Job Opportunities in Animal Control

Submitted by Laura Lanza, Calcasieu Parish Animal Control and Protection Department, Lake Charles, Louisiana. Laura developed this information to distribute to high school students who participate in career day. If you know someone interested in the challenging field of Animal Control, then read on!

The challenges and rewards of a job in Animal Control are extensive. The field of Animal Control is one of the fastest growing professions in the country. The days of the "dogcatcher" and the "pounds" are quickly disappearing forever! Animal Control Officers and other employees in the field of Animal Control work and strive to serve the public as the frontline of defense to protect the health and safety of humans and animals.

The 5-point focus of an animal control program is:

  1. Public health.
  2. Public safety.
  3. Law enforcement.
  4. Protection of pets and people with education and intervention.
  5. Agency interaction in communication and cooperative endeavors.

The National Animal Control Association sums it up perfectly:

"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 Animal Control

Field Operations:

Animal Control Officers
Humane Officers
Cruelty Investigators
Livestock Officers
Field Supervisors
Rabies Control/Bite Investigators

Shelter Operations:

Kennel Master
Operations Manager
Shelter Manager
Animal Care Technicians
Animal Care Attendants
Euthanasia Technicians
Veterinary Technicians
Animal Groomers

Community/Office Operations:

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:

Minimum wage - up; increases usually available based upon specialized training. (Varies by geographical area. Also depends upon the size of the community and their commitment to modern animal control programs and whether the animal control department is privately run as a humane society with joint service contracts for animal control or a governmentally operated department)

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