Many of today’s youth have grown up in an environment where there are all sorts of animal companions around them and an early age, learned how to care for them. That is why it’s no surprise why many of today’s young adults volunteer their services to non-profit animal welfare organizations. Not for want of anything to do but as stepping stone toward the fulfillment of a career they have set their sights on; that of becoming an Animal Control Officer or a Police Animal Control Officer
Many have actually asked if there’s a difference between the two jobs to which the answer is yes. While both jobs involve helping the community and its residents to address animal related problems, specifically wildlife nuisance issues, a Police Animal Control Officer has greater authority to enforce federal and local animal laws aimed at protecting all animals including creatures regarded as wildlife nuisance.
Education, Training and Experience Required to Become a Police Animal Control Officer
As an entry level Police Animal Control Officer (PACO), one must have completed K12 education, which denotes culminating a 12-year education by graduating as a Senior High School student. A state-issued driver’s license and at least one year experience working with animals are additional basic requirements when looking to become a PACO of one’s state or community.
Those who have at least one year experience as an Animal Control Officer have increased chances of qualifying for this peacekeeping job. Mainly because while undergoing probationary period toward becoming a full-fledged PACO, a trainee must also receive a certification from the training academy of the National Animal Control and Humane Officer (NACHO).for having passed the Module A training course. Failure to obtain the required certificate will automatically result in one’s disqualification for a peacekeeping job as a PACO.
Moreover, during the probationary period, those aspiring to become a PACO are also required to take up a course on arrest and firearms training that meets the state’s minimum standard for peace officer training. They must complete and pass the course at the end of the probationary period. Otherwise, they will be released from their probationary engagement as a peace officer.
Passing the arrest and firearms training course is important because as a peace officer with specific designation as Animal Control Officer, he or she will be issued a firearm license and be given authorization to carry a firearm and ammunition as well as wear a ballistic vest when performing duties and responsibilities as a PACO.
Acquiring Experience in Animal Control
Another way of acquiring adequate experience to qualify for probation as a Police Animal Control Officer is to work as a technician of a Wildlife Control company. Here, one will also be required to undergo different training toward receiving certifications for acquiring specific knowledge and skills for ethical wildlife control and removal; including relocation of captured wild animals like raccoons, opossums, bats, coyotes, squirrels, skunks, rodents and birds, which is just to mention a few.
In recent years the most common wildlife nuisance problems that wildlife control technicians have been handling is raccoon removal. The content of this webpage https://san-antonio.aaacwildliferemoval.com/raccoon-removal/ provides an idea of the kind of animal control experience one can acquire working as a wildlife control technician.
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