Recently retired Animal Control Officer Ken Andress, was awarded the coveted Book of Golden Deeds on behalf of the Troy Exchange Club Thursday.

“Thank you so much for selecting me for this award,” Andress said to club members during a luncheon at the American Legion.

The exchange club awards the Book of Golden Deeds annually to individuals who serve their community, but have not been publicly recognized for doing so.

Andress said he “was lost for words” when he learned he would be the recipient.

“I’m very honored and very humbled,” he said.

The retired officer was modest in acceptance as well, giving the majority of the credit of his service to a broad supporting cast.

Andress thanked Jesus, his wife and the people of Troy, whom he said had been helpful and patient while he served.

He also named Troy Chief of Police, Anthony Everage as a vital source of aid.

“Anything we needed to do our jobs he’d provide to us. He has been very supportive.”

Of course Andress didn’t forget to mention those people who have fought beside him on the front lines.

“I want to dedicate this award today to anybody that works with the animal shelter,” he said.

“My hat’s off…to anybody that has anything to do with animal welfare”

After spending several years as a patrol officer, Andress said he went from chasing 2-legged dogs to chasing 4-legged dogs.

“When I first took the job I thought it would be cushy,” he said.

But Andress quickly realized the importance of the position, and he became intimately involved with his work.

“I made the decision that as long as I was in animal control, I would do my best to find these animals homes.”

‘The Dog Whisperer,’ as he’s been called, would do whatever it took.

“Even coercion and blackmail,” he said jokingly.

But he was serious about his dedication.

“If I could get that dog adopted I would come back after hours. I was getting it out of the shelter and getting it a better home I hoped.”

For Andress, the ability to help animals came naturally though.

“God gave me the talent to handle these dogs without much difficulty,” he said.

Andress recalled a time when he was called to Knox Street in Troy to respond to a report of a vicious dog. He said he had arrived to find three officers huddled by their cars, a good distance from the subject of the complaint.

“I looked, and there was the meanest most ferocious Chihuahua I had ever seen,” he said to a laughing room.

“Poor little fella’ was just scared to death.”

He admitted that after apprehending the pooch he told the three officers at the scene he wouldn’t tell anybody about the incident, a promise he didn’t mind breaking for a good chuckle.

Ed Merkel, Book of Golden Deeds chair, said Andress was a perfect model for what the award is meant to recognize.

“It’s due to his long-time, very positive service to the City of Troy,” Merkel said.

“No matter when we called him, he was always cheerful and very positive.”

Andress said he plans to carry that enthusiasm over into his retirement and work with local organizations such as the Pike Animal Shelter Coalition and the Humane Society.

He’ll be busy helping his wife of nearly 26 years with her recently opened home daycare though, so he encouraged others to support the effort as well.

“If anybody wants to get involved we have two great organizations here in Pike County,” he said.

The Troy Exchange Club is an organization focused on youth, community enrichment, and Americanism. Nationally they place particular emphasis on the prevention of child abuse.