What are the responsibilities and job description for the Animal Services Officer position at City of Laguna Beach?
- Decision Making
- Legal & Regulatory Navigation
- Integrity & Ethics
- Oral Communication
- Writing
- Customer Focus
- Critical Thinking
- Fact Finding
- Environmental Exposure Tolerance
- General Physical Ability
- Safety Focus
- Self Management
- Handling Conflict
Application/Selection Process: Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis with a first review on Wednesday, March 29, 2023. Selection testing for this position will include a structured panel interview and may include other skills assessments developed to predict successful job performance. The appointing authority will further review the job related qualifications of those deemed eligible for hire before making selection decisions. An employment list will be developed from this recruitment which can also serve to fill possible future vacancies for this position.
Pre-Placement Process: All prospective candidates must successfully pass a police background check, fingerprint check with the Department of Justice, and a pre-placement physical (includes pre-placement drug testing).
- Patrols streets, parks and open space corridors
- Investigates complaints regarding animals, enforces regulations and issues citations when necessary
- Captures and impounds unlicensed, off-leash, stray and uncontrolled animals
- Transports captured animals to Animal Shelter and arranges for proper housing and care
- Responds to emergencies during off hours
- Captures and impounds sick, injured, trapped or vicious domestic and wild animals
- Euthanizes sick, rabid and critically injured animals
- Picks up and provides aid to sick animals and removes remains of dead animals from roads and wild lands
- Locates and apprehends animals which have reportedly bitten humans or other animals
- Determines method and place of quarantine
- Monitors quarantine periods and releases animal to owner at end of quarantine
- Canvasses residential areas to locate unlicensed animals
- Examines licenses for validity and issues warnings or citations to delinquent owners
- Verifies current vaccinations
- Assists pet owners in understanding animal regulations, including presentation of educational programs at local schools and civic meetings
- Prepares formal complaints and charges for criminal court actions against violators of local ordinances and State laws pertaining to animal control
- Maintains records of all impounded animals and disposition thereof
- Maintains vehicles and equipment
- Performs miscellaneous public safety tasks as required
- Assists Animal Care Specialist at the Animal Shelter
- Writes letters, identifies and investigates animal-related crimes
- Completes reports, prepares court documents
- Testifies in court or other legal proceedings
- May be called upon to assist with traffic control duties at traffic accident scenes and major incidents
- Performs related work as required
Any combination demonstrating the ability to effectively and successfully perform the duties of the position is considered qualifying. A typical combination is as follows:
Education: Graduation from high school or equivalent. College coursework or a Bachelor's Degree in a related Animal Services field is desirable.
Experience: Considerable public contact experience and experience in handling domestic and other animals is required. Must have at least one (1) year experience in an animal shelter facility, veterinary hospital or equivalent. Prior experience as an Animal Control Officer is preferred.
1) P.O.S.T. P.C. 832 Certificate, including the Firearms Module
2) Euthanasia by Injection Certificate from a California animal welfare organization.
Knowledge of: basic methods of animal collection, care and disposal; occupational hazards and standard safety practices necessary in the field of animal capture and control; necessary tools and devices used in the capture and immobilization of animals; basic principles and procedures of bookkeeping and report writing; principles and practices in dealing with the public; and modern office practices, methods and windows based computer skills. Specialized training in police science, handling animals, or a related field is desirable.
Ability to: learn, interpret, apply and enforce the policies, procedures, laws, ordinances and regulations dealing with the impounding and care of animals; recognize normal and abnormal animal behavior and common diseases of animals and determine the appropriate action to take when confronting animals who are agitated, frightened, vicious or injured; administer controlled substances in order to euthanize sick or critically injured animals; maintain and prepare accurate and complete narrative reports from personal observations and information provided by others, using correct English spelling and grammar; use a Windows based computer system for word processing, records keeping and other routine duties; speak clearly and understand and carry out written and verbal instructions; operate standard office equipment, learn and understand pertinent procedures and functions quickly and perform without immediate supervision using appropriate judgment; remain calm and courteous under pressure, accept responsibility and accountability for the performance of duties and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with those encountered in the performance of duties.
Judgment and Situational Reasoning Ability: to exercise the judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information against measurable criteria; to use functional reasoning in performing semi-routine functions involving standardized work with some choice of action.
The Department: The Police Department is organized into three divisions (Support and Investigative Services, Field Services, and Professional Services), and provides general law enforcement services, including animal control.
Salary : $57,744 - $81,276