Animal Control
Different communities vary somewhat in the way they administer this office's duties, so this section uses as an example the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control, which is representative of most big-city operations. Los Angeles County has six animal shelters that serve more than 3,200 miles of city, desert, beach, and mountain area. This county service provides animal control and rescue around the clock, every day of the year.
The shelters house lost or unwanted animals available for adoption. The benefits of adopting from a county shelter include receiving free veterinary care, low-cost spaying/neutering, and the assurance that the pet you adopt has had all the necessary vaccinations. And that's not to mention the joy in the fact that you are saving a life that will forever be your devoted and faithful little friend.
Some animal-control employees work exclusively in the shelters, while others work in the field, on the lookout for lost, injured, or abandoned animals. They rescue animals from dangerous situations, investigate reports of cruelty to animals, and enforce all state and local animal-control laws. They are also called on the scene when wild animals have close encounters with human beings.
Fact
The mission statement of the Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control states that it “promotes and protects public safety and animal care through sheltering, pet placement programs, education and animal law enforcement.” The department's purpose is to “provide responsive, efficient and high quality animal care and control services that preserve and protect public and animal safety.”
Many communities have occasional problems with wild cats, coyotes, or bears venturing into populated areas. Animal control, in conjunction with other authorities, tries to humanely remove such animals from the area.
The challenges and rewards of a job in animal control are vast and varied. The days of the dogcatcher and the pound are quickly disappearing. Animal control officers and other employees in the field of animal control strive to serve the public as the front line of defense to protect the health and safety of humans and animals.
The five-point focus of an animal control program covers the following:
Public health
Public safety
Law enforcement
Protection of pets and people with the use of education and intervention
Agency interaction in communication and cooperative endeavors
The National Animal Control Association sums it up as follows: “Animal Control is a program that effectively treats the symptoms while seeking to eliminate the causes by compassionately using the tools of education and enforcement.”
Job opportunities in the animal control field include the following:
Animal control officers
Humane officers
Cruelty investigators
Livestock officers
Field supervisors
Rabies control/bite investigators
Kennel master
Operations manager
Shelter manager
Animal care technicians
Euthanasia technicians
Veterinary technicians
Animal groomers
Clerks I & II
Secretaries I - II - III
Executive secretaries
Data processing clerks
Dispatchers
Receptionists
Adoption counselors
Executive directors/managers
Public relations
Humane educators
Salary Ranges
The lowest salary is the lowest allowed by law: minimum wage. Wage increases are based on specialized training, and they vary by geographical area. Salaries paid also depend upon the size of the community and its commitment to modern animal-control programs. Another factor that determines pay rates is whether the department is privately run as a humane society with joint service contracts for animal control or whether it is a governmentally operated department.
The greatest earning opportunities can be found in upper-level, trained positions. Management and investigator levels can earn potentially $50,000 to $85,000 in metropolitan areas; $30,000 to $45,000 in mid-sized communities; and $12,000 to $24,000 in small communities.
Educational/Training Requirements
Careers in the area of animal control involve public health and safety (in terms of the hazards of rabies and other diseases, animal bites, and so on) and law enforcement (local, state, and national laws pertaining to animals). At a minimum, a high school diploma or GED is required for entry-level positions. A college degree in a field of study related to the nature of the job is preferred. You may be able to substitute comparable experience for a degree. Most positions require ongoing specialized training. For instance, you must continue your studies in order to hold the position of certified euthanasia technician, and other positions may require you to be certified in chemical capture or to hold National Animal Control Association certification. Employment requirements usually include mandatory drug screening, background checks, and a valid driver's license.
Advancement Opportunities
Smaller communities are usually limited in positions and advancement opportunities. Small cities sometimes operate as one or two-person departments. Mid-sized and larger cities offer the most variety and opportunities for advancement within the animal control structure.
Pros and Cons of Working in the Field of Animal Control
Some of the many positive aspects of working in animal control include the following:
Protecting pets and people
Helping animals find homes with loving, responsible people who are prepared for their lifetime commitment to a pet
Rescuing animals from cruelty and prosecuting the individuals who torture and abuse animals
Assuring that impounded animals are being provided with proper and humane care at the shelter, until the pet owner reclaims them or until they are adopted
Knowing that if no one will care for the surplus unwanted, diseased, and even vicious animals, your concern will guarantee they are provided a humane and dignified death when there are no other alternatives
Work that is never dull, and challenges that are never-ending
Unusual animal calls that offer a variety of work and provide opportunities to meet unexpected challenges
Some drawbacks of working in animal control are the following:
Making pet owners angry when you are only trying to do your job
The fact that most people do not understand the need for animal-control enforcement until it is their children who are bitten by a dog or their pet that is attacked
The chance that you will observe otherwise decent people at their very worst, especially when you have to impound a pet or issue a citation
Blame in the public eye for killing animals, on the part of people who still do not believe, or won't accept, the realities of pet overpopulation
Having to deal with people who want to own animals but often don't want to accept the personal and financial responsibility of pet ownership
Stress from the verbal and physical abuse from citizens, depression from animal euthanasia, and exposure to communicable diseases and serious injuries from both animals and humans
Remember that a long-term job commitment in the area of animal control requires tremendous dedication to animals and the public. Some positions require working long hours and being on call at night, on weekends, and even on holidays to answer emergency calls. Check with your local community animal control center about job opportunities.
