A dogcatcher is a person whose job is to capture stray dogs wandering around a town or city. In the early and mid-1900s, many American towns employed dogcatchers to round up dogs without owners or collars and bring them to animal shelters. The job often involved driving a truck around neighborhoods, responding to calls about loose dogs, and using nets or leashes to catch animals that might be frightened or aggressive.

The work required patience and some bravery, since a scared stray dog might bite or run. Dogcatchers had to know how to approach animals calmly and handle them safely. Most captured dogs would be kept at a shelter where owners could claim them.

Today, most places have replaced dogcatchers with animal control officers, who have broader responsibilities: they rescue injured wildlife, investigate animal cruelty, and educate the public about pet care. The old term “dogcatcher” has mostly faded from use, but it lives on in expressions. When someone jokes about running for dogcatcher, they mean the lowest, least important elected position imaginable, the kind of race where you'd be the only candidate running.