What are the responsibilities and job description for the Animal Care and Control position at City of Stilwell?
Job Overview
Join our dedicated Animal Care and Control team, where you will play a vital role in safeguarding public safety and promoting animal welfare. This dynamic position involves managing animal populations, enforcing local laws, and providing compassionate care for animals in need. You will work in a fast-paced environment that requires vigilance, strong communication skills, and a passion for animal advocacy. Your efforts will help create a safer community while ensuring humane treatment of animals.
Responsibilities
The duties listed below are intended as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed:
- Patrol city streets and public areas to locate stray, unlicensed, injured, or abandoned animals. Enforce local animal control ordinances and issue citations or warnings for violations.
- Investigation: Respond to public complaints regarding animal nuisances, barking dogs, animal bites, and potential animal cruelty or neglect. Conduct thorough investigations, interview witnesses, and gather evidence.
- Animal Handling & Capture: Safely humanely capture, restrain, and transport stray, wild, injured, or aggressive animals using specialized equipment (e.g., catch poles, traps, nets).
- Public Safety & Health: Respond to reports of animal bites, coordinate quarantine procedures for potential rabies exposure, and transport specimens for laboratory testing when necessary.
- Community Relations: Educate the public on responsible pet ownership, local animal laws, wildlife coexistence, and spay/neuter programs.
- Documentation: Maintain detailed logs, write comprehensive incident reports, and prepare cases for potential legal action. Testify, if necessary, in administrative hearings regarding ordinance violations.
- Shelter Support: Assist with the intake, feeding, and basic care of animals brought to the city shelter, ensuring a clean and safe environment.
Minimum Qualifications Education & Experience
- High School Diploma or GED equivalent.
- [Optional but preferred]: One (1) year of experience in animal handling, or veterinary support.
Licenses & Certifications
- Valid State Driver’s License with a clean driving record.
- Ability to obtain a State Animal Control Officer Certification within [6/12] months of hire.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Animal Behavior: Basic knowledge of domestic and wild animal behavior, breeds, and safe handling techniques.
- Conflict Resolution: Ability to remain calm, professional, and assertive when dealing with angry, emotional, or uncooperative members of the public.
- Physical Stamina: Ability to lift heavy animals/equipment (up to 50–70 lbs) and chase or restrain agitated animals in various terrain and weather conditions.
- Communication: Strong computer skills along with strong written and verbal communication skills for report writing and community interaction.
Working Conditions & Physical Demands
- Environment: Exposure to outdoor weather elements, noisy shelter environments, and potentially hazardous situations (e.g., aggressive animals, zoonotic diseases, biohazards).
- Schedule: Standard shift work, but requires flexibility to work weekends, holidays, and rotating "on-call" shifts for after-hours animal emergencies.
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary Range: Based on experience
- Benefits: Comprehensive health, dental, vision, and short-term disability insurance; city-matched retirement; paid time off (sick and vacation) and paid holidays; uniform allowance.
Pay: $15.00 - $20.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Dependent health insurance coverage
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Uniform allowance
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
Salary : $15 - $20