Mark Scott named Petaluma’s top service person

Mark Scott, an animal control officer with Petaluma Animal Services, was selected as the Petaluma Service Person of the Year in an online Argus-Courier poll.

“I’m really thankful,” said Scott, 46. “I’m glad to be supported by such a wonderful community.”

During the October wildfires, Scott jumped into action, preparing a staging area to care for the hundreds of pets that evacuees would bring to the Lucchesi Community Center. Over the course of two weeks, he worked in Santa Rosa rescuing pets and livestock that had been abandoned in the chaos of the Tubbs fire.

“We worked nonstop,” he said. “We slept in our cars. You do what you have to do.”

Two years before, he did the same thing during the Valley fire, saving animals from the massive blaze in Lake County.

When flames aren’t threatening large swaths of Northern California, Scott’s normal job entails reuniting Petaluma pet owners with their missing beloved beasts and assisting law enforcement officers on calls involving dangerous creatures. Scott said his love of animals and service to the community keeps him motivated.

“It’s the best job I’ve ever had,” said Scott, who previously worked for a Postal Service contractor and for an animal supply company. “I didn’t think I would fall in love with this job, but I did. Every day is different.”

Scott, who lives in Cotati with his wife and kids. Two of his three kids, ages 14, 15 and 21, go to Petaluma schools, and his wife is a bookkeeper in Petaluma. Rounding out the family are Monroe, a Lhasa Apso, and Smokey, a Shih Tzu.

Vicki McAffee, who adopted cats from the Petaluma Animal Shelter and follows Scott’s exploits on Facebook, nominated him for his dedicated service to the community and his often courageous rescues.

“During the North Bay fires, Officer Mark was up at the fire area saving lives and rescuing countless animals,” she wrote in an email. “He also does so much for our community on a daily basis. He gets up at the wee hours of the morning and late night hours on his days off to help animals. He’s a pretty remarkable person.”

Scott never knows what kind of critters he will encounter each day. Usually it’s dogs and cats, but he has also saved a runaway tortoise, captured a curious coati and returned a wayward elephant seal to the sea. Last year, the police department called him when there was an alligator loose in a Petaluma neighborhood.

“That was interesting,” he said. “I’ve never been bitten. There have been a few close calls. I’d like to keep it that way.”

Scott will be honored with other award winners at the Petaluma Community Awards of Excellence on April 5 at 5:30 p.m. at Rooster Run Golf Club. Scott said the award is an honor and will help him continue to serve the Petaluma community and the city’s many animals.

“I’m super excited,” he said. “I plan to keep doing what I’ve been doing to make sure all the animals are cared for.”