Animal Control Officer

This position will remain open until filled, with applications reviewed on an ongoing basis. This job posting may be removed at any time without prior notice. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible for full consideration. Position Summary The Animal Control Officer is responsible for enforcing City ordinances and applicable State laws related to animal control, animal welfare, rabies control, dangerous animals, nuisance animals, and public health concerns. This position performs field enforcement, animal capture and transport, shelter support, animal care, public education, recordkeeping, and customer service duties. The Animal Control Officer responds to animal-related calls for service, investigates complaints, assists citizens, maintains accurate records, supports shelter operations, and ensures animals are handled safely, humanely, and in accordance with law, City policy, and Department procedures.

Reporting Structure:

This position reports to the Animal Services Manager and has no direct supervisory responsibilities. The duties listed below represent the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them if the work is related or a logical assignment to this class. Field Operations and Enforcement Responds to animal-related calls for service, complaints, and observed ordinance violations. Patrols the City for stray, injured, deceased, dangerous, nuisance, or improperly restrained animals. Safely and humanely captures, restrains, transports, impounds, and releases animals as appropriate. Investigates reports of animal bites, dangerous animals, vicious animals, cruelty, neglect, abandonment, nuisance animals, and ordinance violations. Issues warnings or citations for violations of animal control ordinances when appropriate. Prepares reports, field notes, citations, photographs, case documentation, and daily activity logs. Appears in court and provides testimony related to animal control cases as required. Coordinates with law enforcement personnel, prosecutors, municipal court, public health officials, and other agencies as needed. Responds to emergency and after-hours calls involving animal bites, dangerous animals, injured animals, public safety concerns, or other urgent animal-related matters. Animal Care and Shelter Support Performs basic shelter maintenance duties, including cleaning and disinfecting kennels, cages, outdoor runs, equipment, dishes, laundry, and animal housing areas. Provides animal care from intake through disposition, including feeding, watering, cleaning, observation, vaccination support, disease testing support, microchipping support, grooming support, quarantine, adoption support, transfer, redemption, euthanasia support, and animal disposal. Monitors animals for signs of illness, injury, distress, aggression, or behavioral concerns and reports issues to the Animal Services Manager. Assists citizens with reclaiming animals, adoption processes, registration, animal information, and general shelter services. Maintains the shelter, kennels, vehicles, equipment, supplies, and tools in clean, safe, sanitary, and operational condition. Loads, unloads, carries, restrains, and moves animals, food, traps, equipment, and supplies as needed. Rabies Control and Public Health Prepares and packages suspected rabies specimens for shipment when required and is properly trained. Assists with animal bite investigations, quarantine procedures, rabies control documentation, and public health notifications. Follows City, Department, and public health protocols regarding animal bites, quarantines, disease control, and communicable disease exposure. Records and Administrative Duties Enters animal, case, citation, and activity information into required records systems. Maintains accurate records related to calls for service, animal intake, disposition, adoptions, redemptions, transfers, euthanasia, bites, quarantines, citations, complaints, and daily activities. Prepares written reports, forms, logs, correspondence, and other documents clearly and accurately. Maintains inventory records and reports supply, equipment, vehicle, or facility needs to the Animal Services Manager. Community Relations and Public Service Provides courteous and professional service to citizens, including those who may be upset, emotional, angry, or under stress. Communicates with citizens regarding animal complaints, ordinance requirements, responsible pet ownership, animal safety, registration, reclaim procedures, adoptions, and shelter operations. Supports community education efforts related to responsible pet ownership, vaccinations, spay/neuter programs, animal welfare, and City ordinances. Promotes a positive image of the City and Police Department through professional service, problem-solving, and humane treatment of animals. Additional Duties Safely operates City vehicles, radios, animal control tools, shelter equipment, computers, and other assigned equipment. Adheres to assigned work schedule, on-call assignments, City attendance policies, Department directives, and City personnel rules. Performs all assigned duties with professionalism, safety, accountability, customer service, and humane treatment of animals. Performs other duties as assigned by the Animal Services Manager, Assistant Chief of Police, or Chief of Police. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Understand and enforce City ordinances, Department policies, State animal control laws, public health requirements, rabies control procedures, and applicable Federal, State, and local regulations. Knowledge of animal behavior, animal breeds, humane animal handling, animal care, disease control, sanitation practices, and safe capture and restraint techniques. Operate the shelter, animal intakes, dispositions, quarantines, adoptions, redemptions, euthanasia procedures, and animal disposal procedures. Safe operation and maintenance of animal control vehicles, traps, catch poles, leashes, cages, radios, computers, and related equipment. Basic recordkeeping, report writing, customer service, and public service principles. Capture, restrain, transport, and care for domestic animals, livestock, wildlife, injured animals, aggressive animals, and deceased animals. Detect signs of animal illness, injury, abuse, neglect, aggression, or distress in a safe and humane manner. Respond calmly and effectively to emergency, stressful, dangerous, or emotionally charged situations. Communicate clearly and professionally, both orally and in writing. Prepare accurate reports, case notes, citations, logs, and records. Handle conflict, citizen complaints, distressed animal owners, irate citizens, and difficult public contacts with professionalism and sound judgment. Learn City streets, highways, neighborhoods, ordinances, policies, and procedures. Operate computers, radios, vehicles, animal control equipment, shelter equipment, and standard office equipment. Maintain confidentiality involving enforcement cases, citizen information, personnel matters, and sensitive City business. Work independently with limited supervision while following Department expectations and chain of command. Work effectively with co-workers, supervisors, volunteers, citizens, law enforcement personnel, veterinarians, rescue organizations, vendors, and outside agencies. An equivalent combination of education, experience, certifications, and training may be considered.

