What does an Animal Services Officer do?

Have you ever spotted a Washington County Animal Services vehicle out and about and wondered what the officer driving it might be up to?

Animal Services Officers (ASOs) are specially trained staff members who provide services to keep our community safe from dangerous dogs, help animals being harmed by people, and support our community in living peacefully with pets. We refer to the work our ASOs do as “field services and enforcement.”

ASOs regularly respond to calls across Washington County to enforce County codes related to animals and address a wide variety of animal-related concerns from community members. They investigate abuse, neglect and abandonment of animals, respond to complaints about barking and loose dogs, enforce dog licensing requirements, and transport stray or injured animals to our shelter or other locations where they can receive care. Sometimes when an animal is wearing identification or has a registered microchip, an ASO can even reunite a lost pet with its family via a ride home, avoiding a trip to the shelter!

In many cases, our officers provide education to people who aren’t complying with the County code, with the goal of making the situation better for the animals involved and the neighborhood where the issue is taking place. ASOs can also issue citations to those not following the law. If the animal-related crime is severe, the officers can take the animal to the shelter for protection, and criminal charges may be filed against the owner based on our investigation.

If you think you need the assistance of an Animal Services Officer, give us a call at 503-846-7041. We are here for the people and pets of Washington County!

Find more information on this topic and more at www.WashingtonCountyPets.com.