Job description template
Animal Control Officer Job Description Template
A copy-ready animal control officer job description with responsibilities, qualifications, skills and pay guidance: customize it for your company in minutes.
Copy the template below, replace the bracketed fields and tailor duties to your workplace. For pay, national BLS data shows animal control officers earn a median of $45,660 ($21.95/hour); the middle 50% earn $37,750–$57,060.
Job title
Animal Control Officer
Job summary
[Company name] is seeking a dependable animal control officer to join our team in [city, state]. In this role, you will respond to calls about stray and dangerous animals, capture and transport animals safely and support our team’s commitment to safety, quality and service.
Responsibilities
- Respond to calls about stray and dangerous animals
- Capture and transport animals safely
- Investigate animal bites and quarantine animals
- Investigate cruelty and neglect complaints
- Enforce local animal laws and issue citations
- Rescue injured or trapped animals
- Educate the public about responsible pet ownership
- Follow company policies, safety procedures and applicable regulations
Required qualifications
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Working knowledge of animal handling and capture and bite investigation
- Compassion and calm under pressure
- [Add role-specific requirements, such as driver’s license or ability to pass a background check, if job-related]
Preferred qualifications
- NACA Animal Control Officer certification
- Euthanasia certification
- Chemical capture certification
- Experience with catch poles and nets
Skills
- Cruelty investigation
- Report writing
- Animal law knowledge
- Vehicle operation
- Communication
- Judgment
Work environment and schedule
Officers work outdoors and in vehicles, responding to homes, roads and public places. The job involves risk of bites, scratches and exposure to disease. Most work full-time, with evenings, weekends and on-call emergency response.
Pay and benefits
$[min]–$[max] per [hour/year], depending on experience. [List benefits: health insurance, paid time off, retirement plan, training and certification support.]
Equal opportunity
[Company name] is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law, and we provide reasonable accommodations upon request.
Tips for a animal control officer job posting that attracts applicants
- Use the title candidates search for. “Animal Control Officer” is the clearest; alternates include Animal Services Officer, Humane Officer, Animal Welfare Officer.
- Show the pay range. Postings with pay get more qualified applicants, and a growing number of states and cities require pay ranges in job postings.
- Separate must-haves from nice-to-haves. Long requirement lists discourage qualified candidates, especially career changers.
- Describe a real day. Borrow from our day in the life of an animal control officer so applicants self-select accurately.
- Mention training. Highlighting structured onboarding: such as Animal Control Officer training: widens your applicant pool.
Next steps
Screen and interview with our Animal Control Officer hiring guide, then onboard with the 30-60-90 day plan.