Education, Training, and Experience:

High school diploma or

GED Certifications and Licensing:

A valid Texas Driver's License is required and must be maintained throughout employment. Basic Animal Control Officer Certification required or ability to obtain within twelve (12) months of hire. Euthanasia Technician Certification required or ability to obtain within twelve (12) months of hire if assigned euthanasia duties.

Other Requirements:

Must maintain eligibility to perform duties involving animal control, shelter operations, public contact, City vehicles, and access to sensitive information. Must maintain all required certifications and complete required continuing education. Must successfully pass a background investigation, drug screen, and physical examination.

Conditions and Environment:

The physical, mental, and work environment characteristics described below are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential duties of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be provided, in accordance with applicable law, to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Physical Requirements Work is performed in office, shelter, vehicle, field, and outdoor environments. Essential duties require the ability to stand, sit, walk, lift, carry, push, pull, reach, handle, kneel, crouch, crawl, bend, twist, climb, balance, see, hear, talk, and run when necessary. The position may require capturing, restraining, lifting, carrying, loading, unloading, pushing, pulling, dragging, or holding domestic animals, livestock, wildlife, deceased animals, or animal-related equipment. The position may require handling aggressive, injured, sick, frightened, or unruly animals. Moderate to heavy physical activity may be required, including lifting animals up to 100 pounds, loading and unloading food bags up to 50 pounds, carrying and setting traps, and capturing or moving large or unruly animals with assistance when appropriate. Adequate speech, hearing, eyesight, physical mobility, hand-eye coordination, and manual dexterity are required. The employee must wear and properly use prescribed safety equipment and follow all Department and City safety rules, regulations, and policies. Working Conditions This position operates in a law enforcement and animal services environment. Work may occur in an office, shelter, vehicle, public facility, private property, roadside, outdoor area, confined space, kennel, animal enclosure, or other field setting. The employee may be exposed to inclement weather, extreme temperatures, odors, noise, dust, fumes, chemicals, cleaning agents, animal feces, urine, saliva, blood, insects, noxious plants, snakes, wildlife, diseased animals, aggressive animals, livestock, communicable diseases, and emotionally stressful situations. The employee may interact with members of the public who are upset, angry, grieving, frightened, or experiencing stressful circumstances. The position may require flexible hours, weekends, holidays, emergency response, call-back, or on-call status.