Job Title: Animal Control Officer
Salary range: 12.00
Location: 6520 Center St E, Horn Lake, MS 38637
Department: Animal Shelter
Hours: Part Time
Job Description:
Job Description - Animal Control Officer Part Time
Purpose of Position
Enforce city and state laws pertaining to animal control; ensure that complaints are handled efficiently and effectively; educate the public in pet responsibility and ensure the protection and safety of animals and people in the City.
Essential Functions:
These duties are a representative sample; position assignments and detailed work instructions may vary.
Animal Control Officer I:
Under close supervision, performs the following essential functions:
- Responds to routine inquiries and complaints concerning animal problems or violations of animal control ordinances, including but not limited to animals running at large; bites, property damage, or injuries; maintains effective and efficient public relations when dealing with citizens.
- Investigates violations of animal control ordinances and issue warnings or citations as required.
- Investigate complaints of unwanted or escaped animals or those causing nuisances; captures and transports animals to the animal shelter.
- Maintains normal availability by telephone or radio for consultations on major emergencies or routine animal control questions,
- Carries out duties in conformance with Federal, State, and City laws and ordinances.
- Maintains contact with supervisory personnel to coordinate investigative activities, provides mutual assistance during emergency situations and provides general information about Animal Control activities.
- Prepares daily, monthly, and annual reports of activities; prepares and maintains records.
- Oversees the maintenance of the city’s shelter equipment including officer equipment; maintains inventory.
- Participates in emergency rabies control programs and organizes rabies clinics.
- Operates various equipment including assigned vehicle, animal capture equipment (traps, catch poles), radio, cellular phone, first aid equipment, self-defense weapons (spray, etc), bite stick and computer.
- Adheres to safe work practices and procedures.
- Maintains all assigned equipment to ensure proper functioning.
- Feeds, waters and cares for animals in the shelter.
- Drives vehicle to perform one or more essential functions.
- Performs other duties of a similar or related level as necessary or assigned.
Animal Control Officer II
Under minimal supervision, performs the following essential functions:
- Performs all essential functions of the Animal Control Officer I.
- Responds to more complex inquiries and complaints.
- If applicable, provides leadership and oversight to Animal Control Officer I in daily operations; promotes teamwork and professionalism.
- Exhibits advanced knowledge and provides training and oversight of the Animal Control Officer I when necessary.
- Performs other duties of a similar or related level and assists with special projects as necessary or assigned.
Animal Control Officer III
Under minimum supervision, performs the following essential functions
- Performs all essential functions of the Animal Control Officer I and II.
- Enforces City and State animal regulations including but not limited to, cruelty to animals, dangerous/vicious animals, and animal bites, including dogs, cats, livestock and fowl.
- Patrols assigned city areas, contains and picks-up stray, sick/injured and/or unwanted and captured domestic animals, transporting them to the appropriate destination.
- Performs emergency animal rescue service, emergency night call service, and animal first aid when required.
- Serves and responds to court summons as necessary and represents City at court.
- Responds to and investigates complaints from citizens concerning domestic animals.
Animal Control Officer I:
Knowledge of:
- Basic computer hardware and software applications
Ability to:
- Speak, read and write the English language.
- Communicate effectively verbally and write clearly, accurately, concisely, legibly, and with correct English grammar, construction and spelling.
- Demonstrate an aptitude for animal control work and a willingness to handle a variety of animals.
- Learn basic animal control and care principles, processes, procedures and practices.
- Learn to operate animal control equipment.
- Learn and enforce pertinent Federal, state, and local laws, ordinances and department rules and regulations.
- Learn the basic first aid.
- Learn the geographical layout of the City.
- Learn modern office processes and procedures.
- Understand and carry out verbal and written instructions.
- Observe, assimilate, remember, record and recall pertinent facts and details.
- Prepare and maintain accurate and complete records.
- Analyze problems and have the potential to rationally and calmly take appropriate action in both routine and non-routine situations; exercise good judgment and make sound decisions in a variety of circumstances.
- Interact courteously with the general public; interact with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
- Handle stressful situations in a professional manner, including angry or difficult individuals; accurately assess situations and people and secure cooperation whenever possible.
- Endure verbal and mental abuse when confronted with the hostile views and opinions of individuals encountered in an antagonistic environment.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships.
- Maintain a high level of professionalism and confidentiality.
