Training Required to be an Animal Control Officer?

Answer 1

An animal control officer has to be ready for anything at any time. They deal with wildlife, abused, abandoned, and scared animals that may need to be caught, transported, and relocated. They deal with homeowners and dog fight leaders. They may be responsible for removing dead carcasses from the roads. They have to be organized and literate to fill out and file paperwork, know the local laws, and be willing and able to testify in court. They are a cross between law enforcement and humane society.

In many areas the majority of the training of an animal control officer is on the job. The amount of possible situations an officer may encounter is too infinite to confine to a single course of study. A high school diploma and a desire to learn may be all that is required for an entry level officer. Other municipalities require at least some college with emphasis on animal welfare and/or criminal justice. Although required classroom training to be eligible to serve as an animal control officer varies from state to state, some require NACA certification. The National Animal Control Association holds training seminars across the United States that enable participants to learn the required hands on skills they will need, such as handling bite sticks and chemical immobilization. They do not provide job placement, but do offer job postings for open positions on their website. See http://www.nacanet.org/index.html for more information.

Animal Services Training and Consulting is another training facility for animal control officers. They usually hold classes per the request of a local municipality that are both classroom and hands on covering topics such as crime scene investigation and animal cruelty investigation. If you are hired into an entry level position, AST&C may provide your training. They offer online refresher courses as well.

The job of the animal control officer may look exciting as seen on television, but the reality is they are skilled people at handling both animals and human beings. These skills may be learned on the job or in seminars. The biggest requirement is a sincere desire to learn how to balance public safety with animal welfare.