Animal Control Officer I

Santa Rosa County•Milton, FL

About The Position

Protects the safety and rights of the public and the welfare of animals. The position responds to animal-related complaints, picks up stray, diseased, and injured animals, and transports animals to shelters, quarantine, or other necessary locations. It investigates animal bites, cruelty complaints, and ordinance violations; advises owners about county regulations; issues citations; and prepares evidence and affidavits and testifies in court. The role also performs technical and clerical work supporting kennel and field operations, answers public calls and radio communications, and responds to emergency animal assistance and disaster-relief calls after hours. The employee must interact courteously and professionally with the public and represent the County in accordance with its mission, vision, values, and goals. The position may be assigned disaster preparation or recovery duties and may be required to work before, during, or after an emergency. The job involves heavy physical work, including controlling active or aggressive animals with available equipment, lifting, prolonged standing and walking over uneven terrain, and recurring bending, crouching, reaching, and other exertion. Work takes place in high-risk conditions, with exposure more than half the time to potentially dangerous situations and/or environmental stressors such as irate customers, weather, noise, extreme temperatures, odors, dust, and chemicals. The employee must operate a motor vehicle and use a computer and communication equipment. Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent and one year of experience in animal control, code enforcement, or security, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. A valid driver license is required at hire and must be maintained. Florida-approved Euthanasia Technician certification and Florida Animal Control Association-approved Animal Control Officer certification must be completed by hire or within six months of hire, as specified in the posting.

Requirements

High school diploma or educational equivalent, supplemented by one year of experience in animal control, code enforcement, or security; alternatively, an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience providing the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Valid driver license at the date of hire and maintenance of the license while employed.
Complete a Florida-approved Euthanasia Technician certification course by hire or within six months of hire.
Complete a Florida Animal Control Association-approved Animal Control Officer Certification, as required by Florida law (F.S. 828.27), by hire or within six months of hire.
Knowledge of animal capture methods and techniques, animal care and feeding, symptoms of rabies and other animal diseases, State and County laws and ordinances, county streets and roads, and communication equipment and radio procedures.
Ability to operate a personal computer and type, and to draft and prepare reports.
Ability to interpret and enforce animal-control laws and ordinances firmly, tactfully, and impartially; read for comprehension; communicate effectively orally and in writing; and maintain working relationships with employees, volunteers, and the public.
Ability to meet the physical demands of heavy work, including controlling highly active or aggressive animals using available equipment, lifting, and working over uneven terrain.
Ability to operate a motor vehicle and meet the stated visual, color discrimination, manual dexterity, and spoken and auditory communication requirements.
Ability to work in high-risk conditions and tolerate exposure to potentially dangerous situations and environmental stressors.

Responsibilities

Respond to complaints and pick up stray animals, placing them in the shelter or, when necessary, in quarantine.
Act as an intermediary in disputes between neighbors relating to animal problems.
Patrol problem areas for stray dogs or cats and check for valid rabies tags.
Advise animal owners of county regulations and issue citations for violations.
Answer telephone and radio communications concerning animal-related complaints from the public.
Perform technical and clerical duties supporting kennel and field operations.
Investigate animal bites and obtain information to locate the animals and/or their owners.
Investigate animal cruelty complaints and other violations.
Collect and prepare evidence and affidavits for court cases and appear and testify in court regarding ordinance violations.
Pick up diseased or injured animals and transport them to necessary locations.
Respond to after-hours emergency animal assistance and disaster-relief calls.
Interact with the public effectively and courteously and represent the County professionally.
Participate in disaster preparation and/or recovery efforts as designated; work before, during, and/or after emergencies when required.
Meet minimum attendance standards and perform related duties as required.