By For as long as he can remember, Peter Riney has wanted to work with animals. “I’ve always had an affinity for wild animals and knew from an early age I wanted todo something that would allow me to work with them,”he says
Now the owner and operating manager of CritterControl of Central Missouri, Riney is pursuing his passion while helping the community. There’s nothing quite as rewarding as being able to fix each client’s unique problem, all while being able to interact with some of his favorite species. “What keeps me engaged in this career is helping clients solve their issues,” Riney says. One of his more memorable moments came when he had to remove a 7-foot-long carpet python from inside of a local duplex.“Snakes are my favorite animal, and we don’t typically have large snakes in Missouri, so this call was especially exciting and rewarding for me,” Riney says.
While large snakes are more of a rare sight, Riney says the more common animal issues in mid-Missouri homes stem from bats, squirrels, raccoons, birds, and moles.
Critter Control of Central Missouri, which was founded in 2005, was purchased by Riney and his family in 2009.The company solves wildlife problems while working to prevent issues from popping up down the road.
The first step in the process is to get an inspection of the area, to figure out the type of animal we are dealing with where they are located and how they got in. The second step is removing the animals using several humane methods. Finally, the third step is finding a long-term solution to nuisance wildlife, creating barriers to prevent animals from coming back into a home.
Dealing with animals every day might not be a goal for everyone, but Riney has never questioned whether it’s truly for him or not. “My dream job was to be a wildlife/nature photographer,” he says. “I wanted to get close to nature and animals.” And while he isn’t exactly a nature photographer, Riney is getting to live out his dream in a different capacity, giving him an opportunity to “do something that feels less like work. I have never gone to work a day in my life thinking,‘Wow, I really hate my job.’ And I do not take that for granted.”
After working in the community for 18 years, Riney says a critical part of his role is to be empathetic. “Being able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes is as important as anythingI’ve learned during my career,” he says, emphasizing the importance of being reasonable and showing understanding to others.
Outside of work, Riney and his wife of 18 years spend much of their time with their children, who are involved in theater, music, and dance. Those activities keep the Rineys involved in the community by supporting local theaters, sporting programs and volunteer programs, including Meals on Wheels.
To see if you need the help of Critter Control, check for running, walking, or scratching noises in the attic or walls, and small droppings that continue to accumulate even after being removed. No matter the issue, Critter Control is ready to help with quality work that will leave each customer satisfied.
CRITTER CONTROL OF CENTRAL MISSOURI | 2000 E. BROADWAY, #136, COLUMBIA MO573-441-0060 | CRITTERCONTROLCENTRALMISSOURI.COM
