by Tom Chillemi

Middlesex County chief animal control officer Ricky Warren received the Humanitarian Award 2010 presented by the Virginia Federation of Humane Societies on Friday in Virginia Beach.
The award is presented annually to an animal control officer who has established a positive relationship and maintained the safety and health within the community and who has made a significant impact on improving the image of the animal control profession and demonstrated overall excellence in the performance of his or her job, said Michelle Welch, the VFHS committee chair.
When Welch introduced Warren at the awards ceremony, she told the audience, "Citizens know him as a caring officer who lives the mission statement of his department: 'To serve and protect the public and promote a safer community through responsible animal ownership and humane care.' "
Warren has been the Middlesex animal control officer for seven years.
Welch said Warren not only enforces the laws, but he helps educate the citizens of his community about how to be a responsible and caring animal owner.
As an example, Welch noted that the Middlesex animal control website includes information such as: “Middlesex County Animal Control believes that dogs of all sizes are happier, healthier and safer when they can be indoors near you the majority of the time.”
Welch noted that Warren and his staff "maintain a clean friendly shelter in which both the public and rescue groups feel welcome."
Warren and his staff work to increase animal adoptions. "Because of his proactive attitude toward public awareness and education, and his willingness to work with other shelters and rescue groups, euthanasia at his shelter drooped from 43% to 14% in three years," said Welch. "The animals of his community and Virginia benefit by his professionalism and his compassion."
Middlesex Assistant County Administrator Marcia Jones, who supervises animal control, said Warren exemplifies the compassion "we all should have for saving animals. Ricky does everything he possibly can to find homes for animals. This in not just a job to him; it is his life."
 Warren currently serves on the Virginia Animal Control Association Board of Directors.

His award comes on the eve of National Animal Control Appreciation Week, which is April 11-17.

Ricky Warren, Middlesex County chief animal control officer, poses with Flash, a therapy dog that assists Warren at the county animal shelter and in teaching children about dog safety.(Photo by Tom Chillemi)