Animal control officers (ACOs) are like police officers for animals and
animal owners. They enforce the local bylaws of local, state or county governments,
depending on the jurisdictions they've been contracted to cover.
Some operate out of police divisions. Others work out of animal services
departments in municipalities.
A lot of the work deals with domestic pets -- mainly dogs and cats. ACOs
spend most of their days responding to complaints about loose dogs, barking
dogs and abusive or negligent owners. Along the way, they also pick up lost,
abandoned or injured dogs and cats.
Depending on their area and their pound's mandate, some ACOs also deal
with wildlife. "We have a lot of wildlife sightings on campus -- deer, raccoons,
skunks, mountain lions, you name it," says Jen Holz, an ACO with the University
of California at Santa Cruz (UCSC) Police Department.
"We also have 12,000 students," says Holz. "A lot of them come from different
parts of the country and haven't been around wildlife before, so it's a setup
for conflict."
Education is key to public safety when it comes to animal awareness. ACOs
spend a lot of time educating people on the basic do's and don't's of pet
ownership -- do spay or neuter your pet and don't leave your dog in the car
on a summer day, to cite two examples.
Animal control has a lot more to do with the general public than just animals.
Good people skills are crucial in a job where ACOs are out in the community
every day, says Bunny Baldwin, an ACO in Lakeland, Florida.
"I'd say 85 percent of my job is dealing with people," she says. "The actual
animal part is easy, even when it's a vicious dog. Hostile people can be more
vicious -- they can get really mean and defensive when it comes to their pets.
I've been called names I wouldn't want to repeat."
Others enjoy the people aspect of the job. "I love being out and about
in my truck, meeting people all day," says ACO Allan Beckingham. "Maybe it's
because it's a small town, but everyone is pretty good about it, and most
are responsible about their pets."
With animal control comes certain physical demands, including strength,
endurance and agility. You have to be able to lift dead or injured animals,
be quick on your feet and sometimes be able to hike after wildlife.
"It can get pretty physical," says Holz. "Sometimes you'll be running or
hiking to get to where an animal needs you. More often you'll be lifting a
150-pound dog into your truck."
There are also a few on-the-job hazards to expect, like skunk spray and
dog bites. "There's no one here who hasn't been bitten," says Baldwin. "We
all compare scars."
ACOs work varied hours. It's rarely 9 to 5. Some are called out in the
middle of the night to assist the police where animals are involved. "It's
a lot [of] shift work," says Baldwin. "It's hard if you have small kids. You're
always on call."
About three-quarters of the work is done out on the field. But there is
also a lot of paperwork and kennel work that needs doing, says ACO Bruce Peet.
"My day starts with cleaning out the kennel," says Peet. "Then there are
some office duties, paperwork, writing reports, filing victims' statements
for dog bites, court documents, fines, that kind of thing. Then I get on the
road, responding to a pile of calls."
Baldwin is also often on the move and has to work with communication equipment.
"When you're on the road, the truck is your office," she says. "You wear a
radio and get dispatches all day. It's just a quiet community, but you wouldn't
know that from all the calls we get."