Animal Resources Officer

Performs protective service work enforcing state laws and local ordinances as they relate to animal control, conducting professional investigations that pertain to animal cruelty, animal bites, suspected rabid animals, and public nuisance issues within the county; educating the public about animal resources and adoptions, assisting the Animal Resources Shelter staff with daily duties and other duties as apparent or assigned. This position serves in an on-call capacity. Work is performed under the limited supervision of the Animal Resources Lieutenant/Assistant Director and serves at the pleasure of the Chatham County Sheriff. 


****Compensation adjusted based on experience and education****
•         1% for each year of experience up to 10 years
•         2% for Associate’s degree
•         2% for Bachelor’s degree
•         5% for Intermediate Law Enforcement Certification
•         5% for Advanced Law Enforcement Certification

• Responds to calls for service to enforce all state laws and local ordinances pertaining to the protection of the public against disease and damage caused by animals, and the protection of animals against neglect, abuse, and cruelty; captures and removes strays, uncontrolled, wild, sick/injured or abused animals from undesirable conditions;
• Investigates reports of animal attacks, cruelty, or encounters, including interviewing violators, witnesses, and victims; collecting evidence, and writing reports; testifies in court, if necessary; submits case files to the District Attorney’s Office for criminal cases;
• Maintains and submits accurate reports related to all calls for service;
• Assists shelter staff with daily duties such as cleaning and disinfecting the kennel area and shelter, animal feeding and grooming, administering medication and vaccines, and assisting with health, disease, and behavioral assessments;
• Assists shelter staff with facilitating adoptions, impounds, transfers, and reclamations as well as assisting with answering phones, greeting visitors, and dispatching calls as needed;
• Assists shelter staff with creating and maintaining records for any animals at the shelter;
• Assists staff in the humane euthanasia and rabies clinics;
• Prepares and packages rabies specimens to be tested and transports the specimen to the state lab or courier service;
• Transports shelter animals to medical appointments and transfers deceased animals to the disposal site;
• Educates the public about pet ownership, rabies, animal safety, and animal cruelty through programs and contact in the field with the public;
• Assists with patrol duties as needed;    
• Performs other duties as apparent or assigned.

High school diploma or GED or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Thorough knowledge of the laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, and agency rules, including state and local animal control laws and ordinances, municipal policy, and procedures;
• Thorough knowledge of animal care and behavior and the safe handling and general welfare practices of small and large domestic and wild animals;
• Thorough knowledge of rabies and rabies management practices;
• General knowledge of law enforcement methods, practices, and procedures; 
• General knowledge of the geography of the county and the location of important buildings; 
• General knowledge of the rules and regulations of the Sheriff's Office; 
• Ability to understand  and carry out oral and written instructions  and to prepare clear comprehensive  reports; 
• Ability to deal courteously, professionally, firmly, and tactfully with the public under stressful situations; 
• Ability to analyze situations and to adopt quick, effective, and reasonable courses of action with due regard to surrounding hazards and circumstances; 
• Possession of physical agility and endurance; 
• Skill in the use of firearms, chemical agents, weapons of defense, and the operation of a motor vehicle;  
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates and the general public.

Physical Requirements
This work requires the regular exertion of up to 10 pounds of force, frequent exertion of up to 50 pounds of force and occasional exertion of up to 100 pounds of force; work regularly requires speaking, hearing, use of hands and fingers, handling or feeling, frequently requires standing, walking, sitting and reaching with hands and arms and occasionally requires climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, tasting, smelling, pushing, pulling, lifting and repetitive motions; work has standard vision requirements and requires close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust focus, depth perception, color perception, night vision and peripheral vision; work requires vocal communication to express or exchange ideas orally and to convey detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; work requires hearing to perceive information at normal spoken levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, using of measuring devices, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work regularly requires exposure to outdoor weather conditions and occasionally requires wet, humid conditions (non-weather), working near moving mechanical parts, working in high, precarious places, exposure to fumes or airborne particles, exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals, exposure to the risk of electrical shock, working with explosives, exposure to vibration and exposure to bloodborne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).

Special Requirements
Must possess or obtain Euthanasia Technician certification.
 
Must possess Rabies Vaccinator certification.
 
Must possess a valid North Carolina driver's license.

Salary : $56,593 - $72,157