Animal control workers enforce animal control laws.

Animal control workers respond to complaints of stray or dangerous animals. They also investigate:

• Reports of animal cruelty
• Reports of animals biting humans or other animals
• Uncontrolled animals
• Injured animals

In cases of suspected animal cruelty, animal control workers take the animal to the local animal shelter. Workers write reports about what they find in their investigations. They may report the case to the police and may even testify in court.

Animal control workers use nets, nooses, and tranquilizer darts to capture stray animals. If owners are not available, animal control workers are called to pick up animals that are lost or roaming free. They take the animals to animal shelters. Animal control workers fill out reports detailing where they found the animal and write descriptions of the animal to help identify it. They hold the animal until claimed by the owners. They may also organize adoptions for unclaimed animals.

Workers explain state and local animal control laws to the public. They issue warnings or citations and return pets to owners in less severe cases.

Animal control workers often respond to reports of injured animals. They:

• Check the animal's injuries
• Perform first aid
• Transport the animal to a veterinarian for care

Animal control workers sometimes tranquilize or euthanize animals. This may happen when an animal is severely injured or too dangerous to capture.