1

Animal Control Officer Trainee Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Responds to animal control calls when animal warden is unavailable. * Assists at special events ... May serve as field training officer and instruct junior officers in proper police procedures ...

Veterinarian

Chesapeake, VA · On-site

$134 - $160/hr

Conducts medical evaluations, necropsies, and documentation for animal cruelty and neglect cases; collaborates with Animal Control Officers; provides expert testimony in court when needed. * Develops ...

Showing results 21-40

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 Virginia?

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

Infographic showing various Animal Control Officer Trainee job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, and 15% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.

Police Officer - VA DCJS Certified

City of Lynchburg

Lynchburg, VA

$50K - $79K/yr

Full-time

PTO

Re-posted 28 days ago


City Of Lynchburg rating

7.2

Company rating: 7.2 out of 10

Based on 10 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

626th of 856 rated public administrative organizations


Job description

Description * Current Virginia Law Enforcement Officers Only* If you are NOT currently a Certified Law Enforcement Officer apply for the Police Officer job posting. The Lynchburg Police Department is currently offering a lateral transfer program for Virginia DCJS certified officers. VA Certified Officers will complete this application, polygraph examination, psychological examination, background investigation, physical examination and medical examination prior to employment.

Sign-on bonus All Police Officers will receive 40 hours of vacation time and 40 hours of sick time upon hire 100% of Law Enforcement Officer credit will be used to determine salary and rank. (Jail officers, courtroom security officers, sworn security officers, and any other sworn officer that has not conducted policing similar to the responsibilities of a Lynchburg Police Officer are not eligible.) Years of service a Virginia Certified Officer must have before obtaining rank is: A minimum of 2 years to obtain POII - $53,060.80 - $55,723.20 A minimum of 4 years to obtain POIII - $57,512.00 - $79,185.60 Essential Duties ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Other duties to provide direct or indirect service to the citizens may be assigned. On assigned shift, operates a patrol vehicle to observe violations of traffic laws, suspicious activities or persons and disturbances of law and order; Responds to dispatched calls such as domestic situations, alarm, advice calls, etc.; Enforces local and state laws and issue summonses for parking and traffic violations; Works radar and conducts traffic checks; Interviews suspects, witnesses and victims regarding crime reported and completes detailed incident reports; Obtains and serves warrants, make arrests and testifies in court; Maintains various types of records and files such as personal court appearances; Conducts crime scene searches, collects and preserves evidence, and submits lab reports; Investigates and reports traffic accidents and directs traffic when necessary; Assists with criminal investigations, conducts stakeouts, presents evidence, interviews victims and witnesses, performs property and evidence duties; Reports unsafe conditions existing in street or other public facilities; Prepares detailed reports; Responds to animal control calls when animal warden is unavailable; Assists at special events such as crowd control at parades, VIP security, etc.; Provides public services such as unlocking vehicles and escorts; May serve as field training officer and instruct junior officers in proper police procedures, practices and techniques, use of equipment and departmental policy; Assists in the establishment of work schedules, assignment and supervision of work of subordinate officers; conducts roll call; Participates in the tactical response to special threat situations such as terrorism, hostage taking, and natural and man-made disasters or accidents; may be called upon to be a tactical training officer

ADDITIONAL DUTIES Other duties to provide direct or indirect service to the citizens may be assigned. When unusual situations occur and/or the City Manager declares a State of Emergency, all City employees may be required to accept special assignments and perform as needed to ensure appropriate service delivery. SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Minimum Education and Experience Required To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Must be a VA Certified Law Enforcement Officer High school diploma or GED required. Associates Degree, Bachelors Degree or higher education preferred. Additional Requirements Possession of valid Driver's License issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia and acceptable driving record according to City criteria.

Must have at least three years of continuous valid licensing, no DUI convictions within the last three years, and an overall pattern of safe vehicle operation and driving habits. Must successfully complete IS100 and IS700 National Incident Management (NIMS) training within 90 days of employment. May also be required to complete higher levels of NIMS training as determined appropriate for the position.


What City Of Lynchburg employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom