Becoming an animal cop can be a trying yet rewarding career. People who choose this career often have a natural love of animals and want to play a part in reducing animal cruelty and neglect. Depending on where you live, the criteria for becoming an animal cop may vary. However, there are several general skills that must be mastered to gain employment as an animal cop regardless of your location.

Gain Experience Working with All Kinds of Animals

Animal cops need to be comfortable handling all kinds of animals under all kinds of conditions. Seizing a neglected but friendly animal from an abandoned building is quite different than apprehending an animal that has been trained to attack from an angry owner. People wanting to become animal cops may gain relevant experience by first working in a veterinary office as a kennel technician or volunteering at an animal shelter. This will also help give you a better idea about whether you can handle the emotional stress of seeing abused and neglected animals. While many of the calls animal cops must respond to involve domesticated animals, animal cops must also know how to deal with wildlife. Putting in some volunteer hours with a local wildlife rescue group can provide experiences that can help you become an animal cop. Work experience in law enforcement or as a park ranger may also help you land an animal cop job.

Get Appropriate Training and Certification

Animal cops commonly have to be trained and certified in various procedures, including pet CPR, first aid and euthanasia. These requirements vary by state, county and even by individual animal law enforcement agency. For this reason, it's best to check with the agency you eventually hope to be employed at about its individual requirements.

Go To School

Majoring in criminal justice or animal studies--or even better, double majoring in both disciplines--may give you a leg up on the competition when applying for an animal cop job. The National Animal Control Association also offers a program for those wishing to become animal cops. Not every state requires that animal cops attend this program. However, even if your state doesn't have this requirement, it may give you an advantage over other job candidates.

Become a Peace Officer

Some states require that animal control officers also be certified as peace officers, because these individuals are charged with enforcing animal protection laws and filing charges against violators. In some parts of the country, animal cops are regular police officers who have gone through the police academy. Check with your local law enforcement agency to find out if that's the case where you live. If it's not, you may want to consider it anyway. The field is very competitive and any advantage you can give yourself may be well worth it.

Source:

ASPCA: Become an HLE Agent

Dog Channel: How to Become an Animal Control Officer

National Animal Control Association