Animal Control Officer (PT)

The Town of Ashland seeks qualified, experienced, and energetic candidates for our part-time Animal Control Officer position. This position is responsible for ensuring the safety of Town residents and animals by patrolling the Town for, and responding to complaints of, violations of animal control laws and ordinances, collecting stray animals, inspecting barns, and investigating reports of animal bites. Incumbent is required to perform all similar or related duties.

• Hours/week: 16 (Saturday & Sunday)
• Hourly rate: $20.7050/hr

Essential Functions

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

• Enforces State and Town laws pertaining to animal control; routinely patrols areas in the Town for violations of ordinances; picks up and impounds stray dogs.

• Investigates complaints of uncontrolled animals and cruelty to animals; advises on legal resources or makes dispositions in accordance with findings and applicable ordinances.

• Captures, impounds, or relocates domestic and wild animals.

• Issues warnings and summonses to violators; provides relevant court testimony in the prosecution of violators.

• Investigates dog and cat bite reports and ensures that the Health Department confinement procedures are followed by the owners of the animal; if the owners are unknown, attempts to capture the animal and confine it in a legal and appropriate manner.

• Investigates all animal complaints; ensures quarantines are carried out; destroys rabid animals as directed.

• Responds to citizen inquiries; verifies licenses; files offense and incident reports and maintains service logs; reviews records to identify owners of impounded animals.

• Investigates claims resulting from damage caused by dogs to livestock and fowl; makes reports and recommendations.

• Conducts inspections of barns to ensure animals are in good health and free of disease; observes animal housing and ensures that adequate food and water are supplied.

• Coordinates with local veterinarians on occasions in which a rabid animal has been found or reported.

• Coordinates the quarantine of animals which have bitten another animal or human to determine the risk of rabies transmission.

• Writes reports of findings.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Under general direction, the employee plans and prioritizes the majority of work independently, in accordance with standard practices and previous training. The employee is expected to solve most problems of detail or unusual situations by adapting methods or interpreting instructions accordingly. Instructions for new assignments or special projects usually consist of statements of desired objectives, deadlines and priorities. Technical and policy problems or changes in procedures are discussed with the supervisor. Work is generally reviewed only for technical adequacy, appropriateness of actions or decisions, and conformance with policy or other requirements; the methods used in arriving at the end result are not usually reviewed in detail

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

High school diploma or equivalent; and three years of experience in animal control or related work; or any equivalent combination of acceptable education and experience providing the knowledge, abilities, and skills cited below.

KNOWLEDGE, ABILITY & SKILLS

• Knowledge: Knowledge of laws and ordinances governing animal protection and control. Knowledge of the care and characteristics of domestic animals. Knowledge of hazards and safety practices involved in animal control and handling work. Knowledge of quarantine methods and procedures.
• Abilities: Ability to think clearly and quickly in emergency situations. Ability to prepare reports and maintain records. Ability to maintain good working relationships with disgruntled and angry animal owners.
• Skill: Skill in restraining and capturing stray animals. Skill in operation of standard business software applications for report-writing and record-keeping.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Much of the work is conducted outdoors in varying weather conditions, at residents, on streets throughout the Town.

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and the employee, and is subject to change by the employer, as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

The Town of Ashland is an AA/EEO Employer