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Animal Control Officer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

City of Lynchburg, VA

Police Officer 2026

Lynchburg, VA · On-site

$50K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

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 ...

City of Chesapeake

Veterinarian

Chesapeake, VA · On-site

  • Retirement

  • PTO

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 ...

Petco

Animal Care Specialist

Virginia Beach, VA · On-site

$14.50 - $19/hr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

As a Companion Animal Specialist , you are the primary expert and advocate for the health, welfare, and proper care of companion animals and aquatic life within the Pet Care Center (PCC). You ensure ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsAnimal Control Officer JobsAnimal Control Officer Jobs in Virginia

Animal Control Officer information

See Virginia salary details

$28.3K

$47.5K

$69.9K

How much do animal control officer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for animal control officer in Virginia is $47,502.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $38,200.00 and $53,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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 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 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 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

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

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

Animal Control Officer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animal Control Officer job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 50% Full Time, and 50% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $47,502 per year, or $22.8 per hour.

Spotsylvania Animal Hospital - DVM/VMD Student Extern

Spotsylvania Animal Hospital

Spotsylvania, VA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 22 days ago

Job description

Spotsylvania Animal Hospital was founded in 1981 serving the companion and exotic animals of Spotsylvania, Virginia and surrounding communities. Over the past 40 years, Spotsylvania has established a highly regarded reputation for providing affordable care for pets, and our doctors were recognized among the region's "Best Vets of 2022" by Northern Virginia Magazine. We are proud of the warm, welcoming culture our hospital has cultivated and low turnover team, which includes several members with more than a decade of service at our hospital. In addition to general care capabilities, the practice offers digital x-ray, ultrasound, dental, and laser therapy equipment as well as acupuncture services to ensure the health and wellness of its patients.
Veterinary Student Externship
About the hospital:
Spotsylvania Animal Hospital in Spotsylvania, Virginia was founded in 1981 and today is led by two experienced veterinarians that mentor LVTs, assistants, and support staff. The practice also has several team members with more than a decade of service. In addition to general care capabilities, the practice offers digital x-ray, ultrasound, dental, and laser therapy equipment as well as acupuncture services to ensure the health and wellness of its patients.
Over the past 40 years, Spotsylvania has established a highly regarded reputation in the community for providing affordable care for pets. It works with local law enforcement agencies with canine officers as well as the local animal control to keep shelter animals healthy. Its veterinarians are also involved in the prosecution of animal cruelty cases within the county. This reputation and its high standard of care have led to the practice receiving numerous high reviews and building a strong roster of loyal clients.
Our doctors were recognized among the region's "Best Vets of 2022" by Northern Virginia Magazine.
Why consider an externship with Spotsylvania Animal Hospital?
  • Mentorship from multiple strong veterinarians who are excited to welcome a student
  • Team has strong clinical skills in the areas of wellness and dentistry
  • Gain experience in holistic medicine with acupuncture
  • Gain experience with basic soft tissue and ophthalmic surgeries
  • Fully equipped with in-house lab capabilities, digital x-ray, laser therapy and ultrasound
  • Excellent culture, collaborative environment, and low turnover

What we offer externs:
  • Stipend to offset the cost of housing and travel
  • Mentorship from eager and experienced veterinarians
  • Opportunities to connect with multiple VetEvolve practices

Why VetEvolve:
  • VetEvolve's Support from the Start program is designed to provide new veterinarians with mentorship, hands-on training, and a customized post-grad experience to build a strong foundation. This includes assigned mentors, individualized mentorship plans, and opportunities for specialized training and continued education to help you develop your skills and confidence while fostering a healthy work-life balance.
  • Industry leading Veterinarian and support staff retention rates - Hear why our Veterinarians are "Happy Here" on our videos page.
  • We invest in our team members' professional growth and mental wellbeing, and many of our team members hold Compassion Fatigue Professional certifications.
  • We live by our core values: Serve, Evolve, and Trust.
  • "They allow me the freedom to practice as I see fit...We can make almost all of our main decisions ourselves, at the clinic level. Their up front focus on honesty and improving over time keeps surprising me each time they demonstrate it. Veterinary medicine is not always the prettiest, easiest, happiest, or most satisfying line of work as we all know, but I can't imagine doing it for any other group. VetEvolve has been able to retain a small feel over time, as it grows, which is huge for me." - VetEvolve network DVM. Reach out to us to hear more from our Veterinarians about how we strive to provide team members environments where they feel "Happy Here".
  • Repeat winner of Virginia's Best Places to Work (we are based in Virginia).

Qualifications:
  • Currently enrolled in an AVMA accredited Veterinary School (VMD or DVM degree path)

Apply here or contact Ashley Anderson at anderson@vetevolve.com for more information.

Apply