Animal Inspector

Animals Inspectors are often confused with animal control officers. Animal control officers are responsible for barking dogs, loose dogs/pets, etc. Rooster complaints are enforced by the Building Inspector/Zoning Enforcement. 

A. The primary duty of the Animal Inspector has recently become rabies control in the domestic animal population. There are several angles that must be covered to accomplish this. 

1. Domestic mammals which come in contact with, or are otherwise exposed to the rabies virus must first be assessed to determine the severity of the risk. Depending on the vaccination status of the domestic mammal involved, it will be either quarantined or destroyed. 
2. The Animal Inspector will be contacted by local veterinarians when a client presents an animal that may have had an encounter with a potentially rabid animal. Again, the severity of the situation must be assessed before determining the proper course of action.
3. Any domestic mammal which bites a human or another domestic mammal must be quarantined for a period of ten days to determine the risk of rabies transmission.
4. The Animal Inspector must ensure that all animals (wild or domestic) which must be tested for rabies are captured and euthanized. The head must be removed, packaged properly, and submitted to the State Rabies Lab for testing. 

B. Municipal Animal Inspectors are also responsible for barn inspections. Depending on the city/town, this may be a light task or a lengthy one. Barn inspections are designed to:

1. get a good census of the domestic animal population of the town
2. be sure that all of the animals appear to be in good health and free from disease, and
3. observe animal housing and ensure ample food and water are supplied.