ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER

About the role

The purpose of this position is to enforce animal control codes and ordinances, protect human life and property, and to assist with care of animals housed in the County animal shelter.

Responsibilities

• Patrols County to locate and pick up stray animals and to observe and investigate animal control violations;
• Enforces animal related laws and ordinances;
• Captures domestic, wild, dangerous, or aggressive animals;
• Sets animal traps; loads animals into cages; transports animals to animal shelter, veterinarian offices, or other locations;
• Removes dead animals from roadways;
• Affords assistance to law enforcement by removing animals from accident or crime scenes.

Requirements

• Responds to animal related complaints;
• Responds to and investigates animal bites, potential animal cruelty and abuse, animals in distress, stray and nuisance animals, barking dogs, wild and dangerous animals, sick and injured animals, animal behavior problems, or animal control laws;
• Provides information and assistance;
• Mediates and resolves citizen disputes;
• Conducts interviews of bite victims, animal owners, and witnesses;
• Determines vaccination status of animals;
• Issues citations and violations;
• Performs follow-up as appropriate.

Qualifications

• Processes captured animals and animals removed from homes or dangerous situations;
• Traps, catches, and impounds stray or nuisance animals;
• Handles, lifts, and carries animals, restraining as appropriate;
• Handles frightened, fractious, and injured animals;
• Checks animals for signs of rabies, disease, or other illnesses;
• Quarantines animals as necessary;
• Assigns and transports animals to shelter;
• Prepares and maintains all related documentation.

Skills

• Interprets and enforces ordinances, rules, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures related to animal control;
• Ensures staff adherence to established safety procedures;
• Maintains work environment and use of safety equipment to ensure safety of employees and other individuals;
• Initiates any actions necessary to correct deviations or violations;
• Issues citations to violators of animal control ordinances;
• Contacts law enforcement to request arrests.

Benefits

Not specified.

Pay

Not specified.

Schedule

Not specified.

Knowledge, Skill, Abilities / Supplemental Information

• Knowledge of local government operations, Animal Control related programs, policies and plans, and modern office practices and procedures;
• Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other similar programs;
• Skill in the use of equipment related to the essential functions of the job;
• Skill in effective communication, both verbally and in writing;
• Ability to meet and deal with employees and the public in an effective and courteous manner;
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evening meetings;
• Ability to multi-task and work within deadlines;
• Ability to deal with confidential and sensitive matters;
• Ability to use computers for data entry, word processing, and accounting purposes;
• Ability to operate a copying machine.

Physical Demands

• The work is heavy work which requires exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Requires mental acuity including the ability to make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes, the ability to express ideas by means of the spoken word and have close visual acuity.
• Work is performed both indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions and may require standing for extended periods of time.
• Performance of essential functions may require exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as dirt, dust, pollen, odors, wetness, humidity, rain, heights, confined spaces, animal/wildlife attacks, animal/human bites, disease, or rude/irate customers.
• The noise level in the work environment may be at times moderate to loud.

Special Requirements

• Requires a High School diploma or equivalent and two (2) years of related experience in animal control, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Georgia driver’s license.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Euthanasia Certification.
• National Animal Care and Control Association (NACA) ACO Level 1 and/or Level 2 Certification a plus.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Henry County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.