Animal Services Officer

ANIMAL SERVICES OFFICER I role at Fulton County

UNCLASSIFIED POSITION

CURRENT VACANCY IS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT

Minimum Qualifications High School diploma or GED required: supplemented by one (1) year of experience caring and handling of shelter animals and wildlife; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.

Specific License or Certification Required Must possess and maintain a valid Georgia driver’s license. Must possess and maintain the following certificate(s) within 12 months of employment:
National Animal Control Association (NACA) ACO (Animal Control Officer) I.

Specific Knowledge, Skills, or Abilities Must be able to demonstrate proficiency in performance of the essential functions and learn, comprehend, and apply all county or departmental policies, practices, and procedures necessary to function effectively in the position.

The purpose of this classification is to provide a safe environment for both humans and animals residents in Fulton County. Responsibilities involve responding to dispatch calls to provide animal rescue, assist the public with animal‑related situations, and enforce state and local animal statutes within Fulton County and its municipalities. This classification is distinguished from Animal Services Officer II in that the latter is a higher‑level position that includes training responsibilities.

Incumbents work on a varied shift schedule and are subject to stand‑by or on‑call duty outside of normal work hours, as part of a 24‑hour, seven (7) days a week operation, including weekends and holidays.

• Enforce animal related laws or ordinances; capture domestic, wild, dangerous, or aggressive animals; set animal traps and load animals into cages; transport animals to shelters, veterinary offices, or other locations; relocate displaced wildlife and remove dead animals from roads; and assist law enforcement by removing animals from accident scenes or crime scenes.
• Patrol assigned areas to catch, handle, restrain, confine, transport, and impound stray, injured, unwanted, diseased, neglected or abused animals using specialized equipment, methods, and techniques; inspect animals to determine medical condition, care received, and to decide on the most appropriate course of action to prevent inhumane treatment of animals.
• Respond to citizen complaints and investigate alleged violations of animal laws and regulatory ordinances; observe areas of alleged violations and interview witnesses to determine if laws are being violated; issue warnings and citations to violators; set up inspection calls to ensure compliance with laws and ordinances; and perform follow‑up site inspections as needed.
• Conduct investigations and prepare written reports of incidents; prepare evidence for court cases; testify in court as a witness in animal control related cases; monitor and assist with court related matters; review cases submitted by officers; develop summaries of court related activities; and perform follow‑up as needed.
• Assist in maintaining the shelter by performing duties such as recovery of animals, cleaning, feeding and other duties that may be required; work closely with the intake coordinator, impoundment, dispatch, and animal care team to ensure correct intake data is given; ensure that animals are accurately identified, recorded, and placed in kennels; and secure proper confinement and disposition of animals.
• Interpret and enforce the provisions of applicable federal, state, and local codes, ordinances, laws, rules, regulations, specifications, standards, policies and procedures: provide information and assistance concerning code and ordinances requirements; discuss problem areas with animal owners, residents, and businesses; make suggestions and recommend solutions to violations; respond to questions or complaints concerning animal code violations; educate citizens about services, resources, laws, and regulations relating to the control, confinement, vaccinations, adoptions, shelters, and care of animals;
  
  and visit schools to educate students…