Animal Control Officer

City of Richmond•1600 Chamberlayne Avenue, VA

14d

About The Position

The City of Richmond Animal Care and Control is seeking an Animal Control Officer to investigate complaints, collect stray and deceased animals, patrol the city for animal-ordinance violations, assist animals in distress, transport strays to the kennel, and care for kenneled animals. The officer responds to concerns involving aggressive, dangerous, wild, or exotic animals and possible rabies exposure; provides animal care, vaccinations, and medications; and may humanely tranquilize or euthanize unhealthy animals and wildlife. The role also involves answering citizen inquiries, explaining animal-control laws, educating the public about responsible pet ownership, maintaining animal and client records, preparing reports and court files, and testifying in court. The position is essential personnel and may require work during public emergencies, hazardous conditions, or inclement weather when the City is closed. Scheduled and on-call shifts may include evenings, weekends, and holidays. The officer may also respond as an emergency responder, coordinate with other City agencies, and drive a City of Richmond vehicle. Applicable training and educational workshops are available to support professional growth.

Requirements

High school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
One year of experience handling animals and/or enforcing animal laws; an equivalent combination of training and experience may be accepted as approved by the department.
Obtain a valid Commonwealth of Virginia driver's license within 30 days of hire.
Obtain Animal Control Officer certification within one year of hire.
Obtain euthanasia certification within one year of hire.
Work scheduled and on-call shifts, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Knowledge of animal behavior and handling, animal-control and licensing laws, aggressive-animal handling, animal breeds and types, and electronic databases or related software such as Shelterbuddy.
Skills in animal capture and impoundment, responding to animal-related calls, enforcing animal licensing and control laws, investigating cruelty, providing humane animal care and rescue, de-escalating situations, communicating with citizens and departments, writing incident reports, and providing expert court testimony.
Ability to follow procedures, communicate, exercise judgment, multitask, solve problems, show compassion, and work well with a team.
Ability to perform detailed work on multiple concurrent tasks with interruptions and time constraints.
Ability to regularly balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, stand, walk, push, pull, lift, finger, grasp, feel, talk, hear, and perform repetitive motions; frequently see and crawl; and occasionally climb.
Ability to exert up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, 50 pounds frequently, and 20 pounds constantly.

Nice To Haves

Opportunity to attