Animal Control Officer I

Animal Control Officer

*Salary/Hourly wages are determined by verifiable experience.

Nature of Work

Pay Grade - Job Class - Workers Comp Code - EEO Category Code - Tier Status

B80-4b - Non-Supervisory - 8831 - 4/Protective Service - 1

This is highly complexfieldwork in the enforcement of the Bay County Animal Control Ordinances in unincorporated Bay County and the municipalities through inter-local agreement. Fieldwork includes identifying violations of Florida Statutes and referring to the appropriate law enforcement agency for follow up. Duties require contact with hostile and diseased animals necessitating the use of caution in handling and transporting animals for impounding. Work is subject to citizen complaint and is evaluated for proper application of policies and regulations. Work involves collection, sheltering and processing of animals, including adoption and transfer to rescue organizations. Work is performed under the supervision of the Animal Services Division Manager or his/her designee.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Receives requests for service by telephone and dispatching emergency and non-emergency calls from the public, 911 Emergency Services, and law enforcement agencies relating to state and local animal cruelty and regulatory laws, in addition to other animal control law enforcement matters and shelter operations.
• Handles independently, vicious animals, nuisance wildlife, and injured animals.
• Communicates with animal owners and citizens in confrontational and stressful situations in person and by phone.
• Tracks the location of Animal Control Officers, dispatches and assigns back-up assistance to officers, or takes other appropriate action to ensure the safety of officers.
• Answers questions, complaints and concerns regarding animal control, treatment and care.
• Locates, contains and removes dangerous or stray animals.
• Utilizes animal capture devices, such as cat and dog traps in a proficient and humane manner.
• Cares for and periodically treats injured or sick animals, including transporting severely sick and injured animals to area Veterinarians as necessary.
• Responds to dispatch directives and calls in accordance with established priority procedures.
• Attempts to locate stray animal owners and obtain information necessary to satisfy complaint and ensure that regulations are enforced.
• Advises citizens on responsibilities of animal ownership and issues warning notices and citations to owner of animals, when animal control ordinance or state law has been violated.
• Investigates animal abandonment, animal abuse and animal cruelty and prepares all necessary documentation to prosecute when necessary.
• Prepares documentation for civil/criminal action such as reports and affidavits, initiates court action on ordinance violations, and testifies in a courtroom setting as needed.
• Enters data of enforcement, sheltering and medical information in the Animal Services computer database.
• Obtains necessary information in cases of animal bites; advises all parties on proper procedure and appears in county court.
• Completes daily duties when assigned to animal shelter, such as greeting and attending to the public, cleaning, feeding, watering dogs and cats, intake processing and otherwise caring for animals.
• Assists in and performs euthanasia of animals as needed, which includes handling controlled substances during euthanasia in accordance with federal and state laws, and utilizing extensive and exact recordkeeping and documentation.
• Facilitates adoption of stray animals pursuant to state and county regulations or in concert with other adoption agencies and rescue organizations.
• Oversees dog kennel areas and catteries when the general public is present.
• Collects and handles money in an ethical and exact manner.
• Performs daily checks of trucks and equipment to ensure equipment/vehicle serviceability and accountability.
• Elicits information from callers, evaluates telephone calls, and decides upon or takes proper action to resolve complaint or other animal control issue.
• Operates multiple phone lines, radio frequencies, a computer, and other applicable equipment to communicate information to Animal Control Officers in the field.
• Processes license forms and maintains handwritten and computer records/logs.
• Provides courteous, high quality service to members of the public by personally responding to requests for service or making appropriate referrals.
• Assists with public adoption events when required.
• The employer may add to or change duties at any time and as determined by the County and its leaders to best ensure that the public is served through the work of the Department.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Possess a high school diploma or the equivalent; AND
• Six (6) month experience in animal control enforcement preferred.
• A comparable amount of training and/or experience may be substituted for the minimum qualifications.

