Animal Control Officer

About the role

The Animal Control Officer is responsible for enforcing State Laws and City Ordinances for the City of Minneapolis, safeguarding life, health, property, and livability for residents and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Respond to animal/livability complaints and preliminary investigative cases for compliance with animal control ordinance codes and other applicable Minnesota State Statutes of petty misdemeanor, misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor and felony level violations.
• Understand and utilize both proactive enforcement and community-based enforcement theories in the application of field services.
• Enforce the Minneapolis City Ordinances by issuing warnings and citations.
• Interview victims, suspects of animal cruelty and crimes, witnesses and members of the general public as it relates to any given animal control case.
• Prepare complete and accurate reports and other related paperwork.
• Recover and assume custody of lost, abandoned and recovered animals.
• Assist MPD with stolen animal cases.
• Assist in the execution of search warrants and assist other agencies as requested.
• Handle and control and impound dangerous, injured and ill animals including animals with zoonotic diseases that are potentially fatal including and not limited to the Rabies virus.
• Represent the City of Minneapolis with a focus on public education regarding responsible pet ownership and available resources through field calls for service, regular patrols, and community events.
• Execute the mission and vision of MACC.
• Operate various computer terminals to enter and retrieve essential and general information.
• Provide 24/7 emergency response following the restricted protocol policy and procedure.
• Testify in hearings including but not limited to civil custody hearings, administrative citation hearings and criminal court hearings.
• Proactive Patrol for violations and community outreach and engagement.
• Impound aggressive, injured and sick wildlife.
• Euthanize wildlife as appropriate per MACC policy and procedure with the exception of lethal injection.
• Transport for rehabilitation on a case-by-case basis.
• Assist shelter and veterinary staff as needed with veterinary services including feeding of the impounded animals, the administration of preliminary vaccinations to dogs and cats upon intake when applicable and other animal care services.
• Clean up the shelter including but not limited to all communal staff areas, animal kennels and cages and the MACC fleet garage/bay area.

Requirements

This position requires handling and restraining of vicious or potentially dangerous and/or deadly animals including dogs, cats, reptiles, hoof stock and multiple species of wildlife, etc. The position is exposed to physical threats which include unpredictable, hostile, and potentially armed individuals. The position may be exposed to zoonotic diseases and parasitic zoonoses such as rabies, tularemia, salmonellosis (and other illness causing bacteria), West Nile virus, brucellosis, Lyme disease, histoplasmosis (and other similar fungal diseases), hantavirus and others. The position is also subject to long periods of exposure to inclement weather, driving, garbed in PPE, lifting and/or carrying heavy loads, crawling, climbing, running, bending, etc.

Qualifications

• Minimum Education: Associate degree in Veterinary Technology, Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement or equivalent.
• Minimum Experience: Two years of related experience. Two or more years of animal handling is desired.
• Licenses/Certifications: Valid driver’s license - Possess and maintain a valid driver's license for the duration of employment in this position. Position-specific Certifications: Ability to obtain and maintain the following certifications in order to perform essential functions of employment. On-the-job training and certification will be provided. ASP Baton Certification, OC Spray Certification and Wildlife euthanasia training within twelve (12) months of hire. National Crime Information Center (NCIC) certification through the FBI within six (6) months of hire.

Preferred Qualifications

• National Animal Care and Control (NACA) Certification or equivalent Nationally Certified Animal Control Officer
• Bilingual skills in Spanish, Somali, Amharic, Oromo, Hmong, Vietnamese and/or Lao.
• Ability to relate and work effectively with people from diverse cultural, economic and ethnic backgrounds.

Desirable Qualifications

• Bilingual skills in Spanish, Somali, Amharic, Oromo, Hmong, Vietnamese and/or Lao.
• Ability to relate and work effectively with people from diverse cultural, economic and ethnic backgrounds.