Animal Control Officer

THIS POSTING WILL BE OPEN UNTIL FILLED

Application cut-off dates will be the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month.

Please Note: A candidate must successfully pass a thorough background investigation, including a criminal history check for job-related convictions, fingerprinting, polygraph test, credit check, and a drug use history to be considered for this position.

Under immediate supervision, the Animal Control Officer I learns to coordinate and perform a variety of animal control and compliance functions, including patrolling assigned areas; monitoring and enforcing animal control regulations; responding to animal control inquiries and complaints from the public; issuing citations and warnings; and performing all animal related public safety and health duties.

This is an entry and training level classification in the Animal Control Officer series. Incumbents are expected to perform a limited scope of duties and responsibilities under immediate or close supervision while learning the more complex tasks in the enforcement of laws and ordinances related to animal control and compliance. At the discretion of the appointing authority, positions in this classification may be flexibly‑staffed to the next higher level of Animal Control Officer II classification.

Appointment to the II level requires that the employee performs the full range of duties of the class and meets the qualification standards for the class.

This classification may receive lead direction and training from the Animal Control Officer II. This classification is directly supervised by a Senior Animal Control Officer.

Depending upon assignment, duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Learn to investigate reports of animal cruelty, nuisances, and potentially dangerous animals; learn to communicate with and advise owners of loose animals.
• Learn to patrol City streets, neighborhoods, and/or other designated areas in order to monitor, remove, transport, and locate stray, vicious, trapped, injured, and/or dead animals.
• Learn to rescue and impound stray animals;
  Learn to use remote chemical immobilization equipment;
  Learn to vaccinate, photograph, and process impounded animals prior to kenneling;
  Learn to transport injured animals to veterinary hospitals for treatment.
• Learn to assist law enforcement personnel and other agencies by taking animals into custody due to death, emergencies, arrests, and/or police investigations. May be required to forcibly enter a residence to obtain an animal.
• Learn to enforce City and State laws, regulations, and ordinances related to animal control.
• Learn to compile case evidence and prepare animal control cases for court.
• Learn to safely operate rifles, shotguns, and tranquilizer equipment to capture, humanely euthanize animals, or defend the public from vicious or uncontrollable animals as necessary.
• Learn to educate and provide the public with information regarding animal control laws, licensing requirements, owner responsibilities, and appropriate animal care.
• Learn to maintain and safeguard assigned equipment and supplies such as citation books, computers, controlled substances, and animal control vehicles.
• Learn to operate a computer and a two‑way radio to maintain close communication with dispatching personnel.
• Learn to prepare and maintain a variety of animal control records, documentation, and reports.
• Provide courteous and professional customer service to those contacted in the course of work.
• Other related duties may also be performed; not all duties listed may necessarily be performed by each individual holding this classification.

• Occupational hazards and safety precautions of work around animals.
• Habits and characteristics of domestic animals and wildlife.
• Symptoms of common animal diseases.
• Principles and practices of customer service, including conflict resolution.
• Basic computer operations and applications.
• Basic State laws and regulations related to animal control functions (such as rabies and search and seizures); current local animal control codes and regulations.
• Record keeping principles and practices.
• Basic laboratory analysis principles and practices.

• Answering inquiries and providing factual and technical information.
• Handling criticism and hostility from citizens with tact and good judgment.
• Communicating clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Collecting, compiling, and analyzing basic information and data.
• Making field contact with various animals, some of which may be hostile and/or injured.
• Using common office computer software.
• Safe and proficient use of specialized law enforcement weapons and equipment.
• Providing courteous and professional customer service.

• Read, write, speak, and understand the English language at a level necessary for efficient job performance.
• Learn, understand, retain, interpret, and enforce basic animal control codes, laws, case law, and regulations.
• Identify and…