Animal Control Officer Resume Guide

Animal Control Officers are responsible for responding to animal-related calls and complaints, capturing stray animals, transporting them to shelters or other facilities, investigating reports of abuse or neglect of animals, enforcing local ordinances related to the care and control of animals, providing public education on animal welfare issues.

You have the perfect set of skills to become an animal control officer, and any organization would be lucky to hire you. But they don’t know who you are yet, so it’s up to you to create a resume that stands out from other applicants.

This guide will walk you through the entire process of creating a top-notch resume. We first show you a complete example and then break down what each resume section should look like.

The guide is divided into sections for your convenience. You can read it from beginning to end or use the table of contents below to jump to a specific part.

Full Resume Example Summary Experience Skills Education Certifications Contact Info Cover Letter Templates

Animal Control Officer Resume Sample

Delta Kunde
Animal Control Officer

[email protected]
940-232-8796
linkedin.com/in/delta-kunde

Summary

Passionate animal control officer with 5+ years of experience in animal welfare and public safety. Seeking to join the team at ABC Animal Control as a full-time animal control officer. Experienced in responding to calls, capturing stray animals, transporting them for medical treatment, providing humane euthanasia when necessary, and educating the public on responsible pet ownership. Committed to upholding high standards of professionalism while protecting both people and animals from harm.

Experience

Animal Control Officer, Employer A
San Bernardino, Jan 2018 – Present

Presented educational seminars to the public on proper animal care, licensing, and leash laws; educated over 1,000 individuals in a 12-month period resulting in a 20% decrease of complaints about pet ownership.
Reorganized existing procedures for catching stray animals around the city; implemented new systems that decreased response times by 30%, allowing Animal Control Officers to capture more strays daily.
Investigated reported cases of abuse or neglect involving pets; successfully removed 115 abused/neglected animals from their homes within 6 months while documenting all evidence collected during investigations.
Reduced shelter overcrowding through successful adoption campaigns which found permanent homes for 500+ cats & dogs throughout the year at no cost to taxpayers or local government organizations.
Efficiently managed staff resources and equipment with an annual budget of $25K+, ensuring compliance with state regulations on animal control measures while providing satisfactory service levels to customers across multiple locations simultaneously.

Animal Control Officer, Employer B
Toledo, Mar 2012 – Dec 2017

Represented the organization at community outreach events, providing education to over 500 people on responsible pet ownership and animal control procedures; successfully reduced the number of strays in the area by 25%.
Facilitated transfers of over 800 animals from high-risk areas to shelters and rescue centers for adoption or rehabilitation purposes.
Successfully responded to 56 emergency calls involving dangerous wildlife such as coyotes, foxes & raccoons within 24 hours; safely captured all creatures without injury using specialized equipment and tranquilizers.
Assessed health conditions of wild animals while patrolling parks, forests & open spaces; identified 10 instances where medical attention was needed immediately before transferring them to care facilities with appropriate treatment plans structured according to their needs.
Structured a weekly schedule for cleaning cages at local shelters and feeding stray cats/dogs twice a day while ensuring they were kept healthy through regular checkups conducted every month.

Skills

Public Safety
Emergency Management
Law Enforcement
Government
Criminal Investigations
Animal Welfare
Enforcement
Police
Criminal Justice

Education

Associate’s Degree in Animal Science
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011

Certifications

Animal Control Officer Certification
National Animal Control Association
May 2017

Related Resume Examples

All Examples

1. Summary / Objective

A resume summary/objective is the first thing a potential employer will read, so it’s important to make sure yours stands out. As an animal control officer, you can use your summary as an opportunity to highlight your experience in handling and caring for animals of all kinds. You could also mention any certifications or special training you have received related to animal care and safety protocols. Finally, don’t forget to include how passionate you are about helping animals find their forever homes!

Below are some resume summary examples:

Energetic and detail-oriented animal control officer with 5+ years of experience enforcing local laws and regulations. At XYZ, successfully captured over 300 stray animals in a 3 month period. Developed an efficient system for reuniting lost pets to their owners within 24 hours after capture. Awarded Animal Control Officer of the Year 2019 due to successful implementation of humane practices while performing duties as an animal care and protection officer.

