For Bellingham/Franklin Animal Control team, no two days are alike. A routine morning can quickly turn into a call about an injured animal, a loose dog, a roadkill incident, or wildlife that has wandered somewhere it may not be welcome.

At its heart, Animal Control is about helping animals that need it and keeping both them and the people in the community safe. Department Head Tracey Taddeo and Assistant Department Head Patrick Kelleher are part of a five-person team that handles a wide range of animal-related issues throughout nearby communities.

For Taddeo, the work has been a lifelong calling. She grew up on a farm and has always loved animals. Her father was a police officer and part-time animal control officer, so she grew up seeing the work firsthand and has now been doing it for 22 years.

A big part of the job is assessing the situation and understanding when an animal actually needs intervention. While many times there is a need for Animal Control to step in, sometimes what looks concerning to a person isn't something to be too concerned about.

"There are times an animal may be exhibiting normal behavior, but people aren't aware of what that might be," Taddeo said.

"A mother deer, for example, may leave her fawn alone in an open area while she searches for food. Some nocturnal animals may occasionally be out during the day. Neither situation automatically means the animal is sick or rabid," she shared.

If residents see several coyotes in their neighborhood, Taddeo recommends making noise.

"Clap your hands, beep your horn, bang some pots," she said. "The more noise you make, the more they understand they shouldn't be there. Coyotes generally avoid people. Although residents should take precautions by not letting small pets out at night and never intentionally approach or feed a coyote, they very rarely attack humans unprovoked."

When an animal does need help, the team has traps and snare poles that allow officers to safely remove animals from dangerous situations in order to assess what is happening. For injured wildlife, the department has a network of people who can assist. They work with Tufts Wildlife Clinic at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in North Grafton, as well as local wildlife rehabilitators and rescue organizations.

Partners include Cornerstone Farm and Rescue in Bellingham, Raptor Rescue, Return to Wild, Stacey Cobb, and other organizations that specialize in wildlife and rehabilitation, depending on the situation and type of animal they are helping.

And every once in a while, the call is something nobody could have predicted - like the crocodile encountered inside a home during a drug raid or the loose emu Patrick Kelleher encountered in Franklin. But while the unusual calls make for good stories, they are only a small part of what the department does.

Education is an important part of their work. The officers want residents to understand that trying to help an animal themselves can sometimes create an even bigger problem.

If someone attempts to grab a loose dog and gets bitten, for example, the situation can become a rabies exposure concern, particularly if the dog cannot be located afterward.

Kelleher said bats are another current concern. The department has seen an increase in bats getting into homes, and residents should not attempt to handle them. Instead, they should call animal control immediately, note where the bat is located and, if possible, contain it in one area of the home.

When animal control captures a bat, it can be submitted for rabies testing before it is released, with testing available for up to one bat per home each year.

"A bat bite can be very serious, as they are one of the largest carriers of rabies," Patrick shared.

There are also services the department provides that many residents may not realize are available. If someone has a medical emergency and temporarily cannot care for a pet, Animal Control may be able to assist with feeding a cat or watching a dog.

The department is also considered a mandated reporter who works closely with the Department of Children and Families. Child welfare concerns can often be connected to other issues, such as animal abuse and vice versa, making that relationship an important part of the department's community role.

In difficult situations involving suspected animal abuse or abandonment, residents are encouraged to contact police or Animal Control. Not long ago, a dog was found tied to a tree at a cemetery on Wrentham Road. After that situation was resolved, Taddeo actually ended up adopting the dog herself.

For the team, helping animals is about much more than responding to calls. It is about understanding animal behavior, preventing injuries, educating the public, connecting animals with appropriate care, and being there when residents need help.

Residents are encouraged to call Animal Control rather than email when an immediate situation is occurring, since officers are frequently out responding to active calls.

The office is staffed Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Outside those hours, residents should contact their local police department, which can route animal control calls appropriately.

For Taddeo, Kelleher and the rest of the team, the work may be unpredictable, but the purpose is consistent: Help when an animal needs it, help residents understand what to do, and make the community a safer place for both.