About the Author

Norma Haskins was raised, attended school, and has lived most of her life in Marshfield, Massachusetts, a mid sized town on the south shore, home to some 25,000 people and their pets. In 1973, at the age of 30, she was appointed the first full time dog officer in this town which had just implemented a leash law for dogs. This was a time when women did not pursue this career. For the next 34 years she would build on her knowledge and the knowledge of other dog officers and animal control officers across her state by being active in County and State associations and helping to teach others how to do their jobs better. She was on the Board of Directors of both the Plymouth County Animal Control Officers Association and the Animal Control Officers Association of Massachusetts, also serving as their President for many years. She was also active in a Certification Program for animal control officers that is still active today. She served on the Rabies Advisory Board in Massachusetts which helped to educate and prepare Massachusetts animal handlers for the rabies outbreak of 1992. In 1991 The MSPCA and the Animal Rescue League of Boston selected Norma to be their first Animal Control officer of the Year. In 1993 The National Animal Control Association chose Norma to be their Animal Control Officer of the Year. In 1991 she was a big part of the efforts to build an animal shelter for the Town of Marshfield which had no shelter since colonial days.

When she retired after 34 years on the job she decided that she had lots of stories to tell and decided to write them down so she wouldn’t forget them. Those stories became this book, “Unleashed Memories From a Career in Animal Control”. The opening chapter tells of her accomplishments in learning her trade but mostly this book is a series of 31 short stories about rescues of animals she has been involved with over her career.


Pictured Above:  Jake the Poster dog- saved from euthanisia by a miracle.

Hard Cover - 6x9 - 192 pages - $25.50

ISBN: 978-1-60860-431-9
ISBN / SKU: 1-60860-431-4