After 22 years of service, Gloucester’s chief animal control officer Carl Shipley is retiring Friday. Senior deputy animal control officer Steve Baranek, who has been with the department for nearly 14 years, will take his place.

Shipley said he took the position of animal control officer when he retired from the U.S. Army and has seen the department grow during his two decades with the county.

When Shipley began, he said there were a total of three animal control officers in the department. It has grown now to four officers plus a dispatcher/secretary.

Several other major positive changes seen during Shipley’s time with animal control have been the addition of the county’s animal shelter and the continued development of a working relationship and bond with the Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society.

One of his favorite aspects of the job has been people becoming more proactive in promoting adoption of animals.

Upon retirement, Shipley said he plans to focus mo...