SOUTH AFRICA · SALARY IN RANDS

Animal Control Workers

What the work involves, the skills employers want, and how to get started in South Africa.

  • Animal Attendant
  • Animal Control Officer
  • Animal Enforcement Officer
  • Animal Ordinance Enforcement Officer
  • Animal Park Code Enforcement Officer
  • Animal Safety Officer
  • Community Safety Officer
  • Community Service Officer

What do Animal Control Workers do?

Animal Control Workers are professionals who are responsible for the enforcement of animal control laws and the protection of both animals and the public. Their work primarily involves the capture, transportation, and care of stray, lost, or injured animals, as well as the investigation of animal-related complaints and abuse cases. They often work closely with local law enforcement, animal shelters, and rescue organizations to ensure the well-being of animals and the safety of communities. These workers educate the public about responsible pet ownership and the importance of spaying and neutering pets to control the animal population. In addition, they may participate in community outreach programs to promote animal welfare and help reduce incidents of animal neglect and abuse. Animal Control Workers typically operate in various environments, ranging from busy urban settings to rural areas, and may encounter a wide range of animals, including domestic pets and wildlife.

What the work actually is

  • Investigate reports of animal attacks or animal cruelty, interviewing witnesses, collecting evidence, and writing reports.
  • Capture and remove stray, uncontrolled, or abused animals from undesirable conditions, using nets, nooses, or tranquilizer darts as necessary.
  • Supply animals with food, water, and personal care.
  • Write reports of activities, and maintain files of impoundments and dispositions of animals.
  • Prepare for prosecutions related to animal treatment, and give evidence in court.

Skills employers expect

Skills

  • 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.
  • Speaking Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Critical Thinking Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Reading Comprehension Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
  • Service Orientation Actively looking for ways to help people.

Abilities

  • Oral Comprehension The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Oral Expression The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Problem Sensitivity The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
  • Deductive Reasoning The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Inductive Reasoning The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Knowledge

  • Customer and Personal Service Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Law and Government Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
  • Public Safety and Security Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
  • English Language Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Administrative Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.

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How people get into it

Education of new hires

High school diploma or equivalent
or: GED, High School Equivalency Certificate
Post-secondary certificate
Awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in Personnel Services, Engineering-related Technologies, Vocational Home Economics, Construction Trades, Mechanics and Repairers, Precision Production Trades)
Associate's degree

A normal week

  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
  • Documenting/Recording Information
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
  • Getting Information

Tools used on the job

Technology

  • Data base user interface and query software Animal Shelter Manager · ARK Software Ark Shelter Software · Microsoft Access · TRAX Animal Control and Dog Warden Officer Software
  • Presentation software Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Geographic information system Esri ArcGIS · Geographic information system GIS software · Geographic information system GIS systems
  • Spreadsheet software Microsoft Excel
  • Electronic mail software Microsoft Outlook

Tools

  • Animal control traps Animal capture nets · Animal traps · Bat excluders
  • Dog catching pole Animal catch poles · Noose poles
  • Two way radios Mobile radios
  • Muzzles Dog muzzles
  • Leashes or leads Leashes

Who it suits

Realistic

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Conventional

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Investigative

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

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Questions people ask

How much do Animal Control Workers earn in South Africa?

Animal Control Workers salaries in South Africa vary by experience, province and employer.

What do Animal Control Workers do?

Investigate reports of animal attacks or animal cruelty, interviewing witnesses, collecting evidence, and writing reports, Capture and remove stray, uncontrolled, or abused animals from undesirable conditions, using nets, nooses, or tranquilizer darts as necessary and Supply animals with food, water, and personal care.

How do I know if this career fits me?

Take the free Assessify career assessment. It matches your answers to careers and shows the South African salary next to each one.