Animal Control Officer (General Services Department)

City of Detroit•Michigan, MI

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Under immediate supervision, the Animal Control Officer promotes public safety and health, enforces animal care and control laws, and provides animal care and control services in the City of Detroit. The role enforces local Chapter 6 ordinances, patrols an assigned area, responds to routine and emergency calls, investigates complaints, assesses violations, and takes required action. Field duties include capturing domestic and wild animals, assessing injured or ill animals, and removing animals from hazardous situations. The officer documents investigations, prepares records and reports, gathers and preserves evidence, testifies in court, prepares specimens for rabies testing, and operates department-issued equipment and communications devices. The position also provides information and services to the public, collects service fees, and assists with shelter front-office duties. Animal care work includes feeding and monitoring animals, detecting disease or injury, performing minor treatments as trained, assisting veterinarians, handling animals during euthanasia or performing euthanasia, and cleaning and disinfecting kennel areas, vehicles, and equipment. The role requires a high school diploma or GED and one year of experience caring for animals. Animal Control Officer certification, euthanasia-by-injection certification, emergency preparedness training, and HIPAA certification are required or must be obtained within specified periods after hire. A valid Michigan operator license is required. Field work involves physical exertion and exposure to varied environmental conditions, noise, and potentially unsanitary materials, animals, and situations.

Requirements

High school graduation or GED.
One year of experience caring for animals.
Possess Animal Control Officer certification from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development after completing and submitting 100 hours of training, or be willing to obtain certification within six months of hire.
Possess certification from a Michigan State Licensed Veterinarian to perform euthanasia by injection, or be willing to obtain certification within one year of hire.
Complete emergency preparedness training, including FEMA ISC 100, 200, 700, and 800, and other training required by department staff.
Obtain HIPAA certification within 30 days of hire.
Valid State of Michigan Operator License; employees in this class are required to operate a motor vehicle.
Knowledge of shelter animal care, kennel care, decontamination, contagions, and applicable animal-care and control laws and ordinances.
Ability to understand and follow written instructions and prepare clear, concise, accurate technical written and oral reports.
Safe and proper use of animal capture equipment, including traps, leashes, and stretchers, and safe animal-handling techniques.
Ability to determine direct routes to service calls, shelters, and veterinary facilities.
Ability to perform intake and basic animal-care tasks, including vaccinations, assessing vital signs, restraint for veterinary care, and basic grooming for hygiene.
Ability to interact effectively with stray and injured animals, the public, veterinarians, and Public Safety personnel.
Ability to use handheld, desktop, or laptop computers and learn specialized workplace software.
Ability to demonstrate initiative and resourcefulness, react quickly, maintain emotional stability and mental awareness under stress, and prioritize competing tasks.
Ability to transport, capture, and appropriately handle animals; recognize behavioral signals of fear or aggression; and distinguish animal type, color, and breed.
Ability to withstand extreme heat, cold, moisture, and other varied environmental conditions.
Frequently lift up to 60 pounds without assistance while performing field-related duties and restrain or control aggressive animals.
Sit, stand, walk, run, and move freely while performing field-related duties.

Responsibilities

Enforce local Chapter 6 animal-control ordinances, including leash, licensing, vaccination, quarantine, dangerous-dog, and barking-dog requirements.
Patrol an assigned area in an animal control vehicle and respond to routine and emergency calls.
Assess reported or observed violations and take required action, including issuing citations.
Capture domestic and wild animals, examine injured or ill animals to determine treatment disposition, and remove animals from hazardous situations.
Investigate complaints and document findings related to city animal-control ordinances.
Prepare records and reports and enter information into a software system.
Gather evidence for animal-care cases, including photographs, video recordings, and other information; maintain legal chain of custody for evidence.
Testify in court regarding violations of animal regulatory ordinances.
Prepare specimens for rabies testing.
Use department-issued equipment and communications equipment, and report equipment damage.
Provide public information regarding licensing, vaccinations, impoundment, euthanasia, rabies control, pet-owner responsibilities, spaying, neutering, and adoptions.
Collect fees for quarantine, impoundment, licensing, and other services.
Assist with front-office work, including receiving animals brought to the shelter and releasing impounded animals.
Feed animals; monitor sick and dangerous animals; segregate and isolate animals as needed; and detect disease or injury.
Perform minor medical treatments as permitted by DACC training and assist veterinarians with vaccinations and animal inspections.
Perform euthanasia or assist with animal handling during euthanasia.
Clean and disinfect kennel areas, vehicles, and equipment.