Research volunteer opportunities at local animal shelters, nonprofits, veterinary offices, zoos, etc. and get first-hand experience working with animals. 

Volunteer to help animals.  

Empathy is an integral part of our human nature. It is a skill ingrained in us, but it can also be learned and improved upon. Explore ways to develop your empathy and be more successful in life.

Watch a TED Talk about empathy.

Being prepared and well trained to respond to a variety of emergency situations is a huge part of a security professionals job. Learn more about how you can protect yourself and others! 

Learn more about emergency preparedness and response.

Contact the agency you're interested in and ask about ride-along programs. You'll be riding with someone working as a police officer, firefighter or paramedic to see what they do and ask questions.

Ride with a police officer, firefighter, or paramedic.

You can be an advocate for animals before becoming an animal control worker. Read these tips for reporting animal cruelty and helping animals in need—but remember not to put yourself in any danger!

Learn how to report animal cruelty.

Ask your school counselor about how to find JROTC (Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps) programs that you can join. 

Learn about teamwork and leadership in JROTC.

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

The ability to see details at a distance.

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Animal Control Workers

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

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Realistic

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Conventional

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Investigative

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Social

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Enterprising

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Artistic

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

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.

Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

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.

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.

Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.

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.

Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Actively looking for ways to help people.

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Protective Service Occupations

Other Protective Service Workers

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.

Supply animals with food, water, and personal care.

Write reports of activities, and maintain files of impoundments and dispositions of animals.

Prepare for prosecutions related to animal treatment, and give evidence in court.

Examine animals for injuries or malnutrition, and arrange for any necessary medical treatment.

Contact animal owners to inform them that their pets are at animal holding facilities.

Educate the public about animal welfare, and animal control laws and regulations.

Clean facilities and equipment such as dog pens and animal control trucks.

Remove captured animals from animal-control service vehicles and place animals in shelter cages or other enclosures.

Animal Shelter Manager

ARK Software Ark Shelter Software

Microsoft Access

TRAX Animal Control and Dog Warden Officer Software

Microsoft PowerPoint

Esri ArcGIS

Geographic information system GIS software

Geographic information system GIS systems

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

SAP software

Microsoft Office software

Microsoft SharePoint

Microsoft Windows

Microsoft Word

Animal capture nets

Animal traps

Bat excluders

Animal catch poles

Noose poles

Mobile radios

Dog muzzles

Leashes

Animal cages

Microchip readers

Blowguns

Veterinary stethoscopes

Snake tongs

Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.

Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?

Deal With External Customers or the Public in General

Extremely important

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Every day

How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?

In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment

How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?

Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions

How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

Constant contact with others

Contact with others most of the time

How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?

Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team

Important

How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?

Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People

Once a week or more but not every day

How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?

Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams

How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?

A lot of freedom

Some freedom

Limited freedom

How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?

Animal Control Workers

Overview

Career

What Animal Control Workers Do

Other Job Titles Animal Control Workers May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Animal Control Workers

Overview

Career

What Animal Control Workers Do

Other Job Titles Animal Control Workers May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Animal Control Workers

Related Leaders