What we do

Animal Control Officers Ltd provides specialist animal handling for utility warrant visits.

This includes meter changes, mode changes, disconnections and safety inspections. Our handlers attend alongside engineers and warrant officers, manage dogs (and other pets) on site, secure safe access, and protect animal welfare throughout the visit.

We work nationwide with utility providers and their field service partners, warrant enforcement teams and locksmiths. The aim is simple: safe, compliant entry without delays—and a calm, documented outcome your team can rely on.

Typical scenarios we handle

  • Dog present at address preventing safe entry for gas/electric/water work.
  • Multiple dogs or unknown temperament at a property scheduled for warrant execution.
  • Owner absent or non-cooperative, risk of escape or bite incident.

On-site approach (calm and professional)

  • Brief & risk assessed with the attending team (engineers, warrant officer, locksmith).
  • Welfare-compliant handling: calm containment, using appropriate equipment, with compassion. (Aligned to Animal Welfare Act best practice; we favour low-stress handling as the starting point.)
  • Create safe work zone so engineers can complete tasks without interruption.
  • Handover & exit with a short debrief to confirm the site is secure and pets are safe.

Documentation via our dedicated APP.

  • Attendance record (date/time, address, named handler)
  • Welfare notes (observations, actions taken, outcomes)
  • Photos if required.
  • Summary for your job (suitable for audit/legal review)

This mirrors what many enforcement/utility teams expect and helps demonstrate due diligence if an incident is queried later.

Safety methods & equipment

  • Professional handling: body-positioning, calm voice, non-confrontational approach.
  • Appropriate equipment: (lead, toys, treats, secure crate as required).
  • SIA/DBS: checked experienced personnel.
  • Full PPE carried by all ACO’s.
  • Hands on as a last resort; we aim to complete your job safely. (This reflects best-practice guidance on animal handling during warrant execution.)

What we don’t do

We’re not the local dog warden service for stray collection. If you need that, your local authority can advise. We focus on planned warrant/re-entry operations and urgent support tied to those operations.