Criminal Justice Jobs – Law Enforcement – Animal Cruelty Investigator/Officer
Animal Cruelty Investigator/Officer Job Description
This law enforcement job is probably one of the most emotional roles out of all the criminal justice jobs but also one of the most rewarding. As you can imagine, animal lovers will naturally lean towards this role as some of your main duties will include investigating animal abuse reports and then removing them from dangerous situations if necessary while gathering the evidence and compiling reports that could be used to prosecute the owner in a court of law.
It won’t be just animal abuse that you will be dealing with however. You may also be responding to calls regarding animals in distress that may have become trapped or picking up stray animals.
You will also have to manage the animals themselves by helping to monitor them and look after them along with some more unpleasant tasks such as cleaning out the enclosures.
Just one word of warning about this role:
You will encounter animals in upsetting situations and you will not always be able to help them so the emotional ups and downs of this role will be severe. Also think about having to deal with the owners in a professional manner. You will need to keep your cool.
Animal Cruelty Investigator/Officer Educational Requirements
On paper the minimum is a high school diploma but in reality you will more than likely need some kind of experience or specialized training course behind you. Many roles will require at least 12 months experience in either a law enforcement role or a some other related position such as working at an animal shelter for example.
There are numerous colleges now offering specialized training courses geared for this role so if this is a job that you think you would like then enrolling for one of these programs will put you in a much better position when you come to apply.
Animal Cruelty Investigator/Officer Salary
Animal cruelty investigators/officers earn around $30k per year on average.
Animal Cruelty Investigator/Officer Career Prospects
There are some career prospects with this role and it is a relatively new and growing occupation. Supervisory positions are always going to be an option but another avenue you could take would be to progress to handling larger or more specialized cases such as those on a national level or with large animals for example.
