The Animal Control Officer (ACO) is the local animal care and control professional. This person helps the public deal with problems caused by animals and works with other local agencies, such as social services and law enforcement, to protect all members of families, both two-legged and four-legged.

Long gone is the term "dogcatcher" and the image of a man with a butterfly net. Animal care and control professionals now perform a variety of services that help animals as well as people, these services include:

• Rescuing injured, abused or unwanted animals
• Controlling stray and potentially dangerous animals roaming at large
• Bringing lost pets to an animal shelter where their owners can reclaim them
• Providing comfort and compassion to animals in need