Animal Control Officer

*GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB* Under limited supervision, performs managerial work in coordinating enforcement of animal control ordinances and provision of animal control services.
Work involves enforcing animal control ordinances, responding to animal complaints, investigating complaints, issuing summonses to violators, providing information to the public and performing related administrative "tasks.
Reports to the Lieutenant.
*SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES * *ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS* Coordinates daily work activities; organizes, prioritizes, and assigns work; monitors status of work in progress and inspects completed work; confers with assigned staff, assists with complex/problem situations, and provides technical expertise.
Ensures agency compliance with all applicable codes, laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures; ensures adherence to established safety procedures; monitors work environment and use of safety equipment to ensure safety of employees, citizens, and other individuals; initiates any actions necessary to correct deviations or violations.
Enforces the provisions of all applicable animal control ordinances, codes, laws, and regulations; initiates any actions necessary to correct deviations or violations; issues warning notices or citations as appropriate.
Consults with the Lieutenant and other officials to review operations/activities, review/resolve problems, receive advice/direction, and provide recommendations; coordinates work activities with those of other departments, health department officials, veterinarians, outside agencies, or others as needed.
Develops and implements long and short term plans, goals, and objectives for the area of assignment; evaluates efficiency and effectiveness of operations, programs, procedures, and resource management; recommends and/or implements improvements as needed.
Develops, updates, and enforces policies and procedures for area of assignment.
Provides information, education, and assistance to the public concerning animal control issues, animal control ordinances, humane treatment of animals, animal behavior problem, or related Issues; explains agency policies and procedures and animal control regulations and ordinances; mediates/resolves citizen disputes; performs public relations work, to include providing public information reports and responding to questions from the media.
Responds to incoming calls/complaints concerning various animal issues, such as animal bites, potential animal cruelty/abuse, stray/nuisance annuals, barking dogs, animals in distress, sick/injured animals, wild/dangerous animals, animal behavior problems, or animal control laws; takes appropriate action on complaints; responds to emergency calls and works with law enforcement personnel when needed.
Oversees and participates in patrol of County roads to locate and pick up stray animals; assists animals in problem situations; sets and monitors animal traps; captures domestic, wild, vicious, or injured animals; loads/unloads animals into/out of cages; transports animals to animal shelters, veterinarian offices, or other locations; determines need to euthanize animals based upon injured conditions; removes dead animals from roads.
Handles, lifts, and carries animals, restraining as appropriate; handles frightened, fractious, and injured animals; checks animals for current license tags and for signs of rabies, disease, or other illnesses; euthanizes animals when required; disposes of deceased animals.
Conducts investigations into cases involving animal complaints, animal bites, potential animal abuse, disturbances to the public, or other problems; prepares reports and photographic records of crime scenes; performs follow-up as needed; ensures proper quarantine of animals due to potential rabies or other factors; issues charges against citizens in violation of animal control laws; issues summons to animal owners due to persistent animal abuse problems or disturbances; prepares case documentation and testifies in.
court as appropriate.
Operates various machinery, equipment, and tools associated with animal control activities, which may include an animal control vehicle, animal restraint equipment, animal traps, catch poles, nets, snake tongs, camera, telephone, pager, or two-way radio.
Performs general/preventive maintenance tasks necessary to keep animal control vehicles, equipment and tools in clean and operable condition, which may include inspecting equipment, refueling vehicles, checking/replacing fluids, greasing equipment, washing/cleaning truck/equipment, or cleaning shop/work areas; monitors equipment operations to maintain efficiency and safety; reports faulty equipment.
Monitors inventory levels of equipment, tools, and supplies to ensure availability of adequate materials to conduct work activities; initiates requests for new/replacement items; replenishes equipment and supplies on vehicles as needed.
Maintains logs/records of work activities; prepares daily records and incident reports; compiles statistical data, prepares operational reports, and maintains records.
Prepares or completes various forms, reports, correspondence, budget documents, performance evaluations, incident reports, impound sheets, quarantine records, case documentation, or other documents.
Receives various forms, reports, correspondence, budget reports, time sheets, complaints, incident reports, bite reports, laboratory test reports, photographs, maps, policies, procedures, regulations, ordinances, manuals, reference materials, or other documentation; reviews, completes, processes, forwards or retains as appropriate.
Operates a computer, general office equipment, or other equipment as necessary to complete essential functions, to include die use of word processing, spreadsheet, database, e-mail, Internet, on oilier computer programs Communicates with supervisor, employees, animal shelter staff, other departments, law enforcement personnel, court personnel, other animal control agencies, veterinarians, complainants, violators, the public, outside agencies, and other individuals as needed to coordinate work activities, review status of work, exchange information, or resolve problems.
Attends meetings as needed.
Maintains a comprehensive, current knowledge of applicable laws/regulations; maintains an awareness of new equipment, methods, (rends and advances in the profession; reads professional literature; maintains professional affiliations; attends workshops and training sessions as appropriate.
*ADDITIONAL JOB FUNCTIONS* Performs general/clerical tasks, which may include answering telephone calls, making copies, sending/receiving faxes, filing documentation, or processing incoming/outgoing mail.
Provides assistance to other employees or agency as needed.
Performs other related duties as required.
*MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE* High school diploma or GED; supplemented by vocational/technical training in animal control, animal handling, and animal control code enforcement, supplemented previous experience and/or training involving animal control, animal control code enforcement, animal handling, and supervision; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.
Must possess or be able to obtain and maintain a valid Animal Control Enforcement Certification from the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Must possess and maintain valid Firearms Certification.
Must possess and maintain a valid Virginia driver's license.
*MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIRED* *TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS* *Physical Requirements**:* Must be physically able to operate a variety of equipment and tools, such as a personal computer, general office equipment, animal control vehicle, animal restraint equipment, animal traps, catch poles, nets, snake tongs, tranquilizer gun, camera, telephone, or two-way radio.
Tasks require the ability to exert moderate, though not constant physical effort, typically involving some combination of climbing and balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and crawling, and which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of moderate weight (12-20 pounds).
*Data Conception**:* Requires the ability to review, classify, categorize, prioritize, and/or analyze data.
Includes exercising discretion in determining data classification, and in referencing such analysis to established standards for the purpose of recognizing actual or probable interactive effects and relationships.
*Interpersonal Communication**:* Requires the ability to perform communications with others.
*Physical Communication**: *Requires the ability to talk and/or hear (talking - expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing - perceiving nature of sounds by ear).
Job Type: Full-time Pay: From $50,618.
00 per year Schedule: * Day shift Work Location: In person