RESEARCH TOOLS › SAMPLE DOCS › JOB DESCRIPTIONS › Animal Control Officer

Ellensburg, WA - Animal Control Officer

Sample Only

CITY OF ELLENSBURG
POLICE DEPARTMENT
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER
REPORTS TO: ANIMAL SHELTER MANAGER

MISSION:

To protect public health and safety through enforcement of City and State animal control laws and provide information supporting quality pet care.

SUMMARY:

Assist community education regarding the importance of licensing. Promote responsible pet ownership and pet population. Enforce city ordinances and state laws regarding animal violations. Assist development of community problem solving techniques regarding nuisance animals.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

All of the following are to be performed while adhering to City of Ellensburg operational policies, safety rules, and procedures.

Enforcement Officer:

Patrol city limits canvassing for unlicensed animals

Monitor violations of animal control city ordinances and state laws

Apprehend stray or at large animals for impoundment

Apprehend diseased or injured animals

Determine ownership of animals at large

Handle vicious animals or irate citizens, utilizing officer safety

Offer suggestions to animal owners to aid in compliance with laws and ordinances

Investigate incidences of animal cruelty, dog bites and dog attacks

Prepare reports, gather evidence, prepare search warrants and witness statements

Enter data into computer for trip tickets and warning citations

Maintain records on violations

Testify in court

Pick up deceased animals in roadway

Pick up animals caught in traps

Customer Service:

Complete paperwork for customer licenses, adoptions, claims, releases, stray and trap forms

Access computer files as needed

Balance cash drawer and deliver to City Hall

Vaccinate adopted animals

Deliver and demonstrate proper use of traps

Place and remove animals from cages

Record animals claimed, adopted, released, and impounded into log books and board

File paperwork and cards

Occasionally collect licensing fees

Perform Euthanasia:

Prepare euthanasia area and tools

Determine proper amount of drug and load syringe

Locate vein on subject; insert needle and aspirate; inform assistant when needle is properly secured

Inject solution at appropriate rate

Place animal in cadaver bag and load in freezer

Clean euthanasia table of urine, feces, blood, and vomit

Repeat to completion

Record essential data in euthanasia log

Return drugs to safe and lock

Animal Shelter Maintenance:

Disinfect and rinse all outside runs until clean

Monitor security of all cages

Store hoses

Secure dogs from inside to outside runs

Remove all food dishes and wash; stand beds on end

Disinfect and rinse all inside runs and beds

Rinse drains to assure feces and disinfectant removal

Prepare beds, refill waters, reopen inside runs

Prepare cleaning supplies for cat ward

Remove cat from cage, dispose of litter

Remove food/water and cat blankets

Wipe down with disinfectant

Replace cage with fresh litter, food, water and a clean blanket

Return cat to cage, secure cage

Repeat process until all cages are clean

Gather all dishes and wash; place blankets in washer

Sweep and mop floor

Disposal:

Weigh in at transfer station, pick up receipt, dump garbage sacks

Transport corpses to Vantage landfill for disposal

Forward receipt to supervisor

Humane Education:

Create felt boards, puppets, stories and use videos as tools for educational purposes

Present information to children and answer questions

Educate on quality pet care, animal abuse, dog attacks and bites, animal shelters and animal control as an agency

Miscellaneous:

Provide interviews to media, local university and high school papers

Present information or personal knowledge of animal control to special interest groups

Other duties may be assigned.

This is a representative sample--not to imply a complete listing of responsibilities and tasks.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

High school diploma or general education degree (GED); and six months to one year related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

(A) Some knowledge of law enforcement principles and procedures regarding search and seizure, evidence and defensive tactics; working knowledge of animal restraint and care techniques; working knowledge of animal behavior

(B) Some skill in operating the tools and equipment listed below;

(C) Ability to learn the applicable laws, ordinances, and department rules and regulations; Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing; Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, peers, supervisors and the public; Ability to exercise sound judgment in evaluating situations and in making decisions; Ability to follow verbal and written instructions; Ability to meet the special requirements listed below; Ability to learn the City's geography.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, AND REGISTRATION:

First Aid/CPR Certification; prefer NACA Animal Control Academy; Qualification for the use of schedule II drugs, capsicum spray, tranquilizer dart gun; Washington State Driver's License.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED:

Patrol vehicle, animal capture equipment, police radio, pager, first aid equipment, personal computer; investigation kit; gloves; tranquilizer gun; food; blankets; clipboard; maps; citation book; fire extinguisher; animal stretcher; two way radio; animal traps; capsicum spray; leashes; camera.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands 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 individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to taste or smell; run, climb trees, or crawl under barriers.

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 100 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision for computer work, examining animals for injury, mites, etc, locating vein for IV injections or to see pupil reflex to determine shock or death, distance vision to see and identify animals in motion, to distinguish species, breed type, color vision to distinguish color of animal, vehicle, collar, or tag, peripheral vision to identify animals while driving, to see and recognize behavioral signals of animals that indicate fear, aggressiveness, etc, depth perception to judge size and distance, and the ability to adjust focus to distinguish color of animal and breed type.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in outside weather conditions and is regularly exposed to fumes or airborne particles, animal transmitted diseases, exposure to fractious, frightened, dangerous animals, mental and emotional stress from euthanasia, and continual contact with irate/emotional pet owners and victims. The employee frequently works in high, precarious places and is frequently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and vibration. The employee is occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals.

The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS:

The key relationships described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will communicate with the public, and other agencies. Contact will be made in writing, by telephone, in person, and/or through teaching or formal instruction.

The employee will coordinate projects and activities with the public and other outside agencies. Contact will be made in writing, by telephone, in person, and/or through teaching or formal instruction.

The employee will solve problems with the public and other agencies. Contact will be made in writing, by telephone, in person, and/or through teaching or formal instruction.

The employee will negotiate solutions within policy guidelines with the City Attorney and other outside agencies. Contact will be made by telephone and/or person.

Department Head (date) Supervisor (date) Employee (date)

NOTICE: The above job profile does not include all essential and nonessential duties of this job. All employees with disabilities are encouraged to contact the Personnel Department to review and discuss the essential and nonessential functions of the job. An employee with a disability can evaluate the job in greater detail to determine if she/he can safely perform the essential function of this job with or without reasonable accommodation.

DISCLAIMER: Job profiles are not intended, nor should they be construed to be, an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, tasks, skills, efforts, working conditions or similar behaviors, attributes or requirements associated with a job. A job profile is not a comprehensive job description. It is intended for the sole purpose of acquainting a person who is unfamiliar with such position with a brief overview of the position's general direction and scope. This position profile is confidential, is intended for internal use only and may not be copied or reproduced by anyone for any purpose without written permission from the Director of Personnel or the City Manager.

Sample Only

CITY OF ELLENSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER REPORTS TO: ANIMAL SHELTER MANAGER

CITY OF ELLENSBURG
POLICE DEPARTMENT
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER
REPORTS TO: ANIMAL SHELTER MANAGER