The Cold Dark Basement: True Stories of Animal Rescues and Interventions

A Michigan native, Jodi LeBombard has been an Animal Abuse Investigation Officer in a Michigan Sheriff's Department for more than fifteen years, and has been recognized nationally as the animal control officer of the year

In each and every case I was assigned, I fought for the animal to the fullest.  You would regularly see me at the state crime lab dropping off evidence and at the prosecutor’s office handing over felony warrant requests for the animal abusers in the county.  I left no stone unturned in my investigations, and my cases rarely went cold.  I wouldn’t just take the animals from abusers —I would watch over them at the shelter and make sure they found a good, loving home.  My director at the time saw my drive to save these animals in neglectful or cruel situations and created an animal cruelty position at my department, which I applied for and was awarded. I owe her a lot for recognizing my talent and putting me in a position to use it. I hit the ground running. 

                              Preface                             
                              Holy Cow
                              Dino the Loving Lab
                              A Sad Day for a Walk in the Park
                              The Love of a Man for His Cats
                              The Possessed Cat
                              Buttons and Jacob
                              Shane and the Rainy, Dreary Day
                              The Love in the Job
                              The Embedded Collar
                              Sewer Dog
                              Dog Catchin’ for Real
                              The Cold, Dark Basement
                              Sheltie
                              Grizzly Cuddle Bear
                              More Cows
                              Oscar the Weiner Dog
                              Fleas, Fleas, and More Fleas
                              Sissy
 

"In my early twenties, living far from my home in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula wilderness and not yet having completed college, I knew two things: I loved animals and came from a law-enforcement family. I wanted nothing more than to become an animal control officer to rescue animals.  As a young adult living in Lansing, I pursued my dream relentlessly and found my ideal job. That was fifteen years ago. A year later, as I established myself in the role, my passion for ending animal cruelty shone as I became the Sheriff department’s first Animal Control Officer for dogs, cats, and many other species with the special title of Animal Cruelty Investigator.  It started out rough, really rough. On the hardened city streets, I saw just how cruel people could be.  At times, circumstances threatened to chew me up and spit me out.  I was tranquilizing vicious dogs with my dart gun and going in first on police raids to snare dangerous guard dogs.
   I didn’t give up. I learned from every wrong step and every experience.  Now, so many years later, I want to share some of the stories that have taught me so much.  I’ve reserved many felony-level, cut-throat, high-profile cases for another book at another time. Here, I share stories of sweet animals that deserved better and some experiences with people I’ve encountered along the way.
   The positive impact I made on these animals and these people’s lives is what keeps me pinning the badge on my uniform every day with pride.  Being a voice for the voiceless is the ultimate inspiration in my everyday life."