Explore a possible path

Animal Control Workers

Handle animals for the purpose of investigations of mistreatment, or control of abandoned, dangerous, or unattended animals.

How does this connect to your interests? →

A look at the work

  • Write reports of activities, and maintain files of impoundments and dispositions of animals.
  • Investigate reports of animal attacks or animal cruelty, interviewing witnesses, collecting evidence, and writing reports.
  • Examine animals for injuries or malnutrition, and arrange for any necessary medical treatment.
  • Contact animal owners to inform them that their pets are at animal holding facilities.
  • Educate the public about animal welfare, and animal control laws and regulations.
  • Remove captured animals from animal-control service vehicles and place animals in shelter cages or other enclosures.
  • Answer inquiries from the public concerning animal control operations.
  • Capture and remove stray, uncontrolled, or abused animals from undesirable conditions, using nets, nooses, or tranquilizer darts as necessary.

A selection of source-listed tasks; duties vary by role and employer.

Interests involved in this work

These source scores describe occupational work activities. They are separate from your personal test results.

Hands-on

2026-02 · Machine Learning/Expert

5.9 / 7

Investigative

2026-02 · Machine Learning/Expert

3.6 / 7

Creative

2026-02 · Machine Learning/Expert

1.0 / 7

Helping people

2026-02 · Machine Learning/Expert

2.6 / 7

Enterprising

2026-02 · Machine Learning/Expert

2.2 / 7

Organizing

2026-02 · Machine Learning/Expert

3.9 / 7

Skills to explore

Source-reported importance on a 1–5 scale. Try a course, project or conversation to learn what these skills involve.

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

2025-08

3.8 / 5

Speaking

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

2025-08

3.6 / 5

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

2025-08

3.5 / 5

Coordination

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

2025-08

3.0 / 5

Judgment and Decision Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

2025-08

3.0 / 5

Service Orientation

Actively looking for ways to help people.

2025-08

3.0 / 5

Social Perceptiveness

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

2025-08

3.0 / 5

Monitoring

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

2025-08

3.0 / 5

Time Management

Managing one's own time and the time of others.

2025-08

3.0 / 5

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

2025-08

3.0 / 5

Plan a small next step

Talk to someone doing this work, look for a supervised activity, and explore the subjects that interest you. Admission, licensing and current program requirements should be confirmed with the relevant institutions.

Source preparation category: Job Zone 2 of 5 · 2026-02. This category describes typical preparation, not your eligibility.

Source & methodology

O*NET-SOC code 33-9011.00 · Database 31.0 · Retrieved Oct 14, 2026. Dates on individual observations describe their source periods.

How interest exploration matching works →

Data: O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Used under CC BY 4.0. StudyIndex normalizes the presentation and adds exploration features; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these additions.