National Animal Control Association

This is an interesting site for the mere fact that this organization
exists. The fact that there is a National Animal Control Assocation
reflects the fact that people in this line of work are actually looking
at themselves as professionals and taking their jobs seriously.

The stereotype of the animal control employee is that of the
"dogcatcher," a menial job that requires manual labor and little
education. You didn't even have to like animals to have these jobs,
just do your work, catch the animals and put them down after three days
or so. But I'm seeing that animal control is slowly seeing itself in
other ways: as administrators, animal care professionals, humane law
enforcement and advocates.

This is not to say there isn't still a long way to go. There are many
"old-school" animal control people out there who are just getting by on
their way to retirement. And it really depends on how the shelter is
run. If the intent is to simply run a holding pen for lost animals,
those are the kind of people you are going to hire.

BUT, one example of progress is the change undergone a few years ago
when Seattle Animal Control renamed itself Seattle Animal Shelter. It
may be just words, but it is a significant reorientation of its mission
and self-perception. Here's hoping this trend continues.