Not too many people can say they have been chased by a bull or a rabid skunk.

Donna Duso, former animal control officer in Groton, and Kimlyn Marshall, former animal control officer in Ledyard, can.

Each of them retired last month but recently met at Duso's Oakdale home to reminisce about their careers and how perceptions of the job have evolved.

"When I first started the job, people just thought I was the dog catcher," said Duso, "that I just spent my day catching and redeeming dogs. I was Cruella De Vil. It wasn't until those animal shows came on TV that people understood what we did. We suddenly became heroes."

After 29 years on the job, Duso said, it was simply time to go.

"When I first started out, it was just a part-time job to get me through college," said Duso. "I got a degree in pathobiology, but I fell in love with the job. I became passionate about it."

Marshall is equally passionate. She was a school bus driver before she started to work in Ledyard, first as an assistant ACO and then full time.

After 10 years, Marshall said, she developed severe allergies to several things, including the animals she was helping. She could no longer do her job and stay healthy.

"It was tough," said Marshall, tearing up. "I'm going to miss it, but there are things that I'm not going to miss."

She's not going to miss the numerous animal abuse cases that she had to respond to, noting that she will never understand how people can intentionally harm or neglect animals.

She's also not going to miss people dropping off animals at her front door because they know she's the town's ACO.

One day in December 2010 after a blizzard, she received a knock on her door, she recalled. When she opened the door, she saw a crate and heard some growling sounds. At first, she thought someone had left kittens at her door.

But when Marshall got a better look, it was a 3-foot alligator. She had to keep the gator in her bathroom for several days until she found a rescue service that would take the animal.

Her job also helped her see the good in people.

Ledyard and surrounding communities rallied behind Autumn, a stray dog that had a two-pound tumor on her hind leg and needed a major operation to remove it in 2008.

People were so touched by Autumn's story that funds poured in to help.

The remaining money was used to create Autumn's Fund, which is managed through the All Friends Hospital, a veterinary hospital in Norwich.

The fund is still active today and by Marshall's account has helped hundreds of cats and dogs.

Lona Baker, owner of All Friends Hospital, said Marshall is the personification of what an animal control officer should be, always with the best interest of animals at heart.

"Most towns have limited budgets when it comes to the animal control portion, but she always found a way to get it done," said Baker. "I know that she even used her personal money to help animals in need."

Police Lt. Kenneth Creutz said he will miss Marshall's compassion and her willingness to help anyone without hesitation.

"People value their pets just a much as humans, and Kimlyn understood that," said Creutz. "It's a difficult job and she put her heart and soul into it."

Both Marshall and Duso said they had no formal training and had to learn on the job.

They learned how to read people.

Taking away animals that are in harm's way or are a danger to others from their owners can be precarious, but the key, they said, is to learn how to de-escalate an already tense situation.

Duso said she also had to learn on the job how to prepare arrest warrants  — a skill that officers learn at the police academy. 

Duso said the job encompasses dealing with citizen complaints, dog bites, quarantining dogs, keeping the public safe, and adopting out animals, just to name a few. 

The shelter she supervised was almost entirely "no-kill," but there are instances when for the public's safety an aggressive dog will have to be put down.

It's not something she looked forward to but she can't adopt out an animal that poses a threat.

Duso said she does everything in her power to make sure that dogs and cats go into their "forever homes."

"We won't just let anyone adopt a cat or dog," said Duso. "We make sure that the person coming in is adopting the pet for the right reasons because the last thing we want is for the animal to come back to the shelter."

During her long tenure at Groton, she helped start the Paws program, an initiative to prevent dog bites and teach children to read animal behavior. She was named animal control officer of the year in 2009.

After Hurricane Katrina, during which many people would not leave their pets behind, Duso said she helped create a regional plan to establish animal shelters during weather emergencies.

When Hurricane Sandy struck the region in 2012, she said, 70 animals stayed at Robert E. Fitch Senior High School.

She said the region also has several portable trailers that can hold hundreds of animals in an emergency.

She also helped start the Groton Animal Foundation, along with Jane Cofone. The foundation is a major supporter of the town's animal control facility and helps cover what the town budget doesn't.

"She is extremely dedicated to the job," said Heather Picazio, vice president of the foundation. "Her job (was) well beyond eight hours a day. She would bring kittens home that needed round-the-clock feedings. Because of her dedication, countless animals were saved. The relationship she's developed with people throughout the years is something that you can't replace."  

Police Capt. Steven Sinagra said Duso was so good at her job that it took the pressure off the officers because they knew "Donna took care of all of it."

"She's hardworking, compassionate and caring," said Sinagra. "She had a tough job for someone who likes animals and had to make life-and-death decisions. She would always exhaust all avenues. She was always looking out for the best interests of the animals."

Both Duso and Marshall said they left their facilities in capable hands. Christina Davis is now the ACO in Ledyard and Christine O'Brien took over in Groton.

i.larraneta@theday.com

Twitter: @theday.com