Animal Services Officer

Position Summary

The Animal Services Officer is responsible for enforcing city codes governing the care and control of animals, under the direction of the Animal Services Manager and Animal Services Field Supervisor. They proactively patrol and respond to calls for service to ensure code compliance and public safety. They support animal services activities pertaining to licensing, controlling, sheltering and disposing of animals. Additionally, they support operations of the city animal shelter such as impounding animals, returning animals to their owners and providing animal care, health interventions and hygiene.

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Essential Responsibilities And Duties

• Manage City animal problems with professionalism.
• Patrols city to identify and mitigate animal ordinance violations such as leash laws, unlicensed or unvaccinated animals and excess animals.
• Responds promptly to calls for service from dispatch, public safety, or shelter staff and management.
• Responds to complaints concerning animal problems, ordinance violations, animal bites, attacks or animal cruelty.
• Writes reports, documents evidence, issues citations or warnings as needed and prepare cases.
• Monitors bite cases and rabies cases for proper testing and compliance with laws.
• Picks up stray, sick, injured, dead, and dangerous animals.
• Provides support for nuisance animal trapping.
• Euthanizes animals when necessary and ensures proper disposal.
• Participates in emergency response in the on-call schedule rotation.
• Provides assistance to public and their pets.
• Answers and directs calls, emails and other requests for information.
• Assists public with animal reunification, surrenders, impounds, and adoptions.
• Assist with animal care services, including licensing, microchipping, euthanizing, etc.
• Provides assistance to owners of lost animals to promote unification.
• Assist with animal introductions and interactions with persons looking to adopt an animal.
• Assists in community outreach and education.
• Assists with City animal shelter operation and maintenance.
• Cleans the animal shelter, including kennels, cages and dog runs as needed.
• Cares for animals, including feeding, walking, moving to outdoor pens, socializing, cleaning, etc.
• Assists with recordkeeping relating to licenses, impounds, adoptions, veterinary care and enforcement.
• Provides quality customer service to visitors of the animal shelter.
• Assists with law enforcement and civil enforcement activities.
• Participates in joint enforcement and problem solving, including Community Impact Team (COMMIT).
• Inspects animal-related businesses as required by code and manages processes to remedy violations.
• Inspects domestic poultry enclosures and aids residents in acquiring permits.
• Supports other public safety staff in controlling animals during their operations.
• Prepares case information for court dispositions on various animal problems or violations and attends court as needed.
• Other duties as assigned by Animal Services Field Supervisor, Animal Services Manager or Department Director.
  
  

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Minimum Qualifications And Requirements

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND CERTIFICATIONS

• Graduation from high school or GED equivalent and preferred two years of related work experience.
• Preference given to applicants with an Associates degree or Special Functions Officer certification.
• Must possess a valid state driver's license or obtain one prior to employment.
• Taser certification – will be required to attain taser certification, which may require that the employee be personally tased.
• Pepper spray certification – will be required to attain pepper spray certification, which may require that the employee be personally sprayed with pepper spray.
  
  

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Necessary Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Knowledge of civil and criminal law, animal law theory, and their application.
• Knowledge of methods and techniques of effective investigations and casework.
• Knowledge of animal behavior, first aid, basic veterinary care standards and euthanasia.
• Knowledge of animal types, breeds and markings.
• Knowledge of animal capture, care, and disposal techniques.
• Skill in proper use of equipment, including humane apprehension and euthanasia equipment.
• Skill in customer service and relating to people in stressful situations.
• Skill in word processing, spreadsheets, personal computers, mobile devices and office equipment.
• Skill in managing various sizes and species of animals in different states, including aggressive behavior and ill health.
• Skill in decision-making using independent judgment and analyzing situations and to make appropriate decisions.
• Skill in properly handling confidential information and files.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to clean and sanitize animal living spaces.
• Ability to work a schedule that includes on-call nights, weekends and holidays.
• Ability to work independently and in stressful and dangerous situations.
• Ability to carry and use personal protective gear, including taser and pepper spray.
• Ability to be punctual and accountable for all hours worked, both inside and outside the office.
  
  

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PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met or will be encountered by an employee while successfully performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms.

The employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear, stand and walk. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to operate objects, tools or controls, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision and the ability to adjust focus.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in outside weather conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and is exposed to dust and odor. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, but occasionally high due to animal behavior. The employee may be exposed to stressful animal behavior on a regular basis.

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The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. The job description is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

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SALARY: $22.09-$33.41, GRADE 17 (TYPICALLY START AT MINIMUM)

OPEN UNTIL FILLED

MUST COMPLETE CITY APPLICATION

Resumes submitted without application will not be considered.

Application available on website at www.sslc.gov

FINAL APPLICANT MUST SUBMIT TO AND PASS A DRUG SCREEN AND BACKGROUND CHECK

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

THIS ENTITY USES E-VERIFY