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LeeAnne Little
English 10th
Mrs. Harnden
25 February 2014
Humane Investigator
Humane Investigators follow upon reports of animal abuse and neglect (Career Discovery
Encyclopedia). They review witnesses and owner who are accused of mistreatment. If
investigators determine that abuse or exists, they may call the police and/or take the animal(s)
away. Humane investigators also recue stray or injured animals and transport them to the shelter.
What is the education and job outlook needed? What is the salary and the working conditions for
this job?
In order to become a Humane Investigator, a level of education is needed. The level of
education needed is at least a High School Diploma. Some may need or want something higher
than a High Scholl Diploma. School subjects that may be of interest are Biology and
Mathematics.
Salaries vary depending on experience, responsibilities of the position, and cost of living in
your area. Some salaries may average to about $31,000 per year. Higher salaries are common for
those who investigate animal cruelty as a law enforcement officer.
Humane investigators receive field calls about potential animal mistreatment from the public,
conduct on-site investigations, and refer findings to police or other law enforcement agencies for
arrests or legal remedies. They may also control dangerous or unattended animals. An
investigators job of protecting animals and the community may involve educating pet owners
about responsible ownership and local animal laws, making presentations to groups of school

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children, or working with social service or law enforcement agencies to protect people and pets
in a family. They may find themselves in dangerous situations controlling stray animals and
rescuing injured animals or dealing with irate or irrational animal owners.
Job openings for animal care and service workers are expected to grow 19 percent over the
2006 to 2016 decade, faster than the average for all occupations. From 2010-2020, employment
of animal care and service workers was expected to grow by 23% as the number of companion
pets increases. These positions have high turnover resulting in a large number of job openings.
According to the BLS, the continuing realization that animal abuse and human abuse are often
linked should lead to better funding for animal shelters and increasing coordination between
shelters, law enforcement and social service organizations.
This is a relatively new and rapidly growing career. Many animal cruelty investigators have
background and experience in law enforcement while others move into the job through
experience working with animals in humane society shelters or as veterinarian assistants. If
anyone is an animal lover and is wanting to help abused and neglected animals, this would be the
job for them. There are many species killed and abandoned each year: 5,000,000,000 for food,
400,000,000 road kill, and 20,000,000 abandoned (Animals in Research). This job will help
those animals who are in need in help but dont have a voice. Please help them by attaining this
career.

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Works Cited

Animal Service Worker. 2014. Career Cruising. 25 February 2014. www.careercruising.com

Animals in Research. Ann Arbor: Michigan Society for Medical Research (MISMR), 1991

Carole Moore. From Fur to Tail Feathers. Focus. 2006

Humane Investigator. Career Discovery Encyclopedia. 1:58, 2000

Michigan Humane Society. Personal Interview. 26 February 2014.