Depending on the area in which they function, animal control officers can be called upon to interact with wildlife on a regular basis. In suburban, rural and semi-rural regions where various where the habitats of humans and wildlife species overlap, animal injuries, instances of relocation and other concerns can arise which require the intervention of animal control officers. Aside from this, animal control personnel regularly interact with domesticated animal species.
In general, animal control officers help to maintain public safety by enforcing animal licensing laws and humane care regulations. Working as an animal control officer can be challenging and rewarding, as it requires handling all kinds of animals. Animal control officers are usually employed by local, county, state or federal governmental agencies.
Animal Control Officer Duties
Animal control officer positions typically require the following duties:
- Enforcing licensing laws and other regulations
- Capturing and impounding dangerous or stray animals
- Investigating cases of animal cruelty
- Providing testimony in court cases
- Rescuing trapped animals
- Writing incident reports
- Providing humane care to animals
Animal control officers frequently interact with members of the public. They may be required to issue warnings and/or citations to people for mistreatment of animals in their care. Sometimes, they may have to remove an animal from a negligent owner’s custody. In the case of wildlife, officers are sometimes involved in helping relocate animals that have been displaced because of habitat loss or that have wandered into neighborhoods.
Education, Training, and Certification
Depending upon the specific position (e.g., level, locality), an applicant must be at least 18 years of age with a high school diploma or GED and some experience with animals in order to pursue a career as an animal control officer. In some cases, a college degree in an animal-related field is preferred.
Prospective animal control officers should have knowledge of a wide variety of animal species, animal first aid, animal care and nutrition, humane capture tools and techniques, animal behavior and public relations. Prior experience working as a police officer, veterinary technician, animal trainer, wildlife rehabilitator, shelter worker or any animal-related field is considered a plus. Some states require completion of a certification course before an applicant can be considered for a position as an animal control officer.
Some required skills and core competencies for animal control officers also include:
- Emotional stability
- Interpersonal skills
- Physical agility and stamina
Salary Range and Training for Animal Control Officers
The salary for animal control officers can vary depending on location and experience.
- Median Annual Salary: $36,330 ($17.47 per hour)
- Top 10% Annual Salary: $58,220 ($27.99 per hour)
- Bottom 10% Annual Salary: $23,160 ($11.13 per hour)
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the employment of animal care and services workers is expected to grow 22% through 2026. People considering this career path should carefully weigh their ability to handle all aspects of the job. Some duties can be both physically and emotionally taxing. Animal control officers may have to deal with everything from rescuing strays or abandoned animals, to rescuing animals in fight rings.
Organizations such as the National Animal Care and Control Association (NACA) provide resources that can be valuable to people looking to start a career in animal control. These include:
- NACA Institute for Professional Development (Online training and certification programs for animal control professionals)
- NACA Career Center (A job search tool that allows members to search jobs by keyword, location, organization and requirements)
NACA has been involved in setting the standard for providing training and certification programs for animal control personnel for more than 40 years. Their training programs help to maintain a standard of professionalism and deliver a high standard in Animal Care and Cruelty Investigation Training. NACA’s National Animal Control Officer Training Academy covers virtually every topic critical to the successful operation of Animal Care and Control programs.
Working Conditions
As with many careers in animal care, the working hours for an animal control officer can be irregular. Many animal control officers are required to be “on-call” for emergency situations on nights, weekends, and holidays. Animal control officers may have to work on their feet for long periods of time and need to be able to bend, stretch, and climb under or over obstacles to get to animals in need of help. They must also be ready to safely handle frightened or aggressive animals. They must become accustomed to being careful and taking adequate safety precautions when working in potentially dangerous situations with unpredictable animals.
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