby yard. He said Higgins “jumped right in” and was able to lasso the sheep. And off it went to the animal shelter before being reunited with its owner.

Meanwhile, as that rescue was happening, a dog that had been missing in town for more than 11 days, Minnie, was closer to being located. Little explained the group CT Dog Gone Recovery had also gotten involved in the search for the female lab-mix dog that had been missing in East Haven since May 1. The owner said they’d received calls that their dog had been sighted. CT Dog Gone Recovery and Little had traps ready to go as the dog was described as being “skittish.”

It walked into one of the traps and was then reunited with its owner. Little was thrilled.

Owen Little has been on the job for 28 years, 29 in September. He began his work career in construction but found his calling as East Haven’s animal control officer. Some days are dark, he said, especially dealing with animal abuse. But he looks for the light to counter those dark days.

“I focus on the positive. Like the smiles from the lady who lost her dog,” he said.

And about Tuesday?

"Just another exciting day," he said. "A good day."