Field Services Team
MHS Cruelty Investigations and Field Services Team
Elise Ramsey, Field Services Manager
A certified animal cruelty investigator, Elise also works in tandem with Mark Ramos to manage the field services team. Investigator Ramsey has been with MHS since 2013 and was an investigator for 3 years before that. She holds certification from Code 3 Associates and the University of Colorado as an animal control officer and humane officer. She has also completed trainings in animal welfare, blood sports and is qualified to testify as an expert for both animal cruelty and dog fighting
For Investigator Ramsey, “The most impactful part of my job is being able to educate people in the field regarding sterilization and proper care so that they are able to keep the animals they have, and prevent more from coming into the shelters.”
Dave McLeod, Cruelty Investigator
Investigator McLeod has worked on behalf of the animals of Detroit at MHS since 2001. Dave began his career at our Detroit shelter, moving from rescue driver to field agent then full investigator. He is certified as an animal cruelty investigator by Code 3 Associates/ University of Missouri Columbia with additional training in dogfighting and has also completed disaster response training.
Born and raised in Detroit, Dave’s favorite part of the job is “helping the animals and people of our great city.”
Myron Golden, Cruelty Investigator
Myron joined MHS in 2009, beginning his career as a rescue agent and assisting the cruelty investigations team as needed. He was soon promoted to field agent and achieved the title of cruelty investigator in 2017. He has completed training with Code 3 Associates and NACA (National Animal Control Association) in partnership with Colorado State University and CSU Veterinary teaching hospital.
The most impactful part of Investigator Golden’s job is community outreach, “educating people on how they can provide a better quality of life for their pets. They can use the knowledge we give them to not only help their animals but to also educate their children and others in the community who will also continue to educate and that will have an impact for generations to come.”
Chris Ouwerkerk, Cruelty Investigator
Chris started with MHS in 2010 as an animal care technician and customer service representative. He quickly moved into a position as a rescue driver and was promoted to field agent In 2017. In addition to animal handling training, Chris also has attended trainings on baton and pepper spray and self-defense.
As a cruelty investigator, Chris says the best part of his job is “seeing animals go from rags to riches and educating people to make their animal’s lives better.”
Sarah Schertel, Cruelty Investigator
Sarah joined our team in November 2018 as a Cruelty Investigator. Sarah is a certified animal cruelty investigator through Code 3 Associates and Colorado State University and has completed additional training with the Humane Society of the United States, ASPCA Pro, and other animal welfare organizations throughout her career. Sarah has more than four years of prior experience with animal control and served on the Michigan Association of Animal Control Officers Executive board for four years. Sarah has been training dogs since 2003 and in her spare time, volunteers with a service dog organization training dogs for individuals with disabilities.
Since joining MHS, Sarah explains, “I love that MHS gives me the ability to help good-intention pet owners by providing resources to care for their pets and keep them in the family and to seek justice on those animals who have been wronged. As the world of animal welfare changes, we can set an example for how animals should be treated in our communities.”
Pam Dybowski, Field Agent
Pam has a long career with animals prior to joining MHS in 2011, including working in dog training and handling. She has been a rescue agent for 4 years and worked in our veterinary center prior. Pam’s training includes cruelty investigations school through University of Missouri and NACA Animal Disaster Response Boot Camp.
Pam’s favorite part of her job is being the person with “boots on the ground and rescuing an animal that’s in distress or danger and then seeing their improvement at the shelter day-by-day then into a loving home.”
Tiffany Blaine, Field Agent
Tiffany is originally from Saginaw, Mich. and worked at Saginaw County Animal Care and Control for three years as a kennel attendant prior to working at MHS. She began at MHS in March 2011 as a Customer Service Representative/Animal Care Technician, became an evaluator in the Shelter Medicine Department in January 2012, and a Field Agent with Field Services in September 2018. She has completed training through NACA (National Animal Control Association), the University of Missouri National Animal Cruelty Investigations School, and Disaster Response. She is also a member of the MHS Animal Search and Rescue team.
Describing the best part of the job is difficult because there isn’t just one answer. Being able to work with the Detroit community and provide information and resources to their pets along with helping the animals in need. Watching the animals that were rescued from impossible situations go to the adoption floor may be the mot rewarding experience.
Natatia Nix, Senior Field Services Coordinator
Natatia started with MHS in 2003. She has worked in multiple capacities both in our veterinary centers and shelters. As the senior field services coordinator, she acts as the information hub for the team by tracking all calls, dispatching team members and maintaining our rescue and cruelty database. Natatia has a background in criminal justice along with attending multiple trainings in animal cruelty, cruelty investigation and dog fighting.
Natatia is “proud to have the privilege of serving the animals and our community with this amazing team.”
Mariela Miller-Beekel, Field Services Coordinator
Mariela graduated with a degree in Communications and International Studies from Portland State University and moved to Michigan in 2016 where she worked at a boarding facility. Mariela began working with MHS in 2017 as a customer care representative and animal care technician. Soon moved into her current position as Field Services Coordinator in 2018, where she answers calls and takes complaints and dispatches them out to investigators and field agents. She has attended multiple trainings in animal welfare, animal cruelty, cruelty investigations and blood sports.
Mariela enjoys, “coming to work every day and leaving at the end of the day knowing that our team was able help animals and people.”
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