Editing Animal control service

{{Short description|Entity charged with responding to requests for help with animals}}
{{for|the TV series|Animal Control (TV series)}}
[[File:Dog catcher LOC npcc.11887 (cropped).tif|alt=Black and white photo of an animal control officer (then known as a dog-catcher) restraining a stray cat in 1924.|thumb|An animal control officer (then known as a dog-catcher) restraining a [[stray cat]] in a net.]]
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2019}}
An '''animal control service''' or '''animal control agency''' is an entity charged with responding to requests for help with [[animal]]s, including [[Wildlife|wild animals]], dangerous animals, and animals in distress. An individual who works for such an entity was once known as a '''dog catcher''', but is generally now called an '''animal control officer''', and may be an [[employee]] or a [[independent contractor|contractor]] – commonly employed by a [[municipality]], [[county]], [[shire]],<ref>[http://www.harvey.wa.gov.au/services/rangers-services/pound/lost-your-cat-or-dog "RANGER SERVICES / POUND / LOST YOUR CAT OR DOG?"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102225356/http://www.harvey.wa.gov.au/services/rangers-services/pound/lost-your-cat-or-dog |date=January 2, 2016 }} harvey.wa.gov.au</ref> or other subnational government area.

==Duties and function==
Typically animals that are found will be checked for owner identification, including checking any ID tags, scanning for [[Microchip implant (animal)|microchips]], and checking for tattoos.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nacanet.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/NACA_Guidelines.pdf|title=NACA Guidelines|date=2017|website=National Animal Care & Control Association|type=PDF}}</ref> Animals may be returned to their owners, or transported to a veterinary clinic or [[animal shelter]]. Animals held in the shelter can be returned to their owners, [[adopted]], released to the wild, held as evidence in a criminal investigation or [[Animal euthanasia|euthanized]].<ref>Notaro, Stephen J. "Disposition Of Shelter Companion Animals From Nonhuman Animal Control Officers, Citizen Finders, And Relinquished By Caregivers." Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 7.3 (2004): 181-188. Academic Search Premier. Web. March 13, 2013.</ref>

Animal control services may be provided by the government or through a contract with a [[humane society]] or society for the prevention of [[cruelty to animals]]. Officers may work for, or with, [[police]] or [[sheriff]] departments, parks and recreation departments, and health departments by confining animals or investigating animal bites to humans.

Active cruelty to animals may be an indicator of serious psychological or violence problems.<ref>[http://www.americanhumane.org/interaction/support-the-bond/fact-sheets/animal-abuse-domestic-violence.html Facts About Animal Abuse & Domestic Violence] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120064959/http://www.americanhumane.org/interaction/support-the-bond/fact-sheets/animal-abuse-domestic-violence.html |date=November 20, 2012 }} ''[[American Humane Association]]'' Accessed November 12, 2006</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animaltherapy.net/DomesticViolence.html |title=Domestic Violence & the Animal Abuse Link |publisher=Animaltherapy.net |access-date=November 6, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081229144457/http://www.animaltherapy.net/DomesticViolence.html |archive-date=December 29, 2008 }}</ref><ref name="aggression-v-animals">{{Cite journal|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7357998/|title=Aggression against cats, dogs and people|first=A. R.|last=Felthous|date=October 12, 1980|journal=Child Psychiatry and Human Development|volume=10|issue=3|pages=169–177|via=PubMed|doi=10.1007/BF01433629|pmid=7357998|s2cid=24502567}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CEEDF113EF934A3575BC0A967958260&scp=309&sq=Daniel+Goleman&st=nyt | title = Clues to a Dark Nurturing Ground for One Serial Killer | work = New York Times | date = August 7, 1991 | first = Daniel | last = Goleman | access-date = April 30, 2010 | archive-date = August 23, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200823201105/https://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/07/us/clues-to-a-dark-nurturing-ground-for-one-serial-killer.html | url-status = live }}</ref> Because of these links, in some places animal control officers have begun to look for and report on other issues.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10532376|title=SPCA, CYF police each other's patches|publisher=New Zealand Herald|date=September 16, 2008|access-date=September 29, 2008|first=Alanah|last=May Eriksen|archive-date=May 22, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522214949/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10532376|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Legal details in the United States of America ===
The most common requirements for this job is some prior experience handling animals on a farm, as a veterinary assistant or animal trainer.<ref>[http://www.animalcontrol.org.nz/Job_Opportunities.html "Entry Requirements"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123022011/http://www.animalcontrol.org.nz/Job_Opportunities.html |date=January 23, 2016 }}, animalcontrol.org.nz</ref> Training is primarily on the job but some jurisdictions (like Virginia, North Carolina and Texas) require formal and continuing education<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090117073850/http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+3.2-6556 VA Requirements], Code of Virginia</ref> available from community colleges and trade associations.

Some animal cruelty investigators are specially trained police officers.<ref>[http://www.criminaljusticeprograms.com/specialty/animal-cruelty-investigator/ "Requirements for Becoming an Animal Cruelty Investigator"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210075805/http://www.criminaljusticeprograms.com/specialty/animal-cruelty-investigator/ |date=December 10, 2015 }}, criminaljusticeprograms.com</ref> The New York [[American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals]] (ASPCA) formerly employed and [[Animal Care Centers of NYC]] (ACC) currently employs several Humane Law Enforcement Officers with some police powers (including the power of [[arrest]]) and the [[Oregon Humane Society]] employs Humane Special Agents in partnership with the [[Oregon Humane Society|Oregon State Police]] who are fully-sworn law enforcement officers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goodwick |first=Kelsey O'Lea |date=2022-04-13 |title=Q&A: All About Humane Law Enforcement |url=https://www.oregonhumane.org/all-about-hle/ |access-date=2023-10-16 |website=Oregon Humane Society |language=en-US}}</ref> Throughout the United States this arrangement is becoming more common.<ref>{{Cite web|title=History of American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) – FundingUniverse|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/american-society-for-the-prevention-of-cruelty-to-animals-aspca-history/|access-date=2021-05-23|website=www.fundinguniverse.com}}</ref>

==Politics==
An American colloquialism labels an unpopular politician by saying that they "couldn't be elected dogcatcher", with "dogcatcher" referring to a very low-level elected office.

In practice, animal control officers are generally appointed by an executive authority and not elected.<ref name="Slate">{{cite news|url=http://www.slate.com/id/2273842|title=Dog Race: Is dogcatcher actually an elective office?|last=Beam|first=Christopher|date=November 5, 2010|newspaper=[[Slate Magazine]]|access-date=November 6, 2010|archive-date=November 8, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101108135937/http://www.slate.com/id/2273842/|url-status=live}}</ref> However, historic equivalents such as [[poundmaster]], which was tasked with the control of stray livestock, and [[hog reeve]], whose mandate extended exclusively to stray [[swine]], were elective offices in Colonial and early American [[New England]]. The town of [[Duxbury, Vermont]], was said to be the only place in the contemporary United States that actually elects a dog catcher,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/03/24/595755604/cant-get-elected-dogcatcher-try-running-in-duxbury-vt|title=Can't Get Elected Dogcatcher? Try Running In Duxbury, Vt.|last=Kolb Noyes|first=Eileen|date=March 24, 2018|language=en-US|access-date=March 24, 2018|archive-date=March 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324182836/https://www.npr.org/2018/03/24/595755604/cant-get-elected-dogcatcher-try-running-in-duxbury-vt|url-status=live}}</ref> but electing of dogcatchers was found to be illegal<!-- not the phrase used in the sources, but I'm not sure of a better one --> in Vermont in 2018. The job was then designated as appointment-only, with Zeb Towne, the last elected dogcatcher in Duxbury, being unanimously appointed to the position.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gardner |first1=Tommy |title='Awesome' Duxbury dog catcher just not electable anymore |url=https://www.vtcng.com/stowe_reporter/news/local_news/awesome-duxbury-dog-catcher-just-not-electable-anymore/article_0b82995a-43e7-11e8-bd9b-039b7adcae4c.html |work=Vermont Community Newspaper Group |date=19 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112043724/https://www.vtcng.com/stowe_reporter/news/local_news/awesome-duxbury-dog-catcher-just-not-electable-anymore/article_0b82995a-43e7-11e8-bd9b-039b7adcae4c.html |archive-date=12 November 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Detrow |first1=Scott |title='You Couldn't Get Elected Dogcatcher!' No, Seriously |url=https://www.npr.org/2018/04/07/600482792/you-couldn-t-get-elected-dogcatcher-no-seriously |date=April 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112043722/https://www.npr.org/2018/04/07/600482792/you-couldn-t-get-elected-dogcatcher-no-seriously |archive-date=November 12, 2023}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.aacis.us/ American Animal Cruelty Investigations School] (USA)
* [http://www.ndwa.co.uk/ National Dog Warden Association] (UK)
* [https://www.nacanet.org/ National Animal Care and Control Association] (USA)
* [https://warangers.asn.au/ Western Australian Rangers Association]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Animal care occupations]]
[[Category:Animal welfare organizations]]
[[Category:Civil services]]
[[Category:Dog law]]

[[ro:Hingher]]