Licenses and/or Certifications:

• Possession of or ability to obtain and maintain a valid Florida driver license upon offer of employment with a driving record acceptable to the County Driving Policy and insurance program.
• Must complete Animal Control Officer Certification FACA Level 1, euthanasia training, and bite stick training within eighteen (18) months of hire as a condition of employment.
• Must be able to maintain ACO Certification through State mandated continuing education.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills

• Knowledge of County and State animal control regulations.
• Knowledge of humane methods of handling animals.
• Knowledge of the road networks of the county.
• Knowledge of the operation of a two-way radio.
• Knowledge of technical writing ability sufficient to prepare executable legal documents with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Must be able to comprehend, speak, and read the English language.
• Knowledge of project management and organizational skills.
• Ability to have excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Proficient in MS Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Ability to operate various traps and equipment associated with Animal Control.
• Ability to read and understand the constitution, laws, regulations, and legal proceedings.
• Ability to provide prompt, efficient and responsive service.
• Ability to maintain your composure when dealing with extreme animal abuse and animal cruelty matters.
• Ability to communicate tactfully and courteously with the public in confrontational and stressful situations in person and by phone.
• Ability to maintain good interpersonal and communication skills while dealing with the public.
• Ability to work and maintain reliable full-time attendance.
• Ability to elicit from and explain information effectively and accurately to a wide variety of callers including the public and law enforcement officials.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a variety of individuals representing diverse cultures and backgrounds and function calmly in stressful situations, which requires a high degree of sensitivity, tact, and diplomacy.
• Ability to enforce laws and ordinances with firmness and impartiality.
• Ability to accurately document multiple or emergency message under pressure.
• Ability to investigate complaints, interview witnesses, and prepare a basic case file for legal presentation.

Physical Requirements/Environmental Conditions: Work is primarily performed outdoors and requires moderate exposure to environmental changes (e.g., outdoor weather and/or field conditions, warehouses, garages, etc.) or irate customers, extreme noise, odors, fumes or airborne particles; dangerous animals, toxic and caustic chemicals, heights and/or dust. This position requires some exposure or risk to physical health and/or physical safety (e.g., exposure to environmentally hazardous material, heavy equipment, etc.). This position may require the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and may include completing and successfully passing medical evaluations or clearances. This position requires stooping, crouching, walking, pulling, lifting, grasping, hearing, visual acuity (i.e. seeing up close, seeing far away, depth perception), kneeling, reaching, pushing, talking, standing, climbing, finger movement, repetitive motions. This position requires dealing with animals, alive or dead, capturing, restraining, handling, lifting up to 100 lbs. and carrying up to 100lbs.

Special Requirements: May be subject to emergency management situations and answering emergency calls that may require working afterhours, weekends and holidays. Not Eligible for Remote Work - This position is assigned to a county worksite.

Animal Control Officer

*Salary/Hourly wages are determined by verifiable experience.

Nature of Work

Pay Grade - Job Class - Workers Comp Code - EEO Category Code - Tier Status

B80-4b - Non-Supervisory - 8831 - 4/Protective Service - 1

This is highly complexfieldwork in the enforcement of the Bay County Animal Control Ordinances in unincorporated Bay County and the municipalities through inter-local agreement. Fieldwork includes identifying violations of Florida Statutes and referring to the appropriate law enforcement agency for follow up. Duties require contact with hostile and diseased animals necessitating the use of caution in handling and transporting animals for impounding. Work is subject to citizen complaint and is evaluated for proper application of policies and regulations. Work involves collection, sheltering and processing of animals, including adoption and transfer to rescue organizations. Work is performed under the supervision of the Animal Services Division Manager or his/her designee.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Receives requests for service by telephone and dispatching emergency and non-emergency calls from the public, 911 Emergency Services, and law enforcement agencies relating to state and local animal cruelty and regulatory laws, in addition to other animal control law enforcement matters and shelter operations.
• Handles independently, vicious animals, nuisance wildlife, and injured animals.
• Communicates with animal owners and citizens in confrontational and stressful situations in person and by phone.
• Tracks the location of Animal Control Officers, dispatches and assigns back-up assistance to officers, or takes other appropriate action to ensure the safety of officers.
• Answers questions, complaints and concerns regarding animal control, treatment and care.
• Locates, contains and removes dangerous or stray animals.
• Utilizes animal capture devices, such as cat and dog traps in a proficient and humane manner.
• Cares for and periodically treats injured or sick animals, including transporting severely sick and injured animals to area Veterinarians as necessary.
• Responds to dispatch directives and calls in accordance with established priority procedures.
• Attempts to locate stray animal owners and obtain information necessary to satisfy complaint and ensure that regulations are enforced.
• Advises citizens on responsibilities of animal ownership and issues warning notices and citations to owner of animals, when animal control ordinance or state law has been violated.
• Investigates animal abandonment, animal abuse and animal cruelty and prepares all necessary documentation to prosecute when necessary.
• Prepares documentation for civil/criminal action such as reports and affidavits, initiates court action on ordinance violations, and testifies in a courtroom setting as needed.
• Enters data of enforcement, sheltering and medical information in the Animal Services computer database.
• Obtains necessary information in cases of animal bites; advises all parties on proper procedure and appears in county court.
• Completes daily duties when assigned to animal shelter, such as greeting and attending to the public, cleaning, feeding, watering dogs and cats, intake processing and otherwise caring for animals.
• Assists in and performs euthanasia of animals as needed, which includes handling controlled substances during euthanasia in accordance with federal and state laws, and utilizing extensive and exact recordkeeping and documentation.
• Facilitates adoption of stray animals pursuant to state and county regulations or in concert with other adoption agencies and rescue organizations.
• Oversees dog kennel areas and catteries when the general public is present.
• Collects and handles money in an ethical and exact manner.
• Performs daily checks of trucks and equipment to ensure equipment/vehicle serviceability and accountability.
• Elicits information from callers, evaluates telephone calls, and decides upon or takes proper action to resolve complaint or other animal control issue.
• Operates multiple phone lines, radio frequencies, a computer, and other applicable equipment to communicate information to Animal Control Officers in the field.
• Processes license forms and maintains handwritten and computer records/logs.
• Provides courteous, high quality service to members of the public by personally responding to requests for service or making appropriate referrals.
• Assists with public adoption events when required.
• The employer may add to or change duties at any time and as determined by the County and its leaders to best ensure that the public is served through the work of the Department.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Possess a high school diploma or the equivalent; AND
• Six (6) month experience in animal control enforcement preferred.
• A comparable amount of training and/or experience may be substituted for the minimum qualifications.

