Animal cruelty investigators in Pennsylvania are called humane police officers. They do just what you see on the shows on Animal Planet: come to the rescue of an animal being abused or neglected by its owner. You've got to be tough to be a humane officer. The sights are generally upsetting, the animals don't always survive and the owners can be apathetic or downright hostile. If you love animals, however, and want to make a difference in the life of one suffering abuse, this may be the career for you.
Get to Know Your Local Humane Society
As of 2011, Anne Irwin coordinates the humane police officer training that takes place in Harrisburg every year. On the Federated Humane Societies of Pennsylvania website, she warns newcomers that the training is costly -- currently $925 -- and people who take the course on their own don't usually find employment as humane officers afterward. She therefore recommends developing a relationship with your local humane society. Find out if it's hiring in the near future or take on volunteer work until a position becomes available. Organizations that hire humane officers pay for training for them, which leaves that $925 in your own pocket.
Attending Training
The humane police officer training program is held every spring in Harrisburg. The program is divided into two courses. The first course is presented by the National Animal Control Association and covers subjects such as Pennsylvania's humane laws, write an investigative report, giving testimony in court and the stages of investigation. The second part is presented by Penn State University and covers animal husbandry, or care for farm animals. Each course is four days long and ends with a test.
Following the Law
As a humane police officer, you're a representative and employee of the organization you work for. You're not a free agent, which means you can't police animal owners when you aren't on the job. Being a humane officer means following the law and abiding by its rules, even if you don't always agree with them. An owner can, for instance, chain his dog to a dog house if he wants to, as long as the dog house is sound and provides adequate shelter. You may want to free the animal but you can't. Knowing the law is a big part of this job.
Warnings
Irwin also warns that people who want to be in the career are sometimes misled by the television programs. Opportunities in the field are small and many animal control officers are unpaid volunteers. Those who are paid don't earn much money; in fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2010 salary data for this field shows a Pennsylvania average of $33,050 a year, which is $15.89 an hour. If, after taking these facts into consideration, you still want to move forward as an animal cruelty investigator, you may be perfect for the job.
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