Animal Control Workers

Career summary

#4/10/19 lh

Animal control workers respond to complaints of stray or dangerous animals. They also investigate:

• Reports of animal cruelty
• Reports of animals biting humans or other animals
• Uncontrolled animals
• Injured animals

In cases of suspected animal cruelty, animal control workers take the animal to the local animal shelter. Workers write reports about what they find in their investigations. They may report the case to the police and may even testify in court.

Animal control workers use nets, nooses, and tranquilizer darts to capture stray animals. If owners are not available, animal control workers are called to pick up animals that are lost or roaming free. They take the animals to animal shelters. Animal control workers fill out reports detailing where they found the animal and write descriptions of the animal to help identify it. They hold the animal until claimed by the owners. They may also organize adoptions for unclaimed animals.

Workers explain state and local animal control laws to the public. They issue warnings or citations and return pets to owners in less severe cases.

Animal control workers often respond to reports of injured animals. They:

• Check the animal's injuries
• Perform first aid
• Transport the animal to a veterinarian for care

Animal control workers sometimes tranquilize or euthanize animals. This may happen when an animal is severely injured or too dangerous to capture.

Related careers

This career is part of the Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Ambulance Drivers
• Animal Caretakers
• Animal Trainers
• Compliance Officers and Inspectors
• Detectives and Investigators
• Occupational Health and Safety Technicians
• Police Patrol Officers

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to animal control workers.

• Patrol cities and rural areas for injured, stray, or dangerous animals.
• Capture stray or uncontrolled animals. Use nets, nooses, or tranquilizers.
• Examine animals for injuries or malnutrition. Arrange for medical treatment.
• Supply animals with food, water, and care.
• Euthanize rabid, unclaimed, or severely injured animals.
• Verify animal licenses.
• Investigate animal bite and animal abuse cases. Interview witnesses, check animals, and report violations to police.
• Inspect kennels, stables, or other areas for safe and humane conditions.
• Remove abused animals from poor conditions and transport to shelters.
• Remove animals from control trucks and place them in cages or other enclosures.
• Issue warnings or court orders to those who have neglected or abused animals. May give evidence in court.
• Clean and maintain control truck and animal cages.
• Write reports of the day's events and maintain files on captured animals.
• Explain state and local laws to the public.
• Organize the adoption of unclaimed animals.

Common work activities

Animal control workers perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Perform for or work with the public
• Document and record information
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Evaluate information against standards
• Get information needed to do the job
• Operate vehicles or mechanized equipment
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Perform activities that use the whole body
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Use computers
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Process information
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Handle and move objects
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Assist and care for others
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Schedule work and activities
• Think creatively
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Develop goals and strategies
• Analyze data or information
• Monitor and control resources
• Perform administrative tasks
• Provide advice and consultation to others

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, animal control workers:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a high level of job-required social contact.
• Communicate with others in person and on the telephone on a daily basis. They may also write letters and memos, but less frequently.
• Are regularly put in conflict situations when responding to complaints or when removing animals.
• Often must deal with people who are rude or angry.
• Are responsible for protecting the public's health and safety as well as protecting animal welfare.
• Often work as part of a larger animal control team.

Physical work conditions

• Are often exposed to hazardous situations where they might be bitten by animals. Use of protective equipment and safety gear reduces the likelihood of injury.
• Work both outdoors and indoors. They work in offices, kennel areas, or trucks. They also spend time outside, without cover, when handling complaints and capturing animals.
• Are exposed to contaminants, diseases, and infections on a weekly basis.
• May be exposed to very hot or very cold weather.
• Are occasionally exposed to very loud or distracting sounds.
• Drive an enclosed vehicle, such as a truck or van.

Work performance

• Must be sure that all details of the job are completed accurately to protect people and animals. Errors may cause serious injury to both animals and humans.
• Regularly make decisions that greatly impact animal owners, animals, and their coworkers. They usually don't consult a supervisor before deciding a course of action.
• Often repeat the same physical and mental activities.
• Must meet strict weekly deadlines.

Hours/travel

• Most often work 40-hour weeks.
• Generally work an established schedule.
• May be on-call evenings, weekends, and holidays to handle emergencies.

Physical demands

Animal control workers frequently:

• Sit for long periods of time.
• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.

It is important for animal control workers to be able to:

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for animal control workers to be able to:

• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
• Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
• Determine from which direction a sound came.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
• See objects in very bright or glaring light.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• While looking forward, see objects or movements that are off to the side.
• Move arms and legs quickly.
• Adjust body movements or equipment controls to keep pace with speed changes of moving objects.

Skills and abilities

Animal control workers need to:

Communicate

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand spoken information.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Understand written information.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.
• Read and understand work-related materials.

Reason and problem solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Go back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information without becoming confused.
• Check how well one is learning or doing something.

Work with people

• Look for ways to help people.
• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study to consider

• Animal Training
• Law Enforcement and Police Science
• Security Studies
• Veterinary Technology

Training

To work as an animal control worker, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent; and
• complete moderate-term, on-the-job training.

Education after high school

No formal education is required beyond high school. However, courses in animal grooming, care, and handling are helpful. Some courses are available through animal shelters or home-study programs.

Work experience

Experience caring for pets or livestock is a good way to prepare for this work. You can volunteer at the local animal shelter for experience.

On-the-job training

Most animal control workers are trained on the job. An experienced worker teaches you defensive driving, animal behavior, and animal first aid. You also learn methods for capturing animals. In addition, you learn how to destroy dangerous, injured, or unwanted animals. You also learn to write reports and gather evidence. Training can last up to one year.

Helpful high school courses

You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state's graduation requirements. You will be required to take both math and science classes to graduate.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Animal Science
• Community Protection
• Driver Education
• Safety and First Aid

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Employers prefer applicants who have a high school diploma or equivalent. A driver's license and good driving record are required. Employers look for applicants who have experience caring for, handling, and controlling common domestic or wild animals. Many employers also require applicants to pass a drug test.

Costs to workers

Some workers join professional associations, which may have annual dues. Those employed by local governments may be required to join a union and pay an initiation fee and monthly dues.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Animal Control Workers 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Wages vary by employer and area of the country. The worker's level of experience, training, and responsibility also affect wages.

Animal control workers who work full time usually receive benefits. Typical benefits include paid vacation, sick leave, and health insurance.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• Animal control agencies
• Animal shelters and humane societies

National outlook

Demand for animal control workers is growing. Most animal control agencies are funded by city governments. Thus, funding for these agencies depends on how much money the government has each year. Some years animal control agencies receive more money and can hire additional workers. Other years animal control agencies receive less money and must reduce the number of hours employees work.

Job openings will occur each year as current animal control workers leave this occupation.

Other resources

American Veterinary Medical Association 
1931 North Meacham Road, Suite 100
Schaumburg, IL 60173
800.248.2862

Job Opportunities in Animal Care & Control 

National Animal Care & Control Association 
40960 California Oaks Road, #242
Murieta, CA 92562
913.768.1319

References

Career cluster

• Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security

Career path

• Realistic (Technical)

O*Net  occupation

• Animal Control Workers (33-9011.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed.

DOT occupations

• Animal Treatment Investigator (379.263-010) 
• Dog Catcher (379.673-010) 
• Instructor-trainer, Canine Service (379.227-010) 
• Supervisor, Animal Cruelty Investigation (379.137-010) 

Holland occupational clusters

• Realistic/Conventional/Social
• Realistic/Social/Conventional

COPSystem

• Outdoor