As an animal advocate, Jamie Fazzalore performs two important community services: one as animal control officer with the Lower Makefield Township Police and the other as owner/operator at Homestead Wildlife Control, a nuisance wildlife removal business.
"Many wild critters are just looking for one of two things: food/water or a home. Prevention is key. If we take necessary measures, we can limit contact with wildlife. Part of my job is to educate the public in coexisting with our furry friends, leaving things be, as opposed to getting rid of them," asserts Jamie, a Lower Makefield resident who thoroughly understands the ecosystem from living there for 50 years.
"Wildlife help propagate plant life and rid our lawns and neighborhoods of unwanted and damaging insects and pests. In short, they help to ensure the balance of nature and biodiversity," says this certified wildlife specialist and registered trapper with Pennsylvania Game Commission/Bucks County Fish & Game.
Jamie says she mainly deals with raccoons, opossums, groundhogs, squirrels, snakes, skunks, rabbits and perhaps deer fawns.
"Truth be told, where animals end up is where people unintentionally provide these critters with food and housing. Let’s not blame the animals. We need to work together to find solutions satisfactory to the human and wild Lower Makefield residents," she adds.
In her animal control role for the past 14 years, she deals solely with domestic dog and cat situations in Newtown Township, Lower Makefield Township, Yardley Borough and Washington Crossing State Park. She says she handles lost and found felines and canines, but cannot, and does not, go onto private property in her animal control capacity. She also investigates dog bites. "I enforce related Pennsylvania laws and township ordinances. I file charges for dangerous dogs and attend court cases, when necessary," she adds.
Jamie says she ended up in animal-related jobs after taking pre-veterinary medicine courses at the University of Delaware, then gaining a bachelor's degree in finance, followed by working in fine jewelry for quite a few years. "I volunteered at Aark Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center. In fact, I was past president of Aark's board of directors. So, I've always been interested in helping animals."
Coming from a living-in-harmony approach, Jamie says she's very straightforward with homeowners about options. "Bird fledglings on the ground are among the most understood situations I get calls about. For a couple of days, the young birds need to learn to fly and spend time out of the nest. Mom and Dad are still feeding them. If you find them in an unsafe spot, like in the middle of a road, please move them to a safe spot nearby and let nature take its course. If they appear injured, call me," she adds.
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