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Animal Control Officer Jobs in Ohio (NOW HIRING)

Cincinnati Animal CARE

Dispatcher

Cincinnati, OH · On-site

$16.83/day

You will also connect our Animal Control Officers to the shelter and alert them of all calls. This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys meaningful work, takes pride in helping others, and ...

Cincinnati Animal CARE

Dispatcher

Cincinnati, OH · On-site

$16.83/hr

You will also connect our Animal Control Officers to the shelter and alert them of all calls. This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys meaningful work, takes pride in helping others, and ...

Cincinnati Animal CARE

Call Center Coordinator

Cincinnati, OH · On-site

$17.25 - $22.50/hr

This position is essential in managing the flow of information between the community, shelter staff, and Animal Control Officers, ensuring timely and accurate responses to inquiries, complaints, and ...

Montgomery County

Animal Care Crewleader

Dayton, OH

$42K - $54K/yr

Requires working knowledge of Ohio law regarding domestic animals, dog licensing, and dog control. Enters and retrieves information on computer (e.g., animal records), assists in general office ...

Montgomery County

Animal Care Provider / Entry

Dayton, OH · On-site

$37K - $47K/yr

... control occupation under close supervision requiring some knowledge of custodial care applicable to animals in order to safely care for sheltered animals. Understands and interprets animal body ...

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All JobsAnimal Control Officer JobsAnimal Control Officer Jobs in Ohio

Animal Control Officer information

See Ohio salary details

$27.1K

$45.6K

$67K

How much do animal control officer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for animal control officer in Ohio is $45,551.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $36,600.00 and $51,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an animal control officer?

Animal Control Officers are public safety professionals responsible for enforcing laws related to the care and control of animals. They investigate cases of animal cruelty, rescue animals in distress, and manage issues such as stray animals or dangerous pets. These officers often educate the community about responsible pet ownership and may work for local government agencies or animal shelters. Their role helps ensure the safety of both the public and animals in their community.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an animal control officer?

To thrive as an Animal Control Officer, you need a solid understanding of animal behavior, local laws, and public safety protocols, often supported by a high school diploma and specialized training or certification. Familiarity with animal handling equipment, incident reporting systems, and sometimes animal capture or tranquilizing tools is typically required. Strong communication, problem-solving, and conflict resolution skills help build trust with the public and efficiently manage stressful situations. These competencies are crucial for ensuring community safety, humane animal treatment, and effective enforcement of animal-related regulations.

What does an animal control officer do?

As an animal control officer, your job duties include dealing with dangerous wildlife and capturing stray pets and abandoned animals. You may also work on the investigation of animal abuse cases. When on duty, you may patrol a community or wait for a dispatcher to deploy you to deal with an escaped pet, potentially dangerous wildlife, or stray animal. Your responsibilities also include providing care and treatment for injured animals, both wild and domestic. You may work “on call,” meaning that you may be called to provide service at any time of day or night.

What are common challenges an animal control officer faces in the field?

Animal Control Officers often encounter challenging situations such as handling aggressive or frightened animals, dealing with emotionally charged interactions with pet owners, and responding to emergency calls at irregular hours. They must also navigate local laws and regulations while ensuring public safety and animal welfare. Strong communication skills, quick decision-making, and the ability to remain calm under pressure are essential for success in this role.

What is the difference between Animal Control Officer vs Animal Shelter Worker?

AspectAnimal Control OfficerAnimal Shelter Worker
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma, sometimes animal control certificationHigh school diploma, animal care training often preferred
Work EnvironmentFieldwork, outdoor and community settingsIndoor shelter facilities, animal care areas
Employer & Industry UsageMunicipalities, government agenciesAnimal shelters, rescue organizations
Common Search & ComparisonOften compared for animal handling and enforcement rolesCompared for animal care and shelter management roles

Animal Control Officers primarily handle wildlife and stray animals in the community, enforcing local laws, while Animal Shelter Workers focus on caring for animals within shelter facilities. Both roles require animal handling skills, but their work environments and responsibilities differ significantly.

How hard is it to get into animal control officer?

