PORT ANGELES — With animal control calls on the rise, the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office is strengthening its response by appointing a new Animal Control Deputy.
Corrections Deputy Edward Bauck will step into the role on May 1, 2025. Sheriff Brian King said the appointment comes at a critical time, following the closure of the Olympic Peninsula Bark House, which has now reopened at reduced capacity, and the retirement of longtime Animal Control Deputy Tracey Kellas.
Bauck, who joined the department in 2023 after a career with the Idaho Department of Corrections, has completed the Animal Control Officer Academy, served on the Animal Solutions Advisory Committee, and worked on a major animal neglect case in Grays Harbor County. The Sheriff’s Office says his experience makes him well-suited for the position.
Animal control remains one of the busiest areas for deputies, with more than 1,000 calls last year ranging from stray animals to abuse cases. Bauck’s appointment, part of the department’s Corrections Deputy Career Track, will focus on enforcing county ordinances and state laws to ensure thorough and compassionate handling of animal-related cases.