We are always looking for volunteers to help with our humane education and humane law enforcement divisions. We receive a disproportionate number of requests to volunteer in our Law Enforcement Division. Volunteers for our Humane Law Enforcement Division must undergo a detailed background investigation before being accepted. Conviction of a felony, any sexual offense, any domestic violence offense, or any offense involving drugs, firearms, or force is an automatic disqualifier. Other convictions to include numerous traffic infractions may result in your disqualification. You must be of good moral character. Applicants interested in the Humane Law Enforcement Academy are encouraged to fill out the Volunteer Application and Background Check authorization and mail or email the completed forms to:

Schenectady County SPCA
P.O. Box 9516
Niskayuna NY 12309
info@countyspca.org

A Day in the life of an SPCA Humane Law Enforcement Officer

As a humane law enforcement officer for the Schenectady County SPCA, you will be required to complete a basic law enforcement academy with over 280 hours of training, not including annual in service training. You will then be responsible for patrol, emergency response, investigation, and enforcement of animal welfare laws at the federal, state, and local levels. You will carry the basic equipment of Police Officers (firearms/mace/batons/etc). You will investigate cases of animal cruelty and neglect, rescue sick and abused animals, make arrests for those that violate animal treatment laws, and fight for justice on behalf of the abused animals in the Schenectady County area.

The SPCA takes phone calls day and night from those that suspect or witness animal abuse or neglect. As a peace officer you would be responsible for investigating the issue thoroughly. You would make arrests if necessary and prosecute violators of any animal welfare related laws. From there, you would follow up on the case and any other outstanding cases involving individuals who either continue to offend, or are making progress and require consistent checking upon.

The Schenectady County SPCA also conducts a Humane Education Program. Here our officers perform lectures, seminars, and presentations on a variety of topics. We even train law enforcement agencies on animal cruelty and animal fighting laws.

Our Humane Education Division is just as important if not more so in preventing Animal Cruelty then our Law Enforcement Division. The SPCA’s evolving humane education program promotes empathy and compassion for all species and examines the impact our personal and cultural choices have on other people, animals and the earth. Humane Educators are available to the community for lectures, seminars, and presentations on a variety of topics.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer with the Schenectady County SPCA, please fill out the Volunteer Application and Background Check authorization and mail or email the completed forms to: info@countyspca.org.

Thank you for your interest in joining our cause. You can be a huge help to all the helpless animals in our community.

 Click here to download the Schenectady County SPCA Law Enforcement Volunteer Application