Becoming an animal control officer typically requires a high school diploma or equivalent, along with training in animal handling and local regulations. Some positions may require certification or experience in animal care, and candidates often need to pass background checks and physical assessments. The difficulty varies depending on the region and specific agency requirements.

What skills are needed to be an animal control officer?

Animal control officers need strong communication and interpersonal skills to interact with the public and handle animals safely. They should have knowledge of animal behavior, basic veterinary care, and often require physical fitness and the ability to operate equipment such as traps and vehicles. Certification in animal handling or related training is also beneficial for the role.
More about Animal Control Officer jobs

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

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

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For Animal Control Officer jobs in Ohio, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Animal Control Officer jobs in Ohio look for?

The top searched job categories for Animal Control Officer jobs in Ohio are:

What cities in Ohio are hiring for Animal Control Officer jobs?

Cities in Ohio with the most Animal Control Officer job openings:

What are popular job titles related to Animal Control Officer jobs in OH?

For Animal Control Officer jobs in OH, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Animal Control Officer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animal Control Officer job openings in Ohio as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 15% Part Time, 6% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $45,551 per year, or $21.9 per hour.

Animal Care and Control Officer

Montgomery County

Dayton, OH • On-site

$46K - $59K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 10 days ago

Job description

Position Overview Ensures the health and safety of Montgomery County through extensive use of investigative, problem solving, prevention, and mitigation strategies to keep pets and people together. Developmental level in animal control ,requiring working knowledge of Ohio law and county-wide animal control ordinances governing the control, licensing, and humane treatment of animals, compliance investigation, case review, court preparation and hearings, understanding and interpreting animal body language, expertise regarding safe animal handling, animal restraint and animal care techniques animal behavior and animal control regulations; under general supervision, responds to citizen requests and patrols assigned area of County for the purpose of improving responsible dog ownership, assisting dog owners, and enforcing Ohio law regarding the control and licensing of dogs. Summary of Job Duties Demonstrates working knowledge and familiarity with pet retention, rehoming, behavioral training, veterinary care, and other resources to connect pets in need; requires effective use of judgement to make sound and safe decisions; patrols assigned area of the County, seizes and impounds all dogs not confined or under reasonable control of owner; aims to return pets found in the field to their owners by tracing identification tags, contacting potential leads, and canvassing the area the dog was found; conducts periodic checks for valid dog licenses, issues citations and required licenses to persons found in violation of relevant laws concerning control and registration of dogs.

Engages with Montgomery County residents, partners and stakeholders by gathering information, assessing the situation, and providing the appropriate service(s). Responds to concerns regarding strays, hostile dogs, injured or sick animals; takes required actions to impound, save, or humanely destroy animals as appropriate to circumstances involved; sets live traps to capture problem dogs, investigates dog bites, and issues nuisance, dangerous and vicious dog designations. Remains empathetic and non-judgmental in all interactions with community members and partners and uses de-escalation techniques and persuasive communication to assist pet owners with their pets.

Completes forms and prepares reports of actions taken for purposes of documentation, legal requirements, statistical records, or as dictated by policy. Appears in court when necessary to give testimony in the prosecution of cases involving animal control. Performs record searches, enters information into Shelter's computer database to issue citations, dog licenses, capture canine behavioral observations, pet reunification efforts, animal health concerns, and other processes within acceptable time frame/restrictions.

As shift assignment dictates, receives animals, performs dispatching, answers questions from public regarding legal requirements, dog control and effective methods of pet care. Cleans and provides routine care of equipment and vehicle(s) used to perform duties. Assists in animal care or other related duties.

(Performs Related Duties as Assigned and/or required) Minimum Qualifications and Requirements Equivalent to high school diploma/GED and six (6) months experience caring for or handling animals and working with the public; OR alternative equivalent evidence of the Minimum Class Requirements. Supplemental Information Driving Requirement: Must maintain a current, valid United States driver's license with an acceptable driving record. Training and Development: Must obtain Certified Euthanasia Technician (CET) certification and ASP Baton certification within six (6) months of hire date.

All required certifications are provided and paid for by ARC. Must maintain certification and licensure.

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