ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER

Animal Control Officer Grade: 67 Non-Exempt

WAYNE COUNTY JOB DESCRIPTION for
ANIMAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

GENERAL WORK FUNCTIONS
Under general supervision, performs semi-skilled work in the enforcement of ordinances and statutes
related to the control and/or humane treatment of animals. The employee will also educate the public
about relevant animal regulations and humane animal care. The employee is on call 24 hours a day on a
rotational basis and is subject to the usual hazards of animal control work and is required to complete
other duties as assigned. Reports to the Animal Control Supervisor.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
 Ensure that all animals within the shelter are provided with the essential care to meet state and

internal policy requirements, including providing basic housing, cleaning & disinfecting, food
and water, medical care, bathing/grooming.

 Cleans and maintains the animal services facilities, including the shelter, office areas, grounds,
keeping free of trash and animal waste. Conducting routine inspections of facilities to ensure
health, welfare, safety of animals, employees, and the public. Reporting any potential issues or
threats to supervisor.

 Observes and evaluates animals for signs of illness or injury and reports symptoms to appropriate
staff member(s). Administers medications and humanely euthanizes both wild and domesticated
animals.

 Evaluates animals for any signs of aggression, or fear, helps socialize animals. Making
observations to determine if animals are eligible for adoption or rescue.

 Assists and provides excellent customer service to citizens interested in adopting animals,
searching for lost and found pets, or have questions regarding animals or shelter policies and
procedures. The employee is also responsible for promoting responsible pet ownership practices
and providing education to the public regarding regulations and humane animal care practices.

 Impounds and process animals, completing all appropriate forms and following intake
procedures, placing animals in housing according to size, sex, needs, and circumstances.

 Maintains accurate and legible records relating to animal care, supply inventory, euthanasia logs,
and other forms as required.

 Utilizes computerized data entry equipment and software to enter, store and/or retrieve data as
requested or otherwise necessary.

 Oversees and assists in the set up and advertisement of rabies clinics.
 Destroys vicious, diseased and unclaimed animals utilizing humane methods; bags and buries

carcasses; prepares deceased animals suspected of disease or having died in captivity and sends
specimens to the appropriate laboratory for testing.

 Attends seminars and classes for continuing education on animal care and control related
subjects.

 Responds to requests for service from the public, safely capturing and confining, and/or humane
euthanizing stray, unwanted, diseased, neglected, abused and/or abandoned animals, including
domestic and wild animals, livestock and fowl

 Patrols county picking up animals running loose in violation of state and county laws; uses
humane traps to capture animals, as necessary.

 Investigates animal bite cases; ensures that confinement of such animals is proper and complete
according to the law.

 Investigates cases of cruelty to animals and other animal control ordinance violations; prepares
offense and progress reports; appears in court and testifies. Issues citations or warnings for
violations.

 Prepares a variety of reports, such as numbers of animals collected and confined, animal bites,
poultry and livestock damage caused by other animals, investigation reports, animals humanely

Animal Control Officer Grade: 67 Non-Exempt

euthanized by Department, etc.; maintains routine activity reports, including mileage and fuel
consumption.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

 Thorough knowledge of state and county laws and regulations related to rabies.
 Considerable knowledge of laws and ordinances related to animal protection and control, as well

as appropriate care and disposal methods.

 Considerable knowledge of arithmetic, grammar, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary.
 General knowledge of the geographic layout of the County.
 General knowledge of safety practices concerning the handling of animals.
 Ability to use and care for equipment used to capture and humanely euthanize animals.
 Ability to exercise fairness in enforcing laws and ordinances pertaining to animal control.
 Ability to exercise initiative and independent judgment in applying laws, ordinances and

standards to a variety of work situations.

 Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
 Skill in word processing, spreadsheet and file maintenance programs as well as basic data entry.
 Ability to prepare and maintain records of daily activities.
 Ability to exercise tact, courtesy and firmness in frequent contact with animal owners and the

public.

 Skill in being creative, being comfortable around crowds and speaking to large groups.
 Ability to maintain complete and accurate records and to prepare reports for them.
 Ability to analyze and record information and to balance figures.
 Ability to follow moderately complex oral and written instructions.
 Ability to use judgment in organizing and establishing format.
 Ability to exercise tact and courtesy in contact with county personnel, vendors, volunteers and the

public.

 Ability to euthanize animals in a caring and humane manner.
 Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work

assignment.

 Demonstrated animal health and well-being knowledge, skills and abilities to care of wild and
domestic animals, knowledge of animal and zoonotic diseases, skill in performing euthanasia,
ability to determine breeds and species, sex and age.

 Ability to recognize signs of animal neglect, abuse and cruelty.
 Ability to perform manual labor associated with assigned responsibilities.
 Ability to maintain readiness to work on a 24-hour, call-in basis.

ADDITIONAL JOB FUNCTIONS

 Maintains County-owned vehicles.
 Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE
Minimum:

 High School Diploma or GED required
 Any equivalent combination of training and experiences, which provides the required knowledge,

skills, and abilities.
 Must possess a valid North Carolina Driver’s License.

Preferred:
 Training in the animal control field
 1 year of work experience involving contact with animals.

Animal Control Officer Grade: 67 Non-Exempt

Special Requirement:

 Must be ECT (Euthanasia Certified Technician) certified within 1 year of hire date.

MINIMUM STANDARDS REQUIRED
TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Physical Requirements: Must be physically able to operate a variety of machines and equipment, including
computers, animal traps, axes, euthanasia equipment, etc. Must be physically able to operate a full-sized pick-up
truck. Must be able to exert up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to
25 pounds of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Employee is required
to have the ability to maintain body equilibrium when bending, stooping, crouching, climbing, reaching and/or
stretching arms, legs or other parts of body, and to physically maneuver over and/or upon varying terrain, surfaces or
physical structures. Work involves walking, standing, running and may involve physical confrontations. Physical
demand is for Heavy Work.
Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or
composite characteristics (whether like or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
Interpersonal Communications: Requires the ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange
information, includes receiving instructions, assignments and/or directions from superiors.
Language Ability: Requires the ability to read a variety of records and forms; requires the ability to prepare
reports, forms and correspondence using prescribed formats. Must be able to speak to people with poise, voice
control and confidence.
Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply rational systems to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of
concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; to interpret a variety of instructions
furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule form.
Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and
written instructions. The employee must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical
or professional languages, including legal terminology.
Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas. Must be able to add, subtract, multiply
and divide; calculate decimals and percentages.
Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.
Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using animal
restraint devices. Employee must be able to operate a motor vehicle.
Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of equipment, such as keyboards, control knobs, toggle
switches, triggers, levers, etc. Must have minimal levels of eye, hand and foot coordination.
Color Discrimination: Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.
Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions.
Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with persons acting under stress or when
confronted with emergency situations.
Physical Communication: Requires the ability to talk and/or hear: (talking - expressing or exchanging ideas by
means of spoken words; hearing - perceiving nature of sounds by ear). Must be able to communicate via telephone
and two-way radio