Animal Control Officer

About the role

The Animal Control Officer (SO) performs general law enforcement work to ensure compliance with county ordinances and state statutes relating to the welfare and control of animals. Provides conflict resolution and medication services to citizens regarding both animal and people issues. Completes investigations of alleged animal cruelty and neglect, ownership of dangerous animals, and biting incidents. Educates and informs citizens of domestic and wildlife related issues at public functions and special events. Demonstrates public and officer safety, humane animal capture and containment.

Responsibilities

• Responds to complaint calls such as leash law violations, aggressive and nuisance behavior and barking.
• Interviews witnesses, complainants and suspects and takes appropriate enforcement action.
• Attempts to mediate and de-escalate neighborhood disputes and conflicts.
• Investigates misdemeanor animal bites, cruelty, and neglect. Interviews suspects and witnesses, collects evidence, and takes appropriate enforcement action.
• Counsels and educates citizens on domestic and wildlife related issues at public functions and special events.
• Patrols an assigned area of the county in a marked patrol vehicle maintaining high visibility and initiating proactive contacts with violators.
• May also patrol on foot or bicycle; to include hiking.
• Responds to requests for service to capture and confine stray, deceased, sick, injured or nuisance animals, including domestic animals, wildlife, and livestock.
• Returns animals to owners when the owner can be identified.
• Performs humane euthanasia on injured, sick, or rabies-suspect wildlife.
• Completes administrative tasks, such as completing daily activity logs, scanning paperwork, inventorying, and maintaining animal control equipment, and dispatcher support.
• Processes and reviews applications and verifies information submitted for dog licenses or other permits.
• Maintains a case load of animal cruelty, neglect and dangerous dog cases requiring follow up, and enforcement of special sanctions imposed by the courts.
• Maintains compliance with applicable rules and regulations and determines when reinvestigation is necessary to ensure ongoing compliance.
• Assists the patrol division when emergencies and traffic accidents are encountered and responds to other incidents where additional personnel are requested.
• Utilizes emergency equipment and controls traffic.
• Supports Park Rangers during in-park emergencies.
• Participates in emergency preparedness and response.
• Attends FEMA and other emergency management trainings.
• Facilitates the evacuation of animals and people during large-scale incidents and assists other emergency management efforts.
• Issues summonses and writes complex investigative reports.
• Collaborates with District Attorney’s office and collects follow-up information as requested.
• Assembles and organizes statements and evidence for presentation in court, attends court proceedings and presents evidence and testimony, and releases evidence at conclusion of case.
• Answers inquiries from the public, providing general information on laws, ordinances, and human and wildlife conflicts.
• Prepares public presentations and attends outreach events.
• Provides technical assistance and facilitates internal education/training for the patrol division, as well as other agencies.
• Collaborates with mental health co-responders, adult protective services, and other agencies in serving mentally ill or at-risk citizens.
• Performs crisis intervention as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Minimum 21 years of age by hire date and pass pre-hire background investigation.
• Within 12-months of employment: must obtain commission as a Bureau of Animal Protection Agent (Peace Officer) and state certification from Animal Welfare Association of Colorado (AWAC).
• Continuing education as prescribed by BAP/AWAC and attend annual sheriff’s office in-service training.
• Successfully attend re-certification in perishable skills (OC, ASP baton, Taser, driving, First Aid, CPR, etc.) on a rotating schedule.
• Quarterly qualification in chemical capture (tranquilizer) weapons.

Qualifications

• GED, High School Diploma.

Skills

• Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and ordinances relating to animal control.
• Ability to communicate effectively with the public and other law enforcement agencies.
• Proficiency in computer systems and software used in animal control operations.
• Physical stamina and ability to perform physically demanding tasks.
• Ability to make sound decisions under pressure.

Benefits

This position is eligible for Standard Benefits which includes dental, medical, and vision insurance, paid time off and holidays, retirement matching, wellness programs, and tuition reimbursement.

Pay

Salary ranges from $26.70 to $40.05 per hour.

Schedule

Scheduled weekly hours: 40