ANIMAL SERVICES WARDEN

SUMMARY
The Animal Services Officer, under the supervision of the Support Services Supervisor, is responsible for controlling the animal population and enforcing city animal ordinances and state laws within the City of Fort Smith.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned. Note: All City of Fort Smith positions require the employee to provide good customer service to both internal and external customers, maintain positive and effective working relationships with other City employees, and have regular and reliable attendance that is non-disruptive. Must show cooperation and respect to fellow employees and supervisors at all times.

1. Be an advocate for animal welfare in the City of Fort Smith and conduct themselves in accordance with progressive animal control practices.

2. Investigation of animal bite cases until state regulations are met.

3. Investigation and follow-up of reported animal cruelty cases, utilizing the assistance of patrol officers or detectives to file report and/or arrest individuals accused of being in violation of state statutes.

4. Seizing animals that are in violation of the city ordinances and/or state laws and appropriately charging the owner with the crime.

5. Capturing and relocating wild nuisance animals.

6. Removal of deceased animals from city property or roadways.

7. Regular attendance and timeliness is required.

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

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• High School diploma or GED is required.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.
• The incumbent must satisfactorily complete all relevant training in Progressive Animal Control principles.

OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES
The Animal Services Officer must be able to perform all of the duties and functions as defined in the job description for the City of Fort Smith. He/She must have excellent communications skills in both oral and written forms and be able to type clear, concise reports with strong grammar and usage skills. Organizational skills and close attention to details are required to successfully perform this job. The Animal Services Officer must have thorough operational knowledge of the use of a personal computer system, as well as various software packages. The incumbent must be skilled at decision making and demonstrate strong customer service skills to remain calm when dealing with difficult citizens. He must be able to prioritize tasks, manage time, and pay attention to details. The Animal Services Officer must possess a thorough knowledge of City ordinances and state laws, especially those pertaining to animals.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those the Animal Services Officer encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions provided that accommodations comply with the City of Fort Smith's Alternate Duty Policy.

The noise level in the work environment while within the police department is usually moderate. Outside the police department, the noise level can be loud.