Animal Control Officer Test Questions & Flashcards

Study Notes

An officer may destroy an animal if they or someone else is in immediate danger of bodily harm.
An officer may destroy an animal with the owner's request and supervisory approval if it is injured beyond medical treatment, sick, or rabid.
When destroying a suspected rabid animal, the officer should avoid shooting it in the head to preserve the brain for rabies testing.
The Animal Care Services Department is notified immediately to pick up the carcass of a suspected rabid animal.

If an animal is not destroyed but wounded, the Animal Care Services Department is called to assist.
The officer must make a reasonable attempt to notify the animal's owner.

An officer who destroys an animal must notify the Communications Unit and their supervisor immediately.
The officer submits a copy of the incident report to their Division Commander, along with a SAPD Form 200-IA1.

This procedure establishes guidelines for handling various offenses and complaints that make up a large percentage of an officer's workload.
The procedure also outlines the process for reporting criminal offenses.

Noisy animals are handled under Section 08 of the procedure.
Deceased animals are removed from public property by the Public Works Department.
Property owners are responsible for removing dead animals from their property.

The department has the authority to impound animals that are roaming freely, exhibiting symptoms of rabies, or have been abandoned by their owner.
The department can also impound animals that are described in a warrant for seizure, declared dangerous, or being treated cruelly.

Reports of cruelty to animals require uniformed officers to initially investigate the alleged offenses.
In substantiated cases, the officer requests an Animal Cruelty Specialist to respond to the scene and take over the investigation.

A "Noise Nuisance" is defined as any loud, irritating, vexing, or disturbing sound that causes injury, discomfort, or distress of a person of reasonable nervous sensibilities.
A "Party, Gathering, or Event" is defined as a group of five or more persons who have assembled or are assembling in a manner that creates a substantial disturbance of the quiet enjoyment of private or public property.

Animal Control Officer Guidelines