I thought animal control offcers were LAW ENFORCEMENT and carried handguns just as police do?

Question

I thought animal control offcers were LAW ENFORCEMENT and carried handguns just as police do?

Answer 1

The animal control officers in my area are just community service officers...they sometimes drive squads but usually have vehicles marked as "Community Service Officers".  They help out with animal comlaints, directing traffic, transporting arrests, etc.  While many are in school to become officers, they are not law enforcement.

Some cities, such as the ones featured on Animal Planet, do have licensed officers working as Animal Control.

Answer 2

animal control!! the people who pick up dogs & cats, rotf you've got to be kidding me. why would they carry a gun? for the animals.

Answer 3

i havent seen an animal control officer carrying a gun. they arent really law enforcement they are more like come when the police want you to get an annoying dog or something like that. only real Law enforcement officers are the cops that write tickets all the time and do nothing but pull you over. the officers that usually come to your house are to be known as police officers because they do more policing than law enforcing.  

Answer 4

Not all locations have armed/certified police officers doing the animal control job.  Many locations it is simply an unarmed civilian doing the job and their powers of arrest are limited.  

Answer 5

Not in NY. They are not sworn peace officers and can not make arrests nor carry weapons.