Donna, I hope you get the job. It would be so wonderful to be working in a field you love.
As for the ACO, if you read the article I posted last week about a Golden puppy who spent 8 months on death row due to the incompetence of the ACO, you'll see that is not only some towns in Michigan that have that problem. In Connecticut one can be hired as an ACO, a $35,000 a year job, just by being a good friend of the Police Chief. without any requirements to know anything about animals or have any compassion for them.
Good luck to you!