Canton Welcomes New Animal Control Officer

Canton's Nadya Branca is passionate about animals and law enforcement. The town's newest employee started her new job this week.

"I'm really excited to start," Branca told the Board of Selectmen last week.

The new officer has a background in law enforcement. She worked for the MSPCA for seven years doing animal cruelty investigations and she also worked as a police officer for the police department in Martha's Vineyard and Bridgewater State College.

The new Animal Control officer is also married to one of Canton's finest, Canton Police Officer William Branca.

Mrs. Branca told the board she's an animal lover, and the proud owner of a horse along with five other animals at her home.

"That's where my heart is," she said.

Town Administrator Bill Friel told the board that Branca also holds a firearms permit and said the board could further discuss the possibility of adding the office of Animal Control to the police department.

Currently, the Canton Animal Shelter has no dogs at the moment. There are cats and kittens available for adoption, Branca told the board.

Due to the transition, after stepped down, most of the shelter's animals were relocated, Friel noted.

The Board of Selectmen meet again tonight at 7:00 p.m. at Town Hall.