Animal Control Officer

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The Animal Control Officer enforces ordinances and statutes related to the control of animals and the operation of an animal shelter. Work involves capturing, confining and euthanizing stray, diseased and dangerous animals, including domestic and wild animals, fowl and livestock. The incumbent is also responsible for assisting with the maintenance of the animal shelter to provide clean and safe conditions. Participates in the feeding, handling and provision of custodial care to animals in the shelter.

The incumbent must also exercise tact, courtesy and firmness in frequent contact with animal owners and the general public. The incumbent is subject to the usual hazards of animal control work and reports to the Animal Control Supervisor. Work is subject to evaluation on the basis of results achieved.

• Responds to citizens’ requests for service, captures and confines stray, diseased and dangerous animals; euthanizes vicious, diseased and unclaimed animals utilizing humane methods;
• Responds to observed or reported emergency situations and ordinance violations;
• Investigates cases of animal bite, cruelty, abandonment, rabies, livestock and poultry killings; ensures that confinement of such animals is proper and complete according to the law;
• Investigates cases of cruelty to animals;
• Inspects animals and their cages and pens for their health and welfare and the safety and cleanliness of their cages and pens;
• Captures and Transports animals, including those who are sick, injured or potentially dangerous;
• Performs field tranquilization on ill, injured, or dangerous domestic animals or wildlife;
• Issues citations and testifies in court;
• Counsels/educates citizens regarding responsible animal ownership/ordinance requirements (leash law, registration, animal behavior, etc.);
• Decapitates animals which are suspected to have rabies or have died while in confinement;
• Patrols city, picking up animals which are in violation of State and City codes;
• Impounds animals and places them within the animal shelter according to size, sex, needs and circumstances involved in pick-up;
• Demonstrates continuous effort to improve operations, decrease turnaround times, streamline work processes, and work cooperatively and jointly to provide quality customer service.
• Performs other essential and marginal functions as assigned.

Required

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Capture, handling, feeding, and general care of domestic animals.
• Laws, ordinances, and procedures governing animal services operations.
• Various species of domestic animals and non-domestic animals
• Research techniques and the sources and availability of information.
• Animal breeds and behaviors.
• City of Liberal streets and roads.
• Various animal health problems and diseases.

Skill in:

• Use of tools used to capture, restrain, and transport animals.
• Resolving situations requiring the exercise of good judgment.
• Understanding of veterinarian medicine.
• Dealing with the public, including irate citizens.

Ability to:

• Carry out medical treatments as directed by a veterinarian.
• Administer subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intravenous injections and to perform triage on sick or injured animals.
• Read and interpret laws and ordinances governing animal service operations.
• Develop educational programs for pet owners.
• Carry out brief, general instructions of a superior, effectively and with dispatch.
• Communicate orally in the English language with customers, clients, and the public in face-to-face, one-on-one settings, in group settings, and using a telephone.
• Produce written documents in the English language with clearly- organized thoughts with proper sentence construction, punctuation,…