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Animal Control Workers


At a Glance

  • Capture and care for stray or dangerous animals
  • Often work on patrol
  • Sometimes work on-call
  • Have a driver's license and good driving record
  • Train on the job
  • Budget cutbacks are reducing the number of these workers

Career summary

Animal control workers enforce animal control laws.

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

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:

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:

Job duties

Task list

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

Common work activities

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

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, animal control workers:

Interpersonal relationships

Physical work conditions

Work performance

Hours/travel

Physical demands

Animal control workers frequently:

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

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

Skills and abilities

Animal control workers need to:

Communicate

Reason and problem solve

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

Work with people

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

Training

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

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:

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.

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

Wages

Animal control workers (SOC 33-9011)

Location
Pay Period
10%
25%
Median
75%
90%
Washington Hourly $14.73 $19.56 $23.21 $28.80 $33.23
Monthly $2,553 $3,390 $4,022 $4,991 $5,759
Yearly $30,640 $40,680 $48,270 $59,900 $69,120
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue Hourly $19.86 $21.80 $25.82 $30.74 $36.14
Monthly $3,442 $3,778 $4,475 $5,327 $6,263
Yearly $41,300 $45,338 $53,704 $63,922 $75,183
    Spokane-Spokane Valley Hourly $16.79 $17.90 $19.73 $25.70 $35.21
Monthly $2,910 $3,102 $3,419 $4,454 $6,102
Yearly $34,918 $37,218 $41,052 $53,461 $73,250
    Vancouver Hourly $20.05 $22.13 $25.91 $29.54 $31.54
Monthly $3,475 $3,835 $4,490 $5,119 $5,466
Yearly $41,709 $46,023 $53,888 $61,450 $65,615
United States Hourly $11.13 $13.95 $17.47 $22.18 $27.99
Monthly $1,929 $2,418 $3,028 $3,844 $4,851
Yearly $23,160 $29,020 $36,330 $46,130 $58,220

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.

Animal Control Workers (SOC 33-9011)

Location Current employment Growth over 10 years Annual openings
This
occupation
All
occupations
Washington 219 13.2% 16.1% 30
    Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Whatcom Counties 11 36.4% 14.6% 2
    King County 47 10.6% 19.6% 6
    Kittitas, Klickitat, Skamania, and Yakima Counties 15 40.0% 13.8% 3
    Pierce County 27 11.1% 15.2% 3
    Snohomish County 77 10.4% 12.4% 10
    Spokane County 12 8.3% 13.9% 1
United States 12,500 5.6% 5.2% 1,300

National employment

Major employers:

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 (external link)
1931 North Meacham Road, Suite 100
Schaumburg, IL 60173
800.248.2862
Job Opportunities in Animal Care & Control (external link)
National Animal Care & Control Association (external link)
40960 California Oaks Road, #242
Murieta, CA 92562
913.768.1319

References

Career cluster

Career path

O*Net (external link) occupation

O*Net job zone (external link)

DOT occupations

Holland occupational clusters

COPSystem