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Animal Control Officer Jobs in Springfield, MA (NOW HIRING)

Town of Vernon

Assistant Animal Control Officer

CT

$25.48/hr

Town of Vernon Part-Time Assistant Animal Control Officer Per Diem Hourly Rate: $25.4770 General Statement of Duties : Performs patrol and enforcement duties in an animal control program; enforces ...

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Animal Control Officer information

See Springfield, MA salary details

$28.4K

$47.7K

$70.3K

How much do animal control officer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for animal control officer in Springfield, MA is $47,746.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $38,400.00 and $53,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How hard is it to work for animal control?

Working as an animal control officer can be physically demanding and emotionally challenging due to exposure to distressed animals, unpredictable situations, and sometimes hazardous environments. The job requires good communication skills, physical fitness, and often involves working irregular hours, including nights and weekends.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Animal Control Officer, and why are they important?

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 is the highest paying job in the animal industry?

In the animal industry, specialized roles such as veterinary surgeons or zoo directors tend to have the highest salaries. These positions often require advanced degrees, certifications, and extensive experience, and they typically offer higher compensation compared to entry-level animal control or shelter jobs.

What are some common challenges Animal Control Officers face 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 Do Animal Control Officers 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 do I need to work for animal control?

To work as an animal control officer, you typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, a valid driver's license, and good communication skills. Some positions require certification in animal handling or related training, and physical fitness is important due to the nature of the work. Prior experience with animals or law enforcement can be beneficial.

What are Animal Control Officers?

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.

What jobs pay 4000 a week without a degree?

Animal Control Officers typically do not earn $4,000 per week without specialized experience or advanced certifications. High-paying jobs that can reach this level without a degree often include roles such as commercial pilots, real estate brokers, or sales managers, which rely on skills, licenses, or performance rather than formal education. These positions may require on-the-job training, licensing, or significant experience to achieve such earnings.
More about Animal Control Officer jobs
What job categories do people searching Animal Control Officer jobs in Springfield, MA look for? The top searched job categories for Animal Control Officer jobs in Springfield, MA are:
What cities near Springfield, MA are hiring for Animal Control Officer jobs? Cities near Springfield, MA with the most Animal Control Officer job openings:
Animal Control Officer jobs near you
Assistant Animal Control Officer

Assistant Animal Control Officer

Town of Vernon

Vernon, CT • On-site

$25.48/hr

Part-time, Per diem

Posted 4 days ago

Job description

Position Type:
Police
Date Posted:
3/2/2026
Location:
Police Department
Town of Vernon
Part-Time Assistant Animal Control Officer
Per Diem Hourly Rate: $25.4770
General Statement of Duties: Performs patrol and enforcement duties in an animal control program; enforces Town ordinances and Connecticut Animal Control Statutes, and laws relating to domestic animals and the control of rabies in domestic animals and nuisance wildlife. Maintains good public relations.
Supervision Received: Reports directly to the Chief of Police or Captain and takes direction from same or designee.
Supervision Exercised: May supervise volunteers. Manages animal control shelters in absence of Animal Control Officer.
Essential Job Functions: Plans and organizes work according to authorized procedures and priorities. Responds to animal complaint calls based on priority, including dogs, cats, other domestic animals and nuisance wildlife. Investigates vicious, diseased, or stray dogs, diseased cats, other domestic animals and nuisance wildlife. Patrols town for stray or unlicensed dogs; captures and removes stray or vicious dogs, cats, other domestic animals and nuisance wildlife to an animal shelter. Issue summons to violators, or makes arrests. Arranges for return, adoption or disposal of impounded dogs, cats, other domestic animals and wildlife. Maintains town pound and animal shelters in absence of Animal Control Officer. Cares for, feeds and houses animals as required. Removes injured and dead dogs, cats, and other domestic animals from town roadways. Assists in providing information to the public concerning lost, impounded, injured or abandoned animals and wildlife sightings in a timely manner. Reports work accomplished to the Chief of Police or designee. Keeps Animal Control Officer abreast of animal control issues that occurred and/or are ongoing. Prepares any required Police incident reports. Assists in the organization of rabies clinics and attends special clinics as assigned. Issues temporary dog licenses for dogs adopted directly from the animal shelter. Issues adoption certificates from the state Animal Population Control to new owners of a dog or cat from the dog pound or animal control shelter. Regularly checks Town e-mail and voicemails; maintains communications with Police Department at all times while on duty. Regular and punctual attendance. Will be on call as assigned.
Other Job Duties: Collects fees as required. May medicate sick animals and nurse baby animals that need a boost in life. Performs other related duties as assigned.
Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, climb, stoop, crouch, reach with arms and hands, walk, run, use hands to finger, handles, or feel objects, tools or controls. Hand eye coordination is necessary to operate computers and various pieces of office equipment. Must be able to operate motor vehicle and control aggressive, dangerous animals.
Hand-eye coordination required for operation of computers and various other office equipment.
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move 50 pounds. Must occasionally push/pull 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment: The work characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in outside weather conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts; in high precarious places; is regularly exposed to hot, cold, wet and/or humid conditions, fumes, toxic or caustic chemicals; and is frequently exposed to animal feces and noxious odors. May be exposed to zoonotic diseases.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Noise level can be loud in the animal shelter.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Knowledge of law enforcement principles, procedures, techniques and equipment; knowledge of dogs, cats, other domestic animals and wildlife, including handling, transport,sheltering, care and feeding. Knowledge of Connecticut Animal Control Statutes and Town of Vernon ordinances related to domestic animals; knowledge of animal restraint and care techniques. Ability to obtain knowledge of other Town ordinances relative to contractual agreements with the Town of Vernon. Ability to care for domestic animals. Ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to supply statistical reports. Ability to foster relationships and deal effectively with officials, business owners, outside agencies, rescue organizations, employees, and the general public; ability to be tactful, courteous, diplomatic, compassionate and professional; ability to resolve conflicts; ability to deal with stressful situations involving animal cruelty and death. Ability to deal with difficult and angry people; ability to maintain self-control. Ability to make sound decisions within job scope. Ability to promote pet adoption through the animal shelter. Must be computer proficient with the ability to learn software programs specific to the job.
Experience & Training: Requires a high school diploma, or GED, and two (2) years of experience in animal handling, care, or control, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Veterinarian Technician certification preferred, but not required. Must successfully complete Animal Control Officer training program mandated by the State of Connecticut within one year of employment. Requires continuing education to meet State Statutes. Annual Police Department training as mandated by the Department, including qualifying with firearms (pistols, rifles and shotguns) to Police Department standards.
License or Certificate: Must have and maintain a valid driver's license. May be required to obtain a Connecticut State Permit to Carry Pistols and Revolvers. Full criminal background check and fingerprinting is required. This position requires a one year probationary period.
This job description is not intended to be a complete statement of all duties, functions and responsibilities which comprise this position. EOE/AA

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