Community Heroes: Animal Control Officer Wayne Thomas sees retirement as bittersweet

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — Former Johnson City Animal Control Officer Wayne Thomas said he sees retirement as bittersweet.

“I mean, some things, you know, it’s the things you see are terrible that I won’t miss,” he said. “But the things I’ve seen, I won’t forget. I won’t forget the people that were involved in that. I will remember the ones that I’ve helped and the ones I’ve been able to take to help or wanted to help support.”

For nineteen years, he has seen a lot of things and helped a lot of animals, and encouraged people to donate to the shelter. But he said he’s never considered it ‘work’.

“And it’s hard. It really is. But by the same token, you can’t beat it. Most people have a job. Yeah, I’ve never had a job in 20 years now. So I love getting up in the morning, I love coming in, and the people I work with are fantastic. And it, just as a career, it was never a job. Yeah, that’s, you know, who can say that?”

Thomas said the employees and volunteers make the shelter what it is, and everyone is passionate about helping animals. And though Thomas’ early mornings are over, he says he won’t be far.

Though he’s retired, his love for animals will always be there.

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