Animal Control Officer

You enforce animal-related laws, respond to complaints about dangerous or neglected animals, and rescue strays from situations that range from heartwarming to deeply disturbing. You'll capture loose dogs, investigate cruelty cases, and educate pet owners who think chaining a dog outside in 100-degree heat is acceptable. The animals are usually easier to deal with than the people.

What you'll actually do

• 01Respond to calls about loose, aggressive, or injured animals that are never where the caller said they'd be
• 02Capture stray dogs using catch poles, traps, and the patience of someone who's been bitten before
• 03Investigate animal cruelty and neglect cases that will test your emotional limits on a regular basis
• 04Enforce licensing, leash, and dangerous animal ordinances while owners insist their aggressive dog is 'friendly'
• 05Transport animals to shelters and handle the paperwork that determines what happens to them next
• 06Educate the public on responsible pet ownership, which is often a polite way of saying 'stop being terrible to animals'