What is County Animal Control?

Every County has some form of animal control. The role of animal control in a community is very important. Most people are unaware of the wide range of services that animal control provides to both animals and owners. Volunteers are a large part of running the animal control unit.

Purpose

County animal control is set up to protect pets and people. The idea was that trained professionals could handle animals that were a problem, abandoned, lost or being abused. The aim was to educate the public about the proper care of animals.

Services

Animal control offers low cost clinics for both shots and population control. The department operates a shelter for lost or abandoned animals. Animal control officers are on duty to answer calls relating to animal disturbances or crimes.

Officers handle reports of abuse and neglect. Their job is to assess the situation, including living conditions, health of the animal and interaction with the pet owner.  Animals that are removed from their homes are brought to the shelter. A Staff veterinarian will determine the animal’s health and begin treatment. Some animals are far too ill and must be put down.

The animal will then be tested to determine the possibility of adoption. Once this is done, the animal will be available for someone to adopt.

Employment

In general animal control has very few paid positions. Funding for these services is cut in smaller areas and the police are left with the task of handling things.

Larger cities have animal control officers much like a police officer, only for animals. There are staff veterinarians, vet techs and several clerical positions. Everything else is run by volunteers who love animals.

Funding

Groups like the ASPCA and PAWS, help fund shelters to reduce the number of animals that must be put down. They also work with stores such as PETCO and PetSmart to find homes for shelter animals.