How to become an ASPCA Officer
Whether you are looking to make a change in your career path or thinking about what career you want to pursue when you get older, if you love animals and want to get paid to ensure that they receive the love and protection they deserve, you may be interested in becoming an ASPCA Officer. An ASPCA Officer (which stands for American Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Officer) is a person who has the responsibility of ensuring that animals of all kinds are not abused or mistreated. This means that you will be investigating complaints of animals being mistreated, and when you come across evidence that a person is mistreating an animal, you will be responsible for arresting that person. Currently, the position of becoming an ASPCA Officer is only available to residents of New York. The reason for this is that New York is the only state with a Humane Law Enforcement division. According to statistics about the Humane Law Enforcement division, ASPCA Officers investigate between four and five hundred animal cruelty cases every month, and as a result of these investigations, arrest approximately one hundred people every year.
Requirements
Although ASPCA Officers come from a wide variety of backgrounds, there are certain basic requirements that every potential ASPCA Officer must meet. In addition to having a love for animals, all applicants to become an ASPCA Officer must have the equivalent of a high school diploma. The ASPCA does take into account individuals who have a college education. Applicants must also be twenty-one years old, a legal resident of the United States and New York, have a drivers license from the State of New York and pass a background investigation.
Future ASPCA Officers are expected to have knowledge in animal care and law enforcement. They should also have investigation skills, along with a basic understanding of how to use computers. If hired, an ASPCA Officer must be able to pass the test to become a New York State Peace Officer, along with being able to receive a license to carry a firearm.
Benefits
In addition to the satisfaction of helping prevent cruelty against animals on a daily basis, becoming an ASPCA Officer comes with a lot of different benefits. The average salary for an ASPCA Officer is forty-five thousand dollars a year. In addition to this yearly salary, the position also offers everything from dental, medical and vision coverage to a 401(k).
Applying to Become an ASPCA Officer
If you feel that you have the necessary qualifications to become an ASPCA Officer, you should visit the ASPCA Jobs page. Under the Anti-Cruelty Division of the page, you will be able to find any ASPCA Officer jobs that are available in New York (along with additional jobs related to preventing animal cruelty). If you find a position that is available, you will be able to access a detailed description of the position, along with being given a link to the resume submission page for that position.
When you are filling out the resume submission application, keep in mind that applying to become an ASPCA Officer is a very competitive process, so you should make sure that you fill out the application correctly and thoroughly. If you don’t have a cover letter or resume, you should take the time to create one before you fill out the submission application. Include all of your experience and qualifications on your resume, and use the cover letter to demonstrate why you are the best applicant for the position of being an ASPCA Officer.
Training
If you are selected to become an ASPCA Officer, your first twelve months on the job will be a probation period. During this time, you will receive training in the many different areas that are required to become a successful officer. Not only will you receive training in animal handling and kennels, but you will also receive training for firearms and as a New York State Peace Officer (which will both be necessary to receive the necessary qualifications to perform your job as an officer). You will also gain on the job experience in carrying out the investigative duties of an ASPCA Officer.
Detailed Duties
Obviously, your main duty as an ASPCA Officer is to protect animal against abuse and cruelty. However, in order to accomplish this task, you will be required to perform a variety of duties on a regular basis. ASPCA Officers spend a majority of their time investigating complaints of animal cruelty. When these complaints are found to be true, they are required to issue summons and arrest individuals breaking animal cruelty laws. To ensure that people guilty of breaking these laws are properly prosecuted, ASPCA Officers must also write detailed reports, interview witnesses and testify in courtrooms. Most ASPCA Officers also use some of their time to educate children and the general public about preventing animal cruelty.
Alternatives to Becoming an ASPCA Officer
Although New York is the only state where you can currently work as an ASPCA Officer, this does not mean that you can’t pursue a career that allows you to help animals if you live in one of the other forty-nine states (or outside of the United States). Almost every city employs some type of animal cruelty officers, so if you are interested in positions that are available in your area, you should begin by contacting your local chamber of commerce and finding out exactly what kind of positions are available that would allow you to help prevent animal cruelty.
Even if you aren’t planning to make a career change but still want to do your part to help animals in your area, almost all humane societies can benefit from the help of volunteers, so you can use the Internet to look up your local humane society and contact them to see what kind of assistance you could provide to them.