Animal Enforcement Officer

HERNANDO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE – AL NIENHUIS, SHERIFF

JOB TITLE: ANIMAL ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

BUREAU: LAW ENFORCEMENT BUREAU

SUPERVISED BY: DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL SERVICE

PAY GRADE: 14N |
CREATED: |
FLSA STATUS: NON-EXEMPT |
REVISED: 03/26/2025

The Animal Enforcement Officer is responsible for administrative and inspection work responding to citizen service requests regarding animal related problems, the enforcement of county ordinances and state statutes pertaining to animals, the euthanasia and the impoundment of animals in coordination with kennel staff.

[NOTE]:
These examples are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

• Patrols assigned areas of the County to preserve public order and tranquility, and to prevent and/or discover the commission of crimes against persons or property.
• Makes arrests and testifies in the prosecution of law violators; conducts preliminary and/or detailed investigations of the commission of crime or law violations.
• Protects the crime scene, gathers, and preserves matters of evidence, takes and records testimony; directs and coordinates activities on-site until relieved by a superior officer; assists detectives in specialized investigations.
• Responds to citizen’s service request regarding animal services and violation of county ordinance and state statutes pertaining to animals in a timely fashion.
• Checks for current rabies vaccinations and county animal licenses.
• Impounds stray, aggressive, abandoned, injured, sick or dead animals and animals otherwise authorized by county ordinance or state statute.
• Impounds animals for quarantine or rabies testing.
• Makes every effort to locate the owners of stray animals through all available methods.
• Consults with veterinarian as needed to determine if animals need to be euthanized in the field and takes such action as necessary.
• Ensures proper security over controlled substances and maintains accurate records of the controlled substance inventory on agency vehicles.
• Investigates cases of alleged cruelty, neglect, and abuse of animals.
• Performs dangerous dog investigations and ensures compliance with ownership requirements for dangerous dogs to include inspections in accordance with state statutes and county ordinances.
• Counsels animal owners on animal ordinances and attempts to resolve animal related problems and issues.
• Issues notice, warnings, and citations to animal owners for violations of county ordinances.
• Delivers traps to citizens to be used to capture animals and maintain trap inventory records for handicap residence only.
• Uses chemical immobilization guns as necessary to capture animals and completes and maintains appropriate chemical immobilization paperwork as required.
• Prepares evidence for presentation in special master hearings, dangerous dog hearings, and county court and testifies at these proceedings.
• Inspects boarding kennels, breeding kennels, pet shops, and other related businesses for compliance with county ordinances and state statutes.
• Prepares paperwork relating to impounded animals, service requests, and other office functions and enters data into computer system. Keeps detailed case notes on all activity.
• Assists the other law enforcement agencies with cases relating to or involving animals.
• Be on-call on a rotational basis to provide 24-hr. emergency service. Within three (3) months of employment, must live in a geographic radius that provides a one-hour maximum response time to emergency calls at any location in Hernando County.
• Works varied hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, as needed for scheduling of regular and on-call shifts; responds to calls for service or assistance that may occur at any time.
• Removes raccoons, foxes, and other wildlife that has become an immediate threat to the safety of citizens or has potentially exposed a human or domestic animal to rabies.
• Maintains a professional attitude while providing customer service to complainants and animal owners…