Animal Control Officer

Animal Control Officer

The purpose of this position is to administer, communicate, investigate and enforce all codes, ordinances and regulations related to animal control, animal cruelty and neglect, and perform related duties to promote education and compliance with laws regulating animal treatment. This is accomplished by identifying violations; issuing warning and citations; performing animal rescue, and educating the community on animal care and compliance. The ideal candidate will be comfortable handling, with proper equipment, domesticated animals and urban wildlife.

Essential functions:

• Identifies violations by patrolling city limits; observing areas of alleged violations; interviewing available witnesses to determine if laws are being violated; responding to calls; and proactively issuing citations and warnings.
• Performs animal rescue duties and aids animals in distress by picking up animals; freeing trapped animals or rescuing strays; removing animals from inhumane conditions; safely disposing of animals; and transporting animals to shelters for treatment, care, or impoundment/quarantine.
• Educates citizens on safety and benefits of both domestic animals and wildlife by giving presentations on animal safety and care; coordinating trap lending services to residents; and providing instruction on removing nuisance animals from homes.
• Performs related administrative duties by verifying animal billing; completing trap lending and other related services paperwork; and completing monthly reports.

Job requirements:

• Formal education: Work requires knowledge of specific vocational, administrative, or technical nature that may be obtained with six-month/one year of advanced study or training past the high school equivalency.
• Experience: Previous experience is preferred but not required.
• Supervision: Job has no responsibility for the direction or supervision of others.
• Human collaboration skills: Work may require providing advice to others outside direct reporting relationships on specific problems or general policies. Contacts may require the consideration of different points of view to reach agreement. Elements of persuasion may be necessary to gain cooperation and acceptance of ideas.
• Freedom to act: Receives general direction — the employee normally performs the job by following established standard operating procedures and/or policies. There is a choice of the appropriate procedure or policy to apply to duties. Performance is reviewed periodically.
• Technical skills: Work requires analysis and judgment in accomplishing diversified duties. Requires the exercise of independent thinking within the limits of policies, standards, and precedents.
• Budget responsibility: Job has no budgetary responsibilities.
• Reading: Intermediate — Ability to read papers, periodicals, journals, manuals, dictionaries, thesauruses, and encyclopedias. Ordinarily, such education is obtained in high school up to college. However, it may be obtained from experience and self-study.
• Math: Basic — Ability to perform the four basic arithmetic operations. Ordinarily, such education is obtained in elementary school up to high school. However, it may be obtained from experience and self-study.
• Writing: Intermediate — Ability to write reports, prepare business letters, expositions, and summaries with proper format, punctuation, spelling, and grammar, using all parts of speech. Ordinarily, such education is obtained in high school up to college. However, it may be obtained from experience and self-study.
• Certification & other requirements: Valid driver's license; Basic Animal Control required within 1 year of employment.

Overall physical strength demands for this position is medium — exerting 20-50 lbs. occasionally, 10-25 lbs. frequently, or up to 10 lbs. constantly.

Physical demands:

• Standing — Occasionally — Communicating with co-workers
• Sitting — Frequently — Desk work and driving
• Walking — Frequently — Around work site and to other departments/offices
• Lifting — Frequently — Supplies, equipment, files, and animals
• Carrying — Occasionally — Supplies, equipment, files, and animals
• Pushing/Pulling — Rarely
• Reaching — Occasionally — For supplies
• Handling — Frequently — Paperwork
• Fine Dexterity — Frequently — Computer keyboard, telephone pad
• Kneeling — Occasionally — Retrieving items from lower shelves/ground and animals
• Crouching — Frequently — Retrieving items from lower shelves/ground and animals
• Crawling — Rarely — Inside attics/pipes/ditches
• Bending — Frequently — Retrieving items from lower shelves/ground and animals
• Twisting — Frequently — Getting inside vehicle
• Climbing — Rarely — Stairs and on step stool
• Balancing — Rarely — On step stools
• Vision — Continuously — Observing work site, reading, computer screen, driving
• Hearing — Frequently — Communicating with co-workers and public and on telephone
• Talking — Frequently — Communicating with co-workers and public and on telephone
• Foot Controls — Frequently — Driving

Machines, tools, equipment, software, and hardware:

Computer, printer, and related software, telephone, copier, catch pole, mace, traps, transfer cages, fatal plus, snake tongs, syringes, pet treats, nets, carriers, leashes, and related office materials.

Environmental factors:

• Mechanical hazards — Never
• Chemical hazards — Rarely
• Electrical hazards — Rarely
• Fire hazards — Never
• Explosives — Never
• Communicable diseases — Rarely
• Physical danger or abuse — Frequently
• Other — Never (N/A)

Respiratory hazards — Daily

Extreme temperatures — Seasonally

Noise and vibration — Never

Wetness/humidity — Seasonally

Physical hazards — Daily

Protective equipment required:

Gloves, goggles, and rain coat.

Non-physical demands:

• Time pressure — Rarely
• Emergency situation — Occasionally
• Frequent change of tasks — Rarely irregular
• Work schedule/overtime — Rarely performing
• Performing multiple tasks simultaneously — Rarely
• Working closely with others as part of a team — Rarely
• Tedious or exacting work — Rarely
• Noisy/distracting environment — Rarely
• Other — Never (N/A)

Primary work location:

Primary work location for this position is outdoors.