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Animal Control Officer Trainee Jobs in Florida (NOW HIRING)

Lee County, FL

Animal Control Officer

Fort Myers, FL · On-site

$22/hr

As an Animal Control Officer, you'll respond to animal-related calls, enforce laws and ordinances, investigate complaints, and help protect the safety of residents and animals. This role requires ...

Collier County

Animal Control Officer I

Naples, FL · On-site

$22.18/hr

We're looking for a dedicated Animal Control Officer to join our team - someone who's not afraid to get their hands dirty (or fur-covered) to protect animals and people. This role isn't just about ...

City of Vero Beach, FL

ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER

Vero Beach, FL · On-site

$21.86 - $22.73/hr

Knowledge of animal behavior and control techniques, including euthanasia. * Knowledge of effective customer service/public relations practices and procedures. * Knowledge of occupational hazards and ...

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Animal Control Officer Trainee information

What is an animal control officer trainee?

Animal Control Officer Trainees are entry-level professionals who learn how to enforce animal-related laws and regulations, respond to animal emergencies, and educate the public about responsible pet ownership. They work under the supervision of experienced officers to gain hands-on experience with animal handling, investigation, and safety procedures. Their training prepares them for a full Animal Control Officer role, where they will protect both the community and animals from harm or neglect.

What skills and qualifications are needed to be an animal control officer trainee?

To thrive as an Animal Control Officer Trainee, you need a basic understanding of animal behavior, safety procedures, and usually a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with animal restraint tools, incident reporting systems, and sometimes completion of relevant training or certification programs is beneficial. Strong communication, problem-solving, and conflict resolution skills help in interacting with the public and handling stressful situations. These skills and qualities are crucial for ensuring public safety, humane animal treatment, and effective enforcement of animal regulations.

What are common challenges faced by animal control officer trainees during training?

Animal Control Officer Trainees often encounter challenges such as becoming comfortable handling a wide variety of animals, some of which may be aggressive or frightened. Trainees must quickly learn local animal control laws, safe capture techniques, and proper use of equipment. Additionally, adapting to emotionally charged situations, like dealing with distressed pet owners or cases of animal cruelty, can be demanding. However, trainees are typically supported by experienced officers and receive on-the-job training to help them build confidence and competence in the field.

What is the difference between Animal Control Officer Trainee vs Animal Control Officer?

AspectAnimal Control Officer TraineeAnimal Control Officer
Required CertificationsBasic animal handling and safety training, sometimes state-specific certificationsSame as trainee, plus experience and additional certifications often preferred
Work EnvironmentSupervised, training-focused, fieldwork with animals and public interactionsIndependent fieldwork, enforcement, and animal rescue activities
Employer & Industry UsageEntry-level position in animal control departments, shelters, or municipal agenciesFull-time role with more responsibilities, often after completing trainee period

Animal Control Officer Trainee is an entry-level position designed to provide training and experience, while Animal Control Officer is a fully qualified role with greater responsibilities. Trainees typically work under supervision, gaining skills needed for the officer position. Both roles are essential in animal control services, with the trainee position serving as a stepping stone to becoming an officer.

What are the most commonly searched types of Animal Control Officer jobs in Florida?

The most popular types of Animal Control Officer jobs in Florida are:

What cities in Florida are hiring for Animal Control Officer Trainee jobs?

Cities in Florida with the most Animal Control Officer Trainee job openings:

Animal Control Officer Trainee jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animal Control Officer Trainee job openings in Florida as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 19% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 95% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution.

Animal Control Officer

Lee County, FL

Fort Myers, FL • On-site

$22/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 13 days ago

Job description

Salary: $22.00 Hourly
Location : 5600 Banner Drive, Fort Myers, FL
Job Type: Full-Time Regular
Job Number: 08024KL
Department: Animal Services
Opening Date: 08/24/2026
Closing Date: 9/7/2026 10:18 AM Eastern
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Description
Lee County is seeking a responsible, confident, and community-minded Animal Control Officer to join our Domestic Animal Services team. This is an active, field-based public-safety role for someone who enjoys problem-solving, investigation, and working with both people and animals.
As an Animal Control Officer, you'll respond to animal-related calls, enforce laws and ordinances, investigate complaints, and help protect the safety of residents and animals.
This role requires sound judgment, professionalism, and the ability to handle unpredictable situations.
If you are comfortable working independently, making decisions under pressure, and safely handling animals in a variety of conditions, this position may be a great fit.
Duties and Responsibilities
What You'll Do
This is a hands-on public-safety position involving investigation, enforcement, animal handling, and community education. Daily responsibilities include:
  • Respond to calls involving stray, injured, aggressive, or dangerous animals
  • Investigate animal bites, scratches, and other animal-related incidents
  • Enforce Florida Statutes and County and City ordinances
  • Issue warnings, citations, and summonses when appropriate
  • Patrol assigned areas to identify violations of animal control laws
  • Safely capture, restrain, trap, and transport domestic and wild animals
  • Communicate professionally with residents, including during stressful situations
  • Prepare detailed reports, logs, citations, and investigative documentation
  • Maintain accurate records and case information
  • Testify in court or at administrative hearings as needed
  • Work cooperatively with law enforcement, emergency responders, veterinarians, and shelter staff
  • Educate the public about responsible animal ownership and safety

Education, Experience, Licensing
What We're Looking For
Successful candidates will have:
  • High school diploma or GED
  • One (1) year of professional experience in animal control, animal handling, law enforcement, military service, code enforcement, emergency response, or a closely related public-safety field
  • Valid Driver's License with an acceptable driving record
  • Ability to work outdoors in Southwest Florida weather conditions
  • Ability to work nights, weekends, holidays, and rotating on-call emergency shifts
  • Ability to safely handle animals that may be aggressive, frightened, injured, or dangerous
  • Preferred experience includes animal control work, public-safety or enforcement roles, investigative experience, or professional animal handling.

