Animal Control Officer

Animal Control Officer

The City of Wichita is NOT an E-Verify Employer.

Distinguishing Features of Work

Open to City of Wichita Employees Only

This is animal control work handling routine or difficult assignments enforcing and promoting a responsible animal ownership program. Work involves investigative and field work enforcing leash laws. This position involves rescuing and containing animals unleashed within the city limits, or animals that have been proven dangerous to the community and may involve work at the Animal Shelter.

The days and hours: Shifts are from 7:00am to 3:00pm or 2:00pm to 10:00pm. Depending on the current needs of the department the required shift, days, and hours will vary and stand by from 10:00pm to 7:00am will be required

Bargaining Unit: Service Employee's International (SEIU) Employees within the department or division shall be given first consideration Posting may close at any time

Examples of Work Performed

• Operates an animal care van in the daily performance of duties.
• Answers service calls dispatched from the Animal Services Center.
• Captures animals running at large; removes and disposes of dead animals.
• Transports unwanted animals to the Animal Shelter; transports sick and injured animals to a veterinary clinic or to the Animal Shelter.
• Investigates citizen complaints concerning "vicious animal" bites.
• Investigates animal confinement areas for conformance with leash law requirements.
• Develops preliminary recommendations on animal bite and cruelty cases.
• May clean kennels and feed and water animals at the Animal Shelter.
• Uses tranquilizer gun or firearm to contain or destroy animals as needed.
• Issues warnings or summonses to violators of leash law.
• Advises the public regarding compliance with health regulations and rabies protection.
• Maintains a log of daily activities including time spent on each call, the kind of call, and what action was taken.
• May participate in the humanely destroying of animals at the Animal Shelter.
• May assume responsibilities of a supervisor in his/her absence.
• These examples are not intended to be all-inclusive. Other related duties may be assigned as needed.

Requirements of Work

• Knowledge of animals and how to handle them safely
• Ability to learn, in a reasonable period of time, proper techniques for operating a radio and dispatching personnel and equipment
• Ability to quickly develop thorough knowledge of leash laws and their application to homeowners
• Ability to work under adverse environmental conditions, such as exposure to offensive odors and other airborne nuisances, exposure to unsanitary and hazardous material, such as fecal matter and urine, and exposure to other unclean conditions.
• Ability to work outdoors in inclement weather
• Ability to handle and lift animals weighing up to 50 pounds to a height of three feet and carry them up to 15 feet, and to assist co-workers with larger animals when necessary
• Ability to chase animals by vehicle and on foot with a fast walk or by running
• Ability to use animal control equipment including catch-pole, tranquilizer guns, hypodermic needle, nets, cat graspers, and live animal traps
• Ability to work in confined spaces
• Ability to assume and maintain if necessary functional body positions, including standing, kneeling, stooping, squatting, trunk twisting and crawling
• Ability to walk for up to 60 minutes at a time.
• Ability to perform reaching, grasping, power gripping, and wrist turning as needed to perform job duties
• Ability to make decisions within policy guidelines without supervision present
• Ability to maintain composure while performing required aspects of the job, including destroying animals
• Ability to quickly develop thorough knowledge of the drugs and drug paraphernalia involved in tranquilizing and humanely destroying animals
• Must not be impaired from testifying credibly in a court of law or impaired from swearing to an affidavit.
• May require ability to maneuver (push, shove, pull) barrels and cages weighing up to 400 pounds with assistance of another person or with moving equipment such as two-wheelers
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with associates and the public
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally, including in hostile situations, and in writing
• Ability to acquire and maintain a valid Kansas driver's license
• An employee shall not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.

Experience and Training

Required Experience and Training

• Must be 18 years of age.
• One (1) year of experience in public contact work, or customer service roles.
• Must have a valid Kansas Driver's License.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.
• Attainment of passing scores on pre-employment tests. Candidates with required experience and training will be required to take the following assessments:

1. Analytical Skills
2. Basic Office Skills (No Math)

Preferred Experience and Training

• Two (2) years of experience in working with animals, or public contact work in code enforcement, inspection, or security.

Offers of employment are contingent upon passing a pre-employment physical, which includes drug screening, and upon satisfactory evaluation of the results of a criminal record check.

Starting pay for current City employees will be determined by City of Wichita policy or applicable bargaining unit agreement.