Animal Control Officer

PURPOSE OF THE CLASSIFICATION:   

Performs work of routine difficulty enforcing animal control ordinances and regulations.

ESSENTIAL TASKS:

• Enforces and applies ordinances and regulations pertaining to animal control. 
• Patrols assigned areas within the City to detect and prevent violations of animal control ordinances and regulations; responds to incidents including stray animals, animal bites, noise complaints, and animal cruelty. 
• Chases, apprehends, impounds, and transports domestic, farm, exotic, and wild animals that are stray, injured, and diseased; uses catch poles and traps to capture and impound animals; may use tranquilizer guns to subdue vicious and fractious animals; places animals in animal service vehicle; transports captured animals to the City's animal shelter or an animal hospital. 
• Investigates incidents involving animal cruelty, animal bites, and animal nuisances reported by members of the public; interviews complainants, victims, and witnesses in order to collect information on possible violations of animal control laws, ordinances, and regulations; identifies, collects, and preserves evidence pertaining to investigations of animal cruelty; identifies the owners of animals that are the subject of an investigation. 
• Gives verbal warnings, written warnings, and citations to animal owners and animal handlers who have violated ordinances and regulations related to animal control.  
• Prepares incident reports; completes all forms pertaining to animal control activities; and maintains records and logs such as the number of calls for service.
• Provides information to members of the public and representatives from outside agencies on animal control ordinances and regulations and animal care methods and techniques.
• Performs euthanasia on injured, sick, dangerous, or unwanted animals by means of lethal injection; prepares euthanasia area; calculates dosage requirements for euthanasia procedures according to the weight of the animal. 
• Prepares rabies specimens for laboratory tests by decapitating and placing specimens in biohazard containers.  
• Picks up dead animals found in public streets and highways; disposes animal carcasses as appropriate. 
• Testifies in court and at hearings on the enforcement of animal control citations and other matters relating to animal control. 
• Performs kennel duties as required by handling, feeding, cleaning, and providing care to animals; maintains the sanitary conditions of kennels.  
• May contact patrol officers to provide support in animal control investigations and to arrest violators of animal control laws, ordinances, and regulations; may assist patrol officers and investigators by handling animals that are present at crime scenes.
• Performs other work as necessary and or as assigned.
• Must report to work on a regular and timely basis.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS:

The Animal Control Officer reports directly to the Animal Control/Shelter Supervisor. 

The Animal Control Officer does not have any direct reports or supervisory responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Training and Experience:  High school graduate or equivalent with at least two (2) years customer service experience required; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.   Preference will be given to those with experience in law enforcement, animal control work and/or shelter operations.

Knowledge, Abilities, and Skills: Good knowledge of the geography of the City.  Knowledge of city ordinances relating to animal shelter operations; considerable knowledge of the methods of handling and maintaining custody of animals; good knowledge of the care and feeding of animals; ability to deal tactfully and courteously with the public and city officials; ability to maintain complete records and reports; ability to learn the applicable laws, ordinances and department rules and regulations; ability to follow verbal and written instructions and to make effective and rapid decisions in complex or emergency situations; and ability to qualify at police shooting range annually.  Skilled in operating a two-way portable radio, animal control service vehicle, rifles, catch poles, traps, needles and syringes.

Physical Requirements:  The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job in compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.  On a case-by-case basis, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  While performing the duties of this job, arm and hand steadiness and finger dexterity will be needed enough to use a key board and telephone.  Frequent walking, standing, lifting, and carrying of objects up to 60 pounds, balancing, bending, handling, climbing, twisting, kneeling and repetitive movements.  Must be able to work around cats and dogs and other animals as required.  Vision, speech, hearing, and feeling sufficient to perform essential tasks.  Punctuality and reasonable attendance is essential.     Must submit to drug screening and fitness to work physical exam.

Licenses and Certificates:  Possession of a valid Oklahoma Class D driver’s license is required. Within one year of employment, must receive and maintain certification in use of legend drugs and certification as a euthanasia technician; ability to maintain annual certification from the animal control academy.  Must pass a police background check and maintain a drug free and criminal free background while employed. 

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:    Work in this classification is consistent indoors and outdoors.  Will travel within City performing animal control functions.  Requires ability to work nights and weekends and maintain stand-by status. Must be able to respond to after hour emergency calls in the timeframe required by the Department.

Notice:  This classification is a “safety sensitive” position as defined by the United States Department of Transportation drug and alcohol testing regulations, the Oklahoma Standards for Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Act and/or the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana laws.  As a “safety sensitive” classification, you will be subject to drug and alcohol testing, including random testing.  Marijuana is one of the substances included in the drug panel screening.  Possession of a medical marijuana license will not excuse you from the testing process, or the consequences of testing positive for marijuana.