Dependable animal control officer with 5+ years of experience in animal rescue and enforcement. At XYZ, successfully apprehended over 150 stray animals while maintaining safe working conditions for humans and animals alike. Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as part of a team, resulting in an impressive 92% capture rate when responding to local calls. Highly trained in managing dangerous situations involving aggressive or injured wildlife.

Proficient Animal Control Officer with 5+ years of experience responding to animal welfare issues, enforcing local ordinances, and supervising the humane capture of stray animals. Skilled in providing professional services while protecting public health and safety. Committed to maintaining a safe environment for all parties involved. Looking to bring my expertise as an Animal Control Officer at ABC City’s Department of Health & Safety.

Hard-working animal control officer with 5+ years of experience in animal welfare, handling and care. At ABC Animal Shelter, successfully handled over 500 animal-related incidents including rescue operations and investigations. Received multiple awards for exceptional customer service from the local community. Demonstrated ability to train new staff on humane practices while maintaining safety protocols at all times.

Detail-oriented animal control officer with 5+ years of experience in animal rescue and law enforcement. Skilled at handling dangerous animals, responding to emergency situations, enforcing laws pertaining to pet owners, providing humane treatment for pets, and educating the public on proper pet care. At XYZ Animal Control Agency successfully apprehended two loose pit bulls without incident or injury.

Committed animal control officer with 7+ years of experience in animal care and handling. Proven ability to safely restrain animals, provide humane treatment, and enforce animal laws within local communities. Seeking to leverage expertise at ABC Wildlife Center to protect the public from dangerous or nuisance wildlife while providing compassionate care for all creatures encountered.

Determined and reliable animal control officer with 5+ years of experience enforcing local and state regulations regarding pet ownership. Skilled in catching, tagging, and trapping animals while adhering to safety protocols. Committed to providing humane treatment for all trapped animals. Seeking a role at ABC Animal Control that will allow me to utilize my expertise in the field.

Diligent animal control officer with 5+ years of experience in animal welfare, law enforcement, and public safety. Proven ability to enforce laws related to animal cruelty and provide humane care for animals while maintaining a safe environment. Seeking to join ABC Animal Control as an Animal Control Officer where I can utilize my expertise in the field of animal welfare.

2. Experience / Employment

The employment (or experience) section is where you provide details about your professional background. It should be written in reverse chronological order, with the most recent job listed first.

When writing this section, use bullet points to make it easier for the reader to digest what you have to say quickly. You want to think of specific examples and results that demonstrate your skills as an animal control officer.

For example, instead of saying “Responded to calls,” you could say, “Rapidly responded to over 100 emergency calls related to stray animals each month; successfully located and captured 85% of strays within 24 hours.”

To write effective bullet points, begin with a strong verb or adverb. Industry specific verbs to use are:

Investigated
Captured
Transported
Monitored
Educated
Enforced
Patrolled
Responded
Examined
Restrained
Neutered
Vaccinated
Sheltered
Rehabilitated
Released

Other general verbs you can use are:

Achieved
Advised
Assessed
Compiled
Coordinated
Demonstrated
Developed
Expedited
Facilitated
Formulated
Improved
Introduced
Mentored
Optimized
Participated
Prepared
Presented
Reduced
Reorganized
Represented
Revised
Spearheaded
Streamlined
Structured
Utilized

Below are some example bullet points:

Optimized animal management in the community by effectively capturing over 50 stray animals a month and returning them to their owners safely.
Captured and humanely euthanized injured, sick or dangerous animals according to state-mandated guidelines; reduced animal related incidents by 15%.
Utilized specialized traps, cages & nets when trapping wild animals on private property; successfully removed 100+ nuisance wildlife from residential areas within one year.
Enforced laws pertaining to leash laws, pet licensing requirements and other regulations for pet ownership as needed; issued 25 citations for violations in the last quarter alone.
Diligently monitored local parks, trails & public spaces for any signs of illegal hunting or poaching activity while educating visitors about safety protocols around wildlife creatures; increased citizen awareness of animal welfare policies by 25%.

