(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - A new Director of Animal Protection for the Ketchikan Gateway Borough has been hired and he will be starting his new position in early February.

Edward (Eddie) L. Blackwood, originally from Newfoundland, studied Animal Sciences at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. He has twenty years experience focused in the area of animal science; animal care and control; exotic species; wildlife rehabilitation; humane education; and agriculture and veterinary care. In a letter to the Borough, Blackwood stated that his broad based experience and his commitment to the profession qualifies him to take on the challenges presented in overseeing the animal protection program in the Ketchikan Borough.

Blackwood, currently from Nashville, Tennessee, is a Nationally Certified Animal Control Officer and stated he understands the overall disciplines that are required to merge and blend in order to produce an effective animal protection program. "I am comfortable drawing on the varied resources available and building strong cooperative networks with other professionals and maintaining these relationships so the program functions at a high level on a daily basis," he wrote.

Prior to his hire by the Ketchikan Borough, Blackwood was most recently the Director of the Mt. Juliet Police Department's Animal Control Division for two years. He was also the Executive Director of the Cheathan County Animal Control in Pegram, Tennessee from 2005-2010.

Among other work experiences, Blackwood has worked as a Veterinary and Agricultural Technician and he has been a lead keeper of the Mammal and Avian Department at the Nashville Zoo.

Monday and Tuesday, Blackwood was in Ketchikan and met informally with members of the Ketchikan Humane Society on one of the days.

Blackwood is replacing Kelly Ludwig-Johnson who officially retired in December 2012.

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