ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER

CLASS DESCRIPTION

General Responsibilities:

This is specialized work in the enforcement of City Ordinances governing animal control, care, health, and welfare. The work involves investigating and resolving complaints, impounding stray, injured, or sick animals and performing related field and office duties. Work is performed independently, under the general supervision of the leadership of the Animal Control Leadworker, and/or the Environmental Health Services Supervisor.

Examples of Duties and Responsibilities:

Receive and respond to citizen complaints involving domestic and wild animals. Investigate and resolve complaints. Control and/or capture dangerous, injured, or sick animals, including those that are possibly rabid. Impound animals.

Enforce quarantines for rabies. Enforce all applicable City and State laws and ordinances. Issue warnings and citations. Appear in court when needed.

Perform individual case management activities, maintain records, and make follow-up contacts as appropriate. Inform and educate the public regarding the responsibilities of animals ownership, including the existence of applicable laws and ordinances and proper animal care.

Investigate animal bite cases and perform necessary follow-up activities, to include animal capture, control and impoundment. Prepare reports, notifications, citations, etc.

Patrol the City on assigned shifts for stray and unlicensed animals and to identify other animal-related violations.

Prepare and maintain necessary written records, reports and statistics.

Operate small arms, tranquilizing equipment and other devices (e.g., snarepoles, live traps, etc.) to control, impound or euthanize animals when necessary. Operate a mobile radio.

Perform related work as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledges, Skills and Abilities:

Thorough knowledge of the characteristics, care and requirements of domesticated and wild animals. Knowledge of the Federal, State and local laws, rules, and ordinances relative to domesticated and wild animals. Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, other agencies and the public. Ability to deal effectively with persons who may be upset, confused, and/or angry. Ability to control animals that may be sick, injured, vicious, and/or fractious. Ability to prepare accurate and detailed records, reports, and correspondence. Ability to make skillful detailed observations. Ability to understand and follow written and oral instructions. Ability to operate independently in the field and to deal with potentially dangerous situations. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Training and Experience:

Two years of experience in the handling, care, and/or control of diverse animals (including sick, injured, and potentially dangerous animals). Such experience should have included or be supplemented by significant public contact. Such experience would normally be gained after graduation from high school or an equivalent. Other combinations of training and/or experience which can be demonstrated to result in the possession of the knowledges, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of these positions will also be considered.

Necessary Special Qualification:

Possession of a valid driver's license. Possession of the physical requirements necessary to perform the functions of this position. (See Physical Requirements Addendum). Ability to obtain and maintain Health Department certification to operate remote chemical capture equipment.

Daily: Ability to lift and control struggling animals (up to 75 pounds alone or 140 pounds with assistance); place animals into large cage, and load cage into vehicle or van.

Daily: Ability to transport a filled 2' x 1' animal cage (weighing up to 50 pounds) for 100 yds. in a manner which avoids contact with the animal.

Monthly: Ability to capture aggressive animals using such tools as a snarepole or dart gun, get the animal to the vehicles, and force into cage.

Quarterly: Ability to accurately and effectively use a chemical dart gun to subdue animals.

Annually: Ability to transport (with another person) wounded or tranquilized animals, including animals in excess of 140 lbs., by stretcher, including removal from fenced areas, culverts, drainage ditches, or other obstacles.

Daily (A-J): Ability to remove animals from drain basins.

Daily: Ability to work in adverse weather conditions. Ability to operate a motor vehicle in all types of weather conditions.

Daily: Ability to denote colors for animals identification.

Ability to receive preexposure vaccination for rabies.