Gina Gambino has served multiple communities as both a Municipal and Regional Animal Control Officer over the past 17 years. She currently holds the position as Head Animal Control Officer for the Monroe, CT Police Department’s Animal Control Unit in Monroe and has been an Assistant Park Ranger in Trumbull, CT for over 10 years. She is the 2019 recipient of the Jon Nowinski Community Champion Award and was the 2016 Wildlife in Crisis Animal Control Officer of the Year. She attributes her perseverance in her career to maintaining a sense of humor during tough times, always remembering where she came from and keeping the standards for her work and service high.

Chief Animal Control Officer Jennifer Merenda has been serving the city of Bridgeport, CT since March 2016. She started volunteering at an animal shelter in middle school, and has always pursued an interest in animal welfare. 
ACO Merenda studied at Becker College and received an Associate’s Degree Animal Care and Behavior and a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice. In her role at Bridgeport Animal Control, ACO Merenda aims to balance effective, humane law enforcement with progressive, community centered animal control and care policies.