FWC Lt. prepares for retirement

MIAMI (WSVN) -- It's the final inspection for a Florida Fish and Wildlife employee who has made it his career to keep things in check at zoos.

FWC Lt. Patrick Reynolds has kept people safe from wild animals for years. "God gave me this position for a reason," he said. "I think I'm good at it, I'm motivated at it."

For 32 years Reynolds has been charged with inspecting zoo's and wildlife preserves across South Florida. "We look for public safety, the security of the animals, and then, secondly, as we are conducting our inspection, we look out for the welfare of the animal," he said.

Reynolds makes sure all animal cages and enclosures are properly secured and meet state regulations. "I've absolutely loved it, I've had a blast. This is my dream come true ... I do the best I can every time I get out there, but after 32 years, it's time."

After more than three decades Reynolds is hanging up the boots. He allowed a news crew to tag along with him on his final inspection at a small zoo in South Miami-Dade that houses tigers and other exotic animals.

The importance of his kind of work became apparent on Oct. 19. Deputies in Ohio had to shoot more than 50 exotic animals that escaped from a farm. "They didn't have proper caging, no body inspected it," Reynolds said

The wildlife veteran said if Ohio had the correct laws in place, this could have been avoided. "I won't absolutely rule out, will it ever happen in Florida, but it's a very slim chance it could occur," he said.

Thankfully a tragedy of that magnitude has not happened on his watch. It's that fact that gives Reynolds the peace of mind to begin the next chapter of his life. "I look forward to the retirement. I really do. You know, I'd love to keep doing this, but you know, you got to make that decision."

Besides being a wildlife inspector, Reynolds, also had a brief television career appearing on the Animal Planet show, "Miami Animal Police."

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