Qualifications
Obviously, loving animals is an important quality for the job—but there are lots of jobs centered around animals. What makes animal control so different from veterinary work or zoology is its rough-and-tumble nature.
Are you the type who's fast and fearless? The type who can make the split-second decision to jump into the fray and go where angels fear to tread?
There will be no shortage of opportunities to make snap decisions if you get into this career, and it will be critical that you can. You'll have to be able to think quickly on your feet. Much of what you'll do will require split-second decisions that could cost an animal its life—or you yours.
You'll have to be very brave. Are you prepared to break up animals that are in the middle of a fight, stop a dog from attacking a person, and stand up to someone who thinks it's okay to have a dog-fighting ring in their basement? And then, once the dust has settled, will you be able to testify against that person in court and recount all the awful things that you saw them do?
If you've got nerves of steel, a backbone of iron, and a heart of pure gold, then you're a good fit for the job. All you need to do now is become certified. To do that, you'll need to go to Animal Patrol Training—the police academy for animal control workers—and undergo extensive training in things like animal capture, animal rescue, dealing with exotic animals, safety procedures; as well as learn all about laws that affect animals (source).