Animal control officers
work in a variety of departments, but they all work to keep animals and humans safe.
The education needed to become an animal control officer varies, depending on the region or municipality that you’ll be working in. While a high school diploma may be adequate for some positions, Education-Portal.com states that a college degree in law enforcement, criminology or veterinary technology will help you find a job more easily. Animal control officers are hired by the state or local government, and on-the-job training is part of all positions. Once you are trained, the government will send you where you are needed, such as a police department, an animal shelter or a health department.
Animal Shelter Officers
The position of animal control officers can be contracted to a local animal shelter, such as a humane society or a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). These officers work independently or in a group, depending on the size of the town or county, and they are in charge of rescuing domestic animals in dangerous or abusive situations and bringing them to the shelter for a period of time. Depending on the situation, the animal will be treated and returned to the owner after a fine is paid, or they will be put up for adoption or euthanized. These officers also deal with injured, sick or dangerous wildlife that pose a threat to humans or other wildlife. The wildlife can be brought to a shelter to be taken care of and released back into the wild or disposed of properly.
Police Department Officers
Animal control officers who work for a local police or sheriff department are usually armed and have policing powers. These positions are most often available in large cities where more abusive cases and stray animals are called in or suspected. While these positions require more training than other animal control officer positions because of the increased risk factors, they also offer a higher compensation. Job duties include investigating suspected cases of animal cruelty of domestic animals or of wild animals in parks, zoos or other forms of public land. When abuse or animal cruelty is found, the animal control officer takes the abused animals to a shelter and arrests or fines the suspect. This position also assists the police department in all other cases related to animals.
Health Department Officers
Animal control officers who work for a local health department work to make sure that domestic and wild animals adhere to the health guidelines of that town, county or state. Job duties might include picking up dead or injured wildlife, or stray wild or domestic animals, to be treated or disposed of properly. Animal control officers are also in charge of bringing sick or injured wildlife into a shelter to be treated or euthanized, if the wildlife poses a threat to humans or other wildlife. These officers also deal with calls from people who were bit by an animal. The officer tries to track down the animal and find out if it has rabies or any other type of disease. These officers might also investigate domestic situations that may not adhere to health regulations, such as leaving a pet in a hot car or improperly feeding an animal.
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