Somewhat Resilient
Last Update: 7/31/2026
AI Resilience Score for Animal Control Workers:
42.0%
Median Score
Meaningful human contribution
Measures the parts of the occupation that still require a human touch. This score averages data from up to four AI exposure datasets, focusing on the role’s resilience against automation.
Med
Long-term employer demand
Predicts the health of the job market for this role through 2034. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, it balances projected annual job openings (60%) with overall employment growth (40%).
Med
Sustained economic opportunity
Measures future earning potential and career flexibility. This score is a blend of total projected labor income (67%) and the role’s inherent ability to adapt to economic and technological shifts (33%).
Med
This reflects the reliability of your score based on the number of data sources available for this career and how closely those sources agree on the outlook. A higher confidence means more consistent evidence from labor experts and AI models.
This result is backed by strong agreement across multiple data sources.
Contributing sources
AI Resilience Report forAnimal Control Workers
$45,660 median salary•1,300 annual openings•SOC Code: 33-9011.00
Animal Control Workers are somewhat less resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 6 sources.
Animal control work is labeled "Somewhat Resilient" because AI is genuinely changing parts of the job, even if it is not replacing the people doing it. Tools like AI-powered pet recognition databases and automated report drafting are already reshaping everyday workflows, meaning officers will need to get comfortable learning and working alongside these technologies.
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Animal control work is labeled "Somewhat Resilient" because AI is genuinely changing parts of the job, even if it is not replacing the people doing it. Tools like AI-powered pet recognition databases and automated report drafting are already reshaping everyday workflows, meaning officers will need to get comfortable learning and working alongside these technologies.
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View analysisChat with CoachLatest newsMore career infoAnalysisChatNewsMoreAnalysis of Current AI Resilience
Animal Control Workers
Updated Quarterly
How is AI changing Animal Control Workers jobs?
Right now, AI is mostly helping animal control officers (ACOs) — not replacing them. The clearest wins are in the office tasks. AI can quickly process and analyze large datasets, identifying patterns and trends that inform strategic decision-making, including tracking incidents of animal cruelty, neglect, and other relevant activities, and predictive analytics can forecast areas with higher probabilities of animal control issues, allowing for proactive measures rather than reactive responses.
For the "write reports" task — which is rated about 55% automatable — Police1 reports that AI tools can now transcribe body-worn camera audio and generate draft narratives in seconds [1], though supervisors must verify accuracy before reports go out. For recovering stray animals, AI facial recognition is a big help: CBS News reports that the Petco Love Lost database has already reconnected 100,000 owners with lost pets since 2021, using up to 512 data points per animal [2], and Pinellas County Animal Services says return rates jumped from about 40% to 50% after using the AI tool [3]. AAHA's Trends Magazine confirms the same technology is being adopted across shelters nationwide [4].
The hands-on tasks — netting a scared stray, euthanizing injured animals, feeding shelter pets — sit at only 3–4% automation potential and remain firmly human work.
Sources
How fast is AI adoption growing for Animal Control Workers?
Adoption will likely be moderate and uneven. On the speed-up side, agencies face chronic staffing shortages, and ready-made tools like Petco Love Lost are free, while cities are increasingly turning to AI 311 chatbots [5] to handle routine animal-related questions and dispatch — directly easing ACO paperwork. On the slow-down side, NACA warns that AI can perpetuate biases in training data, raises data privacy concerns, and requires careful officer training and validation in high-stakes situations [5].
The core work — calming a frightened animal, making humane judgment calls, comforting grieving owners — is built on empathy and physical skill that no algorithm can copy. Even within the broader AI-and-animal-welfare movement, MIT Technology Review notes advocates view AI as a tool to help solve animal-suffering problems, not a substitute for the people doing the work [6]. If you're considering this career, the message is hopeful: AI is most likely to take away tedious paperwork and help you find lost pets faster, freeing you to focus on the parts of the job only a caring human can do.