- Work outside normal business hours.
- Collects fees established by the City.
Internal & External Contacts:
Internal Contacts:
Frequently interacts with other administrative employees
External Contacts:
Frequently interacts with the general public; occasionally interacts with court personnel, law enforcement agencies, and other organizations.
Physical Activities and Work Environment:
The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Required Physical Activities:
While performing the essential functions of this job the employee is frequently required to talk, hear, sit, stand, walk, bend, stoop, kneel; and is occasionally required to taste, smell, run, climb, balance, crouch and crawl; is frequently required to lift and carry up to 25 pounds. The employee is required to perform strenuous tasks requiring muscular strength and coordination is occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 100 pounds; is occasionally required to maintain body balance while ascending or descending ladders or open stairs, and to maintain body equilibrium while bending at the waist or at the knees. The employee is frequently required to stand or sit for an extended period of time without a significant rest period. The employee is routinely required to reach with hands and arms; work with the hand or hands in handling, seizing, holding, or grasping motions and with the fingers in fingering, picking and pinching actions to operate objects, tools or control. Specific vision abilities required include close, vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. The employee is occasionally required to lift, pull, bend or physically restrain a combative or injured citizen or animal to maintain order.
Work Environment:
Performing the essential duties of this job involves a significant chance of incurring a disabling or life-threatening injury.
While performing the essential functions of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to outdoor weather conditions that may vary from extreme heat to extreme cold, and to debris, fumes, odors, airborne particles, and dust. The employee is occasionally exposed to the possibility of bodily injury from electrical shock or mechanical hazard. The employee occasionally works in high, precarious places; and is occasionally exposed to toxic or hazardous chemicals.
The employee may come in contact with a member of the public or an animal by touching, controlling, sitting by, and riding with the individual or animal. Hand-to-hand exchanges of documents, money, personal property, clothing, and other items may be required. The job may require an immediate response to criminal or medical emergencies where blood, body fluids or other medical hazards may be present.
The employee may be exposed to interactions with physically violent and/or mentally or emotionally disturbed persons and/or dangerous animals.
Job Context
The Animal Control Officer I, part-time positions in the Animal Control Department. The immediate supervisor for the positions is the Director of Animal Services. The persons in the positions are supervised frequently and do not have any supervisory authority. The Animal Control Officer I, II and/or III may be required to work a varied schedule which may include shifts that require working evenings, weekends and holidays as directed; respond to after-hour emergency calls may be required subject to availability of the officer.
This position is 50% indoors and 50% outdoors work. This position has accountability for safety issues relating to its responsibility. There is occasional exposure to chemicals and/or hazardous materials. A valid driver’s license is required. Any acceptable combination of education, training, and experience that provides the above knowledge, abilities, and skills may be accepted. The Animal Control Officer I, II and/or III must also have a minimum of a high school diploma or its equivalent. The stress level associated with this position varies with activities. Physical work involved with this position includes, but is not limited to, lifting 100 lbs. or more; running & climbing; wearing full protective gear;
Overall Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Knowledge
- Knowledgeable experience in dealing with stray animals
- Know poisonous animals from non-poisonous (such as various reptiles)
- Know how to not show fear when confronting a vicious animal
- Know how to detect animals diseases such as “distemper”
- Know when to walk away from an animal confrontation and call for officer assistance
· OSHA standards and regulations concerning employee safety
· Federal and state statutes concerning the work of the department
- General functions and operations of municipal government
- Mathematical skills, including addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication
Skills and Abilities
- Skillful in handling and capturing dangerous animals.
- Skillful in shooting a tranquilizer gun.
- Prioritize daily workflow.
- Work as a team member with other employees
· Meet specified or required deadlines
· Make decisions within specified time restraints
· Communicate effectively with residents, elected officials, other City employees, contractors, etc., both oral and written
· Maintain confidentiality
· Work autonomously when necessary
· Handle multiple tasks simultaneously with frequent interruptions
· Deal with others in a professional manner
· Maintain professional composure in heated situations
· Follow departmental and City policies and procedures
FLSA: Non-Exempt
REPORTS TO: Animal Control Director and Animal Control Officer III
The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change. Characteristics described in this job description are representative of those an employee encounters while performing this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform them.
I have read and understood the contents of this Job Description, and I have received a copy of this Job Description for my records.
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