SOUTHERN REGIONAL NEWS WELCOME TO THE SOUTHERN REGION AREA OF THE WEB SITE Letter From Chris Tisdale - Sothern Region Director I started working as an Animal Control Officer in 1977 with an open-bed pick up truck and a few cages in back. That was how things were done and over the years I have seen the profession emerge into a fulfilling career that works to improve the lives of animals and people in New Jersey. Since staring with private organizations in the 70's and 80's I am now employed as one of the original Animal Control officers with Gloucester County. Over the years I have been involved in one way or another with animal organizations or causes. In 1986 I was grandfathered in with my certification for Animal Control Officer and was an agent with the former Gloucester County SPCA enforcing animal cruelty along with Bill Lombardi and Aggie Abbruzzo, the president of the chapter until her death. In 1990 I was one of the first five officers employed by Gloucester County when they decided to open an Animal Shelter and an Animal Control service. In 1993 I was a volunteer with the United States Fish and Wildlife service and in 1994 I was a coordinator for a Cornell University Scarlet Tanager Project. It was about this time that I was first elected as Southern Region Director for the NJCACO Association. We started having monthly meetings with guest speakers and within a short period of time membership increased in the Southern Region. During this time the members of the Southern Region participated with the Federal Government in assisting with the clean-up of Alcyon Lake in Pitman, New Jersey, once listed as the #1 hazardous site on the Superfund list. The lake was home to many species of turtles and these were removed from the lake, held and cared for by biologists and then returned after the lake was cleaned, the first time in history that this had ever been done. The Southern Region volunteered and were rewarded with a once in a lifetime experience. After several years as Director I was elected as Vice-President of the NJCACO Association. During my tenure as Vice-President the Association achieved what I would call the most significant change in Animal Control in New Jersey when it helped to pass the ACO/ACI law that now allows ACOs to enforce Animal Cruelty laws. As Director again of the Southern Region I am looking to have meetings with guest speakers and to become involved with animal issues in New Jersey. The meetings will be Bi-monthly and take place at a nature center in Clayton, New Jersey, as we did in the "old days". I hope any member from the south or anywhere in the state can come and interact with other ACOs and help to strengthen the Association and its purpose of helping animals and people. © 2002-2007 NJCACOA. All Rights Reserved.