About the Animal Care and Control Profession
About the Animal Control Profession
Animal control officers make up one of the fastest public safety professions in the United States. The two primary responsibilities of an animal control officer are 1) to protect citizens from dangerous domestic animals and zoonotic diseases and 2) to protect domestic animals from neglect and cruelty. Additionally, animal control officers help reduce the problem of animal overpopulation through education and enforcement actions. This vital public service is key to keeping communities safe. Depending on the agency, animal control officers may issue civil citations and/or conduct animal cruelty investigations.
In some cases, animal control officers will also help with animal shelter operations, performing intake procedures on animals, administering vaccinations, helping with animal adoption programs, and humanely euthanizing sick and/or injured animals when necessary.
What Will My Workdays Be Like?
Like other public servants, you will interact with the citizens of your community and provide the highest level of service as you complete your daily work.
You will spend time driving an animal control vehicle that carries the equipment necessary to capture stray animals and safely transport them either back to their owners (if known) or to the animal shelter where they can be properly cared for until their owner is located. You will spend a lot of time filling out official documents and writing reports. In many situations you will help educate the citizens on proper animal care requirements, but other times you may have to issue civil citations, write reports, and even testify in civil and criminal court proceedings.
If your duties include shelter operations, you may spend time caring for animals, cleaning their enclosures, administering vaccinations, speaking with people wishing to adopt animals, and humanely euthanizing sick and/or injured animals.
No matter what type of agency you work for, you will be an important part of a public safety team. Your work will help uncover animal-related problems and could ultimately save the lives of animals and people. You will be active during your work hours, working in both inside and outside environments during various weather conditions, daylight and night, and no two days will be the same.