The La Habra Police Department is seeking a dedicated individual to serve as a
Part -Time Animal Control Officer 

The City of La Habra is recruiting to fill the position of part-time Animal Control Officer and to establish an eligibility list for future openings. This list will be in effect for a period of one year. The days and hours of work vary and are approximately 20 - 28 hours per week. The City may elect, at some point in the future, to contract out Animal Control services at which time these part-time positions may be discontinued. 
ABOUT THE CITY:
The City of La Habra is a vibrant Southern California community, strategically located in the northwest corner of Orange County, where it benefits from the greater economies of both Orange and Los Angeles counties. When the City incorporated in 1925, the La Habra valley was a largely agricultural community comprised of farms and ranches but included a significant local oil industry. Over the past century, the City has transitioned to a fully built out suburban community of residential neighborhoods, commercial businesses and industrial manufacturing. Over the past 30 years the City has invested heavily in economic development and public infrastructure, and offers a rich assortment of community services programs, events, and activities. Today the City is home to a population of over 63,000 residents within La Habra’s 7.3 square miles. A friendly and diverse community, La Habra is conveniently located within an hour's drive of many beaches, mountains, and desert recreation areas. The City is known for the Corn Festival, Citrus Fair, Tamale Festival and the jewel of La Habra, its Children’s Museum. While the City has planned for and encourages measured growth, it retains a small town feel and lives up to its heritage as “A Caring Community.” 
 
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:
Since 1925, the La Habra Police Department has been dedicated to providing the residents of this community with a safe environment in which to live and work. This commitment to service is a tradition upheld by the men and women who serve La Habra and is reflected in all aspects of the department’s day-to-day operations.
 
In addition to the regular duties of traffic and law enforcement, the La Habra Police Department strives to assess the needs of the City and, working in partnership with area residents, successfully address those concerns. Since law enforcement and public safety are a citywide concern, we actively seek the involvement of community members in all aspects of policing and welcome their participation.
 
ABOUT THE POSITION:
Under general supervision, performs a variety of duties involved in the enforcement of state laws, city ordinances, and municipal codes and regulations relating to animal control including licensing, impounding, treatment and disposal of animals and other related duties, as required.

(The following duties represent the principal job duties; however, they are not all inclusive.)

• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. 
• Patrol City for stray animals and respond to calls for service.
• Accept stray or dead animals for impound or disposal.
• Receive and investigate complaints and reports concerning strays, dangerous, abandoned, abused or diseased animals.
• Respond to emergency and problem situations in an effective manner.
• Analyze situations and adopt quick, calm, effective and reasonable courses of action. 
• Deal constructively with conflict and develop effective resolutions. 
• Recall faces, names, and details of incidents. 
• Quarantine potentially rabid animals.
• Euthanize animals, when necessary.
• Issue citations for violations of relevant state laws and municipal ordinances.
• Maintain accurate records of calls for service, animals picked up, impounded, or returned to owner.
• Understand, apply, and explain relevant state laws and municipal ordinances.
• Safely operate trucks with restricted rear vision. 
• Operate a radio and remember codes. 
• Operate a computer and a variety of office equipment. 
• Prepare reports and correspondence. 
• Perform other related duties as required.

Qualifying Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of: 

• Basic laws and regulations governing the licensing, quarantining, impounding, care and destruction of animals. 
• Handling and routine care of domestic and wild animals. 
• Methods and techniques of animal capture and impoundment. 
• Animal types/breed and behavior patterns. 
• Symptoms of animal illnesses and diseases.

Skill and Ability to:

• Maintain routine records. 
• Write clear and concise reports. 
• Exercise appropriate safety precautions and procedures. 
• Discharge a tranquilizer gun safely and accurately. 
• Function under stressful and/or potentially confrontational circumstances. 
• Exercise good judgment and initiate appropriate courses of action. 
• Safely drive an animal control vehicle and obey all traffic laws. 
• Learn radio procedures. 
• Read street maps. 
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing; develop and maintain effective public relations. 
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, law enforcement agencies, and the public.

Training and Experience:

Any combination of education and experience that provides the qualifying knowledge, skills and abilities.

Physical Tasks and Working Conditions:

Position requires strength, stamina, coordination and balance to stand or walk for long periods; strength to hold, restrain, or lift and load animals weighing up to 75 pounds into a vehicle compartment or cage; bend, stoop and reach to conduct inspections; run in pursuit of animals; climb ladders or fences to capture animals, carry equipment and supplies; remain alert in a confined space; color and vision perception sufficient to read standard text on a computer screen and to see animals at a distance or low light and distinguish colors; hear and speak well enough to converse with the public and to use a two way radio; manual dexterity to hand write legible logs and use a computer keyboard; coordination, vision, and strength to use tranquilizer gun; and frequently drive to specific locations. Duties are primarily performed outside where the employee is exposed to varying and extreme weather conditions. 

Job Hazards/Risk Factors:

Employees risk physical hazard from violent, aggressive, and hostile people, domestic or wild animals that are vicious and/or diseased and, therefore, could result in substantial bodily harm or death. Exposure to a variety of weapons, noise, exposure to bio-hazard communicable diseases, hazardous materials, chemicals, bodily fluids, sharp objects, traffic, drugs and drug paraphernalia; high risk of civil litigation due to performance of duties.

Special Conditions:

PUBLIC EMPLOYEE DISASTER SERVICE WORKER: In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, all La Habra city employees are required to perform assigned disaster service worker duties in the event of an emergency or a disaster.

Special Requirements:

Must be available to work day and evening hours, including weekends and holidays, and available for callouts, as needed. Applicant must be able to operate and utilize a tranquilizer gun. 

Certificates or Licenses:

Position requires a valid California Class C driver’s license and satisfactory driving record. Completion of PC 832, Arrest Search & Seizure, within one year of employment.