Educated over 500 pet owners on the local animal control laws, helping to reduce dog-related incidents in the community by 25%.
Patrolled residential and public areas for stray animals; safely captured 10+ dogs and cats per week while providing humane treatment at all times.
Improved recordkeeping practices within the Animal Control Department, streamlining administrative processes through digitalization of data entry systems which increased efficiency by 40%.
Effectively managed medical care for all sheltered animals including vaccinations, spaying/neutering surgeries and general health checks; reduced annual vet bills by over $2,000 as a result of improved preventive care measures.
Spearheaded outreach programs with local schools & shelters to raise awareness about responsible pet ownership via seminars & workshops; successfully recruited 100+ volunteers from these initiatives who provided valuable assistance in daily operations.

Substantially reduced the number of animal complaints by 20% through efficient and humane animal control practices.
Expedited recovery processes for strays, rescuing over 500 animals in a 3-month period and reuniting them with their owners or finding new homes for them.
Revised existing procedures to ensure more effective management of feral cats, leading to a decrease in stray cat population within the city limits by 30%.
Streamlined paperwork processes associated with adoption cases, resulting in an increase from 50 adoptions per month to 80+.
Transported rescued animals safely between shelters and other facilities; provided medical care as needed during transit periods for up to 150+ animals each day.

Responded to over 300 animal related complaints from the public per month, providing humane solutions to mitigate potential risks and protect citizens.
Reliably enforced state laws & regulations governing pet ownership, ensuring that all pets were up-to-date with their vaccinations and licenses; reduced stray dog cases by 10%.
Coordinated rescue operations for injured or abandoned animals in a timely manner, including transport of them to veterinary clinics and shelters when necessary; successfully saved 90+ animals within one year.
Rehabilitated wild animals using positive reinforcement techniques such as clicker training and food rewards; released 20% more birds back into the wild than originally forecasted each season.
Restrained aggressive dogs safely while utilizing proper handling equipment like muzzles, collars & leashes; protected both humans and canines from harm during emergency situations with no reported incidents/injuries since taking on this role 6 months ago.

Monitored and responded to over 500 reports of animal abuse, neglect and abandonment; successfully handled 300+ cases involving illegal pet ownership.
Neutered 70 stray animals while providing necessary vaccinations and treatments in order to reduce the population of homeless pets in the area by 40%.
Participated in weekly citywide patrols to investigate possible dangers or problems concerning wild animals, such as bears and coyotes; safely relocated 25+ nuisance wildlife away from residential areas.
Independently conducted inspections at local shelters for Animal Cruelty Prevention Act compliance purposes; identified 10 violations leading up to successful prosecution for cruelty-related charges against 2 owners/operators.
Examined injured cats, dogs & other domesticated pets daily before delivering them safely back into their respective habitats with a 90% success rate within 24 hours on average.

Accurately tracked and captured over 500 stray animals, ensuring that they were returned safely to their owners or rehomed in a timely manner.
Introduced humane animal control practices into the local community by giving presentations at schools, churches and other venues; successfully raised awareness of animal welfare issues with an estimated 2,000+ people.
Advised pet owners on proper nutrition for all breeds of cats & dogs as well as basic grooming techniques; reduced veterinary visits in the area by 25%.
Mentored junior Animal Control Officers on safety protocols when handling wildlife and responding to emergency calls; improved average response times for critical situations from 45 minutes to 30 minutes within 6 months.
Demonstrated excellent problem-solving skills when dealing with difficult cases involving aggressive animals or injured pets; decreased injury rate among staff members by 15%.

Released over 100 stray animals into safe and humane environments while successfully responding to over 500 separate animal control calls within the last year.
Developed effective relationships with both pet owners and local rescue groups; achieved a 50% decrease in animal abandonment cases in the past 6 months.
Achieved an average response rate of 30 minutes or less for all service requests, by utilizing strong problem-solving skills when faced with difficult circumstances; prepared detailed reports for each incident using accurate information gathering techniques.
Prepared necessary equipment such as traps, nets and cages on site to safely capture wild animals without causing any harm; confidently maintained composure during high stress situations involving feral cats or dogs at large premises/properties/residential areas etc..
Confidently enforced laws related to public safety risk posed by certain types of pets (such as venomous snakes) whilst educating pet owners about responsible ownership practices.