Required Certifications (to be obtained within one year of hire):
  • Florida Animal Control Association (FACA) Certified Animal Control Officer
  • FACA Euthanasia Certification

Supplemental Information
Work Schedule:
  • Regular Shift: 3:00 PM - 11:30 PM
  • Rotating On-Call Shift: 11:30 PM - 8:00 AM
  • Days off vary based on operational needs (Friday-Saturday or Sunday-Monday)
  • Emergency or after-hours response is required.

Why Join Us?
As part of Lee County Domestic Animal Services, your work directly protects residents and animals while helping maintain a safer community. This is a meaningful, high-impact public-service role where no two days are the same.
Joining our team means:
  • Stable full-time employment with local government
  • Health and wellness benefits
  • Retirement benefits through the State of Florida
  • Paid training and professional development
  • Opportunities to gain specialized skills in investigation, enforcement, and animal handling
  • A role where sound judgment, independence, and compassion matter
  • The chance to help reunite families with lost pets and support humane animal care

About the Department
Lee County Domestic Animal Services provides animal control, enforcement, sheltering, and community education throughout the county. Our team balances public safety with humane treatment, helping ensure a safe and compassionate environment for people and animals.
About Lee County
Lee County is located in beautiful Southwest Florida and is home to over 800,000 residents. We are dedicated to serving our community with high-quality services and a focus on sustainability and innovation. Join us in making Lee County a great place to live, work, and visit. Find out more about Lee County at
EMERGENCY RESPONSE/RECOVERY ACTIVITIES:
All County employees are required to work before, during, or after an emergency as needed. This may include temporarily being assigned to work and performing duties outside of the normal scope of their position, location and work schedule to fit the needs of the County and its citizens.
DISCLAIMER: The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this classification. All positions are subject to a criminal background check. A conviction in and of itself may not necessarily preclude employment. Some positions may be subject to a pre-employment drug screening. Certain service members and veterans, and the spouses and family members of such service members and veterans, who claim and meet eligibility requirements of veterans preference, receive preference and priority in employment and are encouraged to apply.
Lee County Board of County Commissioners offers a comprehensive, and affordable benefits package. Our Board works in the best interest of employees and strives to provide the most complete, high-quality benefits package available at the lowest possible cost to the employee. Our Board continues to remain steadfast in maintaining one of the lowest levels of employee costs in our area.
Lee County's benefits package is offered to both regular Full-time positions and Part-time positions that are regularly scheduled to work 60 hours or more bi-weekly. Medical benefits may be offered to On-Call, Temporary, Seasonal, and Intern employees who meet the Affordable Care Act eligibility criteria.
Lee County employees eligible to participate in the Florida Retirement System (FRS) are required to contribute 3% of each paycheck to FRS. If you have retired from the Florida Retirement Pension plan you will not be eligible for renewed membership in either of the FRS retirement plan options. Retirees of the Investment Plan are eligible for renewed membership in the Investment Plan only. FRS reemployment rules apply for both.
Below is a brief breakdown of what's included in the benefits package that is offered to our employees.
For a more detailed look into our benefits package, please click visit our webpage at
To view our employee paid premiums, please visit:
Health Benefits:
• Medical Insurance
• Plans include, but are not limited to: routine, preventative, mental health, hospitalization, and prescription drug benefits.
• Vision, Fitness, Weight Management, Natural Products and Services, and Hearing discount programs available.
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Medical Reimbursement Account
• Dependent Care Reimbursement Account
• Pharmacy, including Mail-Order Pharmacy
• Informed Health Lines (Nurse Hotline)
• Basic Life Insurance (1x or 2x Annual Salary at no cost to employee)
• Optional Life Insurance
• Long-Term Disability (60% of pre-disability salary at no cost to employee)
• Short-Term Disability
• Sick Leave Pool
• Flu vaccinations
• Wellness Programs
Financial Benefits:
• Florida Retirement System (FRS)
• Two Retirement Plan Options:
1) FRS Pension Plan (Defined Benefit)
2) FRS Investment Plan (Defined Contribution)
• Deferred Compensation (457) Plans
• Financial Savings/Management Programs
• Eligible for membership with Suncoast Credit Union
• Employee Leave Benefits
• Holiday Pay - 11 Paid Holidays Annually
• Paid Sick Leave
• Paid Vacation Leave
• Bereavement & Civic Duty Leave
• Family and Medical Leave
• Military Family & Medical Leave
• Educational Leave
Employee Assistance Program
Services available to employees that offers guidance, support, resources and information for personal and work-life issues. Confidential and provided at no charge to employees and their dependents.
United Way 2-1-1 (Lee County Employee Resource Program)
Lee County BOCC has partnered with United Way 211 to provide an Employee Resource Program which assists BoCC employees who may be experiencing distress due to economic hardship, health or other factors.
Educational Assistance
Reimbursement for coursework taken at an accredited college or university that is designed to enhance the knowledge, skills and abilities relating to the official duties that the employees perform.
01
Do you have one (1) year of professional experience in animal control, animal handling, law enforcement, code enforcement, emergency response, or a similar public-safety field? (Be sure to include this experience in the Work History section of your application.)
  • Yes
  • No

02
Are you able to obtain Florida Animal Control Association (FACA) Certification in Euthanasia and FACA Certified Animal Control Officer certification within one year of hire?
  • Yes
  • No

03
Do you possess a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record?
  • Yes
  • No

04
Are you able to work the night shift from 3:00 PM to 11:30 PM with rotating on-call emergency shifts from 11:30 PM to 8:00 AM?
  • Yes
  • No

Required Question

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