Animal Control Officer I

Okaloosa County • County Wide, FL

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Protects the safety and rights of the public and the welfare of animals. This role involves responding to complaints, picking up stray animals, and ensuring they are placed in approved shelters or quarantine. The officer will patrol areas for stray animals, check for rabies tags, and manage community cat programs. They will also advise animal owners on county ordinances, regulations, and state laws, issuing citations for violations. Responsibilities include answering calls via telephone and radio, performing technical and clerical duties for kennel and field operations, and investigating animal bites and cruelty complaints. The role requires collecting evidence and affidavits for court cases, testifying in court, and transporting diseased or injured animals. Emergency animal assistance and disaster relief response after hours are also part of the duties. The officer must interact effectively and courteously with the public, maintaining a professional demeanor at all times. Additional tasks include performing animal intakes with vaccinations, preparing for and responding to disaster situations, auditing response activities, and disseminating information accurately. The position also involves responding to inquiries and resolving complaints from citizens and other agencies.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• A minimum of one (1) year experience in animal control, code enforcement or security or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Valid driver license.
• Ability to operate office equipment, to include computers, copy/fax machines, and any related peripherals.
• Ability to exert in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, or 10 to 25 pounds of force constantly, or greater than negligible up to lift, carry, push/pull, or otherwise move objects.
• Ability to hear and understand communications through telephone and radio.
• Ability to ascend/descend ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs or hands and arms.
• Good manual dexterity, coordination and stamina; can frequently require constant movement and use of limbs.
• Ability to traverse irregular, uneven, and/or erratically moving surfaces frequently.
• Ability to perform essential tasks at or near floor level and to return to a standing position.
• Ability to safely move into and out of low positions (such as kneeling, squatting, or sitting on the ground) and perform related duties.
• Ability to work for sustained periods of exposure to outside atmospheric conditions.
• Ability to efficiently and humanely interact with various animals typical of an animal services environment.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English, including the ability to convey, record and exchange information; requires the ability to explain procedures and to give, receive and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to read and interpret a variety of moderately complex technical data, policy and procedure manuals, codes, professional journals.
• Ability to prepare forms and reports using prescribed formats, and adhering to all rules of grammar, spelling, diction and punctuation.
• Ability to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical and/or professional languages used within the parameters of the job and with a broad array of individuals from various professional backgrounds.
• Ability to apply principles of animal control services and common sense understanding to carry out detailed written or oral instructions; to deal with several simultaneous problems involving many variables in evolving situations; to make independent judgments in the absence of supervisor; to acquire knowledge of topics related to primary occupation.
• Ability to comprehend and interpret received information.
• Must be able to add and subtract totals, multiply and divide, calculate percentages and decimals.
• Ability to deal with people and animals beyond receiving instructions.
• Adaptable to performing under moderate levels of stress, imposed by frequent deadlines, peak workloads, or public contact.
• Ability to exercise consistent tact and courtesy when in frequent contact with various professionals, county staff, and the general public.

Nice To Haves

• Florida approved Euthanasia Technician certification course within six (6) months of hire.
• Florida Animal Control Association approved Animal Control Officer Certification as required by Florida law (F.S. 828.27) within six (6) months of hire.
• May don Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) or related special equipment as required per situation.
• This position may encounter conditions typical of emergency/disaster situations.
• This position may encounter animals in various types of temperament during execution of their duties, such as animals in emergency/disaster situations or derelict environments.

Responsibilities

• Responds to complaints and picks up stray animals, placing them in an approved shelter, and if necessary, in quarantine.
• Responds to, and attempts to resolve at the lowest level, complaints relating to animal concerns.
• Patrols problem areas for stray dogs or cats and checks for valid rabies tags.
• Traps and releases cats in accordance with the community cat program if applicable.
• Advises animal owners of county Ordinances, regulations and state law, and issues citations for violations.
• Answers telephone and radio to field complaints from the public regarding animal concerns.
• Performs technical and clerical duties in support of the kennel and field operations.
• Investigates animal bites and obtains necessary information to locate animals and/or owners of animals in such cases.
• Investigates complaints of animal cruelty and related violations; may observe animals in varying states of neglect and abuse.
• Collects and prepares necessary evidence and affidavits for court cases, relative to citations and other violations of Ordinance and state law; appears and testifies in court regarding ordinance and law violations.
• Picks up diseased and/or injured animals and transports them to the necessary locations.
• Responds to calls for emergency animal assistance and disaster relief after hours per policy and supervisory direction.
• Interacts with the public in an effective and courteous manner; demonstrates commitment to our mission, vision, values and goals and represent the County in a professional, dignified manner at all times both in actions and appearance.
• Performs animal intakes according to protocol, including vaccinations.
• Prepares and evaluates pre-disaster and post-disaster hazards, mitigation policies and procedures.
• Audits response activities for compliance with State Rules and services.
• Communicates with various agencies and personnel for the accurate and efficient dissemination of information.
• Responds to inquiries for information and resolves complaints from citizens, public officials and other agencies.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED