ANIMAL SERVICES OFFICER

Animal Services Officer

This is the first of five levels in the Animal Services Officers series. Incumbents respond to complaints regarding animals and perform a variety of animal protection duties. Responsibilities may include evaluating whether a violation of the law has occurred; issuing citations, warnings and notices; confiscating animals; euthanizing animals; impounding stray, vicious or dangerous animals; setting live traps; and preparing related reports.

Examples Of Duties

(The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be 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. Other duties may be assigned.)

• Patrols assigned area for emergency and non-emergency animal situations; investigates complaints; responds to work orders; removes dead animals from roadways.
• Issues citations and license violation warnings to pet owners regarding leash laws, containment, pet ownership and neglect, animal cruelty, and/or other related animal welfare issues.
• Apprehends and impounds pet and stray animals in violation of animal control ordinances; confiscates animals from negligent or abusive pet owners.
• Euthanized animals, which includes: injecting animals with applicable serums and transporting and disposing carcasses of deceased animals.
• Educates the public on animal control ordinances, policies, and procedures, including proper control and care of pets.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES This position does not require supervisory responsibilities.

Requirements

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE High School Diploma or equivalent (G.E.D.), one year of specialized or technical training and one year experience working with animals; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above. LICENSING REQUIREMENTS Euthanasia Certification; Crematory Operation Certification; Valid Driver's License as per State law or requirement. Law Enforcement Commission LACA Chemical Immobilization

QUALIFICATIONS To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

KNOWLEDGE Animal handling techniques and applications; Animal traps, catch poles, and chemical immobilization techniques; Capturing and restraining domestic animals and livestock; Animal care and nutrition requirements; Investigation methods and procedures; Animal identification techniques; Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, regulations, codes, and/or statutes; Customer service principles; Recordkeeping principles; Computers and related software applications.

SKILLS Handling animals in a safe manner; Capturing, restraining, and handling animals and livestock; Responding to emergency situations; Euthanizing animals; Conducting investigations; Providing customer service; Preparing and maintaining records; Using computers and related software applications; Communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

Supplemental Information

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Positions in this class typically require: climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.
• Heavy Work: Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of forces constantly to move objects.
• Incumbents may be subjected to fumes, odors, dusts, gases, poor ventilation, chemicals, blood and other bodily fluids, extreme temperatures, inadequate lighting, workspace restrictions, and travel.

WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; outside weather conditions; extreme heat and cold; animal bites; repugnant odors and sights inherent within a shelter environment, and possible exposure to diseases associated with animals, to include blood-borne pathogens. The employee is occasionally exposed to high, precarious places; risk of electrical shock; explosive materials; and vibration.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

UNIFORM An employee in this position will be supplied with a uniform, provided by the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury. The employee is responsible for abiding by the Police Jury's Uniform Agreement.

NOTE The above job description is intended to represent only the key areas of responsibilities; specific position assignments will vary depending on the business needs of the department.