Formulated and implemented programs to capture, restrain and relocate wild animals in a humane manner; captured over 200 stray or nuisance animals every month.
Thoroughly examined all calls received from the public regarding animal related issues; responded quickly to urgent matters such as cases of animal abuse or neglect within 24 hours.
Sheltered domestic and feral cats/dogs in an emergency environment for up to 10 days while arranging adoptions with families or rescue organizations, resulting in successful placements of 90%+ pets per quarter.
Compiled detailed reports on each case including photos, descriptions and actions taken; provided recommendations for long-term solutions that resulted in a 40% reduction of repeat callouts after 6 months on average*.
Vaccinated over 1000 dogs & cats against rabies annually during community outreach events organized by the local Humane Society; collaborated closely with veterinarians throughout this process. *.

3. Skills

The skillset employers require in an employee will likely vary, either slightly or significantly; skimming through their job adverts is the best way to determine what each is looking for. One organization may be looking for an animal control officer with experience in handling wild animals, while another may require the candidate to have knowledge of local laws and regulations.

It is essential that you tailor your skills section according to each job posting; this will help ensure that applicant tracking systems (which scan resumes for certain keywords) recognize your resume as a good match.

In addition, it’s important to elaborate on the most relevant skills in other sections of your resume – such as the summary or experience – so employers can get a better idea of how they will benefit from hiring you.

Below is a list of common skills & terms:

Animal Behavior
Animal Handling
Animal Husbandry
Animal Welfare
Crime Prevention
Criminal Investigations
Criminal Justice
Data Entry
Disaster Response
Emergency Management
Emergency Services
Enforcement
Evidence
Firearms
Fundraising
Government
Investigation
Law Enforcement
NIMS
Nonprofits
Patrol
Physical Security
Police
Policy
Private Investigations
Public Safety
Rescue
Team Leadership
Teamwork
Time Management

4. Education

Adding an education section to your resume for an animal control officer role depends on how far along you are in your career. If you just graduated and have no prior work experience, include the education section below the objective statement. However, if you have a lot of job experience to highlight, it might not be necessary to list out all of your educational accomplishments.

If including an education section is appropriate for this position, make sure to mention courses or subjects related to animal care that could help demonstrate why you would be a good fit for this role.

Associate’s Degree in Animal Science
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011

5. Certifications

Certifications are a great way to demonstrate your expertise and proficiency in a particular field. They are also an excellent way of showing potential employers that you have taken the initiative to stay up-to-date with industry knowledge and trends.

Including certifications on your resume can help boost your credibility as an applicant, so make sure to list any relevant ones that apply directly to the job you’re applying for.

Animal Control Officer Certification
National Animal Control Association
May 2017

6. Contact Info

Your name should be the first thing a reader sees when viewing your resume, so ensure its positioning is prominent. Your phone number should be written in the most commonly used format in your country/city/state, and your email address should be professional.

You can also choose to include a link to your LinkedIn profile, personal website, or other online platforms relevant to your industry.

Finally, name your resume file appropriately to help hiring managers; for Delta Kunde, this would be Delta-Kunde-resume.pdf or Delta-Kunde-resume.docx.

7. Cover Letter

Writing a cover letter for a job application is often seen as an opportunity to stand out from the crowd. It’s your chance to show why you’re the perfect candidate for the role and make employers take notice of your credentials.

Cover letters are typically 2-4 paragraphs long and should include additional details that aren’t mentioned in your resume. They also provide recruiters with insight into who you are, what skills or experiences you possess that would be beneficial for this particular position, and how passionate you are about working at their company.

Below is an example cover letter:

Dear Gracie,

I am writing to apply for the position of Animal Control Officer with the Springfield Police Department. I have always been passionate about animals and their welfare, and I have a strong interest in law enforcement. In my current role as an Animal Control Officer with the Springfield Humane Society, I have gained valuable experience enforcing animal-related laws and regulations.

In my current role, I respond to calls from the public regarding loose or stray animals, investigate reports of animal cruelty or neglect, and enforce leash laws. I also work closely with local law enforcement on cases involving dangerous or potentially aggressive animals. In addition to my fieldwork, I maintain detailed records of all activities and incidents involving animal control.

I am confident that my skills and experience will enable me to make a positive contribution to your department. My strong communication skills will be invaluable in dealing with members of the public, while my attention to detail will ensure that all necessary paperwork is completed accurately and in a timely manner. In addition, my ability to stay calm under pressure will allow me to effectively deal with difficult situations involving aggressive animals or irate members of the public.

Thank you for your time and consideration; I look forward to speaking with you soon about this opportunity.

Sincerely,

Delta