Licenses and/or Certifications:

• Possession of or ability to obtain and maintain a valid Florida driver license upon offer of employment with a driving record acceptable to the County Driving Policy and insurance program.
• Must complete Animal Control Officer Certification FACA Level 1, euthanasia training, and bite stick training within eighteen (18) months of hire as a condition of employment.
• Must be able to maintain ACO Certification through State mandated continuing education.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills

• Knowledge of County and State animal control regulations.
• Knowledge of humane methods of handling animals.
• Knowledge of the road networks of the county.
• Knowledge of the operation of a two-way radio.
• Knowledge of technical writing ability sufficient to prepare executable legal documents with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Must be able to comprehend, speak, and read the English language.
• Knowledge of project management and organizational skills.
• Ability to have excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Proficient in MS Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Ability to operate various traps and equipment associated with Animal Control.
• Ability to read and understand the constitution, laws, regulations, and legal proceedings.
• Ability to provide prompt, efficient and responsive service.
• Ability to maintain your composure when dealing with extreme animal abuse and animal cruelty matters.
• Ability to communicate tactfully and courteously with the public in confrontational and stressful situations in person and by phone.
• Ability to maintain good interpersonal and communication skills while dealing with the public.
• Ability to work and maintain reliable full-time attendance.
• Ability to elicit from and explain information effectively and accurately to a wide variety of callers including the public and law enforcement officials.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a variety of individuals representing diverse cultures and backgrounds and function calmly in stressful situations, which requires a high degree of sensitivity, tact, and diplomacy.
• Ability to enforce laws and ordinances with firmness and impartiality.
• Ability to accurately document multiple or emergency message under pressure.
• Ability to investigate complaints, interview witnesses, and prepare a basic case file for legal presentation.

Physical Requirements/Environmental Conditions: Work is primarily performed outdoors and requires moderate exposure to environmental changes (e.g., outdoor weather and/or field conditions, warehouses, garages, etc.) or irate customers, extreme noise, odors, fumes or airborne particles; dangerous animals, toxic and caustic chemicals, heights and/or dust. This position requires some exposure or risk to physical health and/or physical safety (e.g., exposure to environmentally hazardous material, heavy equipment, etc.). This position may require the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and may include completing and successfully passing medical evaluations or clearances. This position requires stooping, crouching, walking, pulling, lifting, grasping, hearing, visual acuity (i.e. seeing up close, seeing far away, depth perception), kneeling, reaching, pushing, talking, standing, climbing, finger movement, repetitive motions. This position requires dealing with animals, alive or dead, capturing, restraining, handling, lifting up to 100 lbs. and carrying up to 100lbs.

Special Requirements: May be subject to emergency management situations and answering emergency calls that may require working afterhours, weekends and holidays. Not Eligible for Remote Work - This position is assigned to a county worksite.

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