Career summary

Details for Animal Control Workers


Description

Handle animals for the purpose of investigations of mistreatment, or control of abandoned, dangerous, or unattended animals.

Tasks

  • Investigate reports of animal attacks or animal cruelty, interviewing witnesses, collecting evidence, and writing reports.
  • Capture and remove stray, uncontrolled, or abused animals from undesirable conditions, using nets, nooses, or tranquilizer darts as necessary.
  • Examine animals for injuries or malnutrition, and arrange for any necessary medical treatment.
  • Remove captured animals from animal-control service vehicles and place animals in shelter cages or other enclosures.
  • Euthanize rabid, unclaimed, or severely injured animals.
  • Supply animals with food, water, and personal care.
  • Clean facilities and equipment such as dog pens and animal control trucks.
  • Prepare for prosecutions related to animal treatment, and give evidence in court.
  • Educate the public about animal welfare, and animal control laws and regulations.
  • Contact animal owners to inform them that their pets are at animal holding facilities.
  • Write reports of activities, and maintain files of impoundments and dispositions of animals.
  • Issue warnings or citations in connection with animal-related offenses, or contact police to report violations and request arrests.
  • Answer inquiries from the public concerning animal control operations.
  • Examine animal licenses, and inspect establishments housing animals for compliance with laws.
  • Organize the adoption of unclaimed animals.
  • Train police officers in dog handling and training techniques for tracking, crowd control, and narcotics and bomb detection.

Interests

  • Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
  • Social - Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
  • Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Education, training, experience

  • Education - These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
  • Training - Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
  • Experience - Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.

Knowledge

  • Administration and Management -Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
  • English Language -Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Public Safety and Security -Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
  • Law and Government -Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
  • Clerical -Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
  • Customer and Personal Service -Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Skills

None found.

Related careers