Promotion Alert: Cat’s finally the Top Dog at Antioch Animal Services
Antioch’s first Certified Animal Control Officer is now Animal Services Manager
After almost 3 years as Acting Manager
By Antioch Police Department
Please join us in congratulating Catriona “Cat” Cottle on her promotion to Animal Services Manager!
Originally from Ireland, Cat began fostering for a local rescue in 2011 and volunteering at Antioch Animal Services in 2013. Then a legal assistant in San Francisco, she found herself drawn to the shelter and in October 2016, traded legal paperwork for paws, joining APD as an Animal Control Officer!
Since then, Cat has:
- Served as Volunteer & Foster Coordinator
- Been promoted to Shelter Supervisor in January 2023
- Led field response and daily shelter operations
- Served as Acting Animal Services Manager since December 2023
Through challenging times and considerable change, her commitment to Antioch’s animals and the people who love them has remained steadfast.
Antioch’s first Certified Animal Control Officer, Cat has trained incoming ACOs and Police trainees to handle animal-related calls with confidence and care. She has also pursued further education through the University of the Pacific’s Shelter Leadership and Operations program and the Citizens Leadership Institute.
Around PD, she’s known for her humor (have you seen the Animal Services social media posts) candid approach, honest nature and visits to Briefing, Records, and Dispatch with puppies and kittens. Some employees have discovered those morale visits come with an adoption pitch!
Outside work, Cat enjoys family time, especially with her grandchildren, hiking, spotting wildlife and lazy days at home with her partner.
Fun fact: After fostering hundreds of animals, Cat has only “foster failed” once: a black cat named Tequila who fell in love with her daughter and decided she was already home.
Congratulations, Cat! From shelter volunteer to Animal Services Manager, what a journey and what a next chapter!
the attachments to this post:
Cat Cottle & friend & w Tony LaRussa