Sources
Will AI replace Animal Control Workers?
Not entirely. We think AI will take over some tasks, but not the whole job.
Our 42.0% AI Resilience Score reflects real change ahead for animal control workers, but it is not a story of replacement. The clearest AI wins are in the office: predictive analytics can flag neighborhoods with higher rates of animal issues before problems escalate, and tools like the Petco Love Lost database have already reconnected 100,000 owners with lost pets using AI-powered facial recognition [2], with one county reporting return rates jumping from about 40% to 50% after adoption [3]. AI chatbots are also handling routine animal-related calls and dispatch questions, cutting down on paperwork [5].
What stays human is the heart of the job. Netting a frightened stray, making humane judgment calls in the field, comforting a grieving pet owner: these tasks sit at only 3 to 4% automation potential and require physical skill and empathy no algorithm can replicate. Even advocates pushing AI into animal welfare see it as a tool to support people doing the work, not a substitute for them [6].
The economic picture is modest, not booming, so this is not a career to enter for explosive growth. But if you care about animals and communities, AI is more likely to clear away the tedious parts of the job and let you focus on the work that actually matters.
Sources
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Latest AI news for Animal Control Workers
As technology evolves, AI is beginning to influence animal control careers in unexpected ways. For instance, the use of AI in 911 centers to manage non-emergency calls could streamline communication, allowing animal control workers to focus on urgent cases. Additionally, the proposal for an AI data center near the Greater Birmingham Humane Society highlights the potential for tech development to impact local animal services. Understanding these trends can help future animal control workers adapt and thrive in a changing job landscape, ensuring they remain essential in protecting animal welfare.
Greater Birmingham Humane Society says proposed AI data center could impact Oxmoor Valley campus plans
spectrumlocalnews.com • 6/20/2026
The Greater Birmingham Humane Society says a proposed artificial intelligence data center could affect its long-planned new campus.
Oracle Layoffs Reflect AI’s Impact On Jobs—Loan And Relief Options If You’re Affected
www.forbes.com • 4/1/2026
On March 31, thousands of Oracle employees received the dreaded layoff email as the company turns its focus toward artificial intelligence...
Search for monkeys continues in St. Louis as AI images create chaos
www.stlpr.org • 1/13/2026
The St. Louis Health Department is investigating whether someone violated the city's wild animal ordinance after several monkeys were...
‘Isn’t here to take your job:’ Volusia County’s 911 center uses AI system to handle non-emergency calls
www.clickorlando.com • 11/11/2025
Inside Volusia County's 911 communications center, a new voice is answering the phones and it's not human.
Recent college grads have new competition for jobs: artificial intelligence
texasstandard.org • 8/6/2025
“If you think about the tasks that artificial intelligence can absorb most readily, a lot of it is the grunt work, the data entry,...
More Career Info
Career: Animal Control Workers
They ensure the safety of people and animals by capturing stray animals, investigating animal mistreatment, and promoting responsible pet ownership.
Parent Careers
Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$45,660
Jobs (2024)
12,200
Growth (2024-34)
+3.9%
Annual Openings
1,300
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2024-2034
Task-Level AI Resilience Scores
AI-generated estimates of task resilience over the next 3 years
1
Supply animals with food, water, and personal care.
2
Capture and remove stray, uncontrolled, or abused animals from undesirable conditions, using nets, nooses, or tranquilizer darts as necessary.
3
Euthanize rabid, unclaimed, or severely injured animals.
4
Remove captured animals from animal-control service vehicles and place animals in shelter cages or other enclosures.
5
Clean facilities and equipment such as dog pens and animal control trucks.
6
Examine animals for injuries or malnutrition, and arrange for any necessary medical treatment.
7
Prepare for prosecutions related to animal treatment, and give evidence in court.
Tasks are ranked by their AI resilience, with the most resilient tasks shown first. Core tasks are essential functions of this occupation, while supplemental tasks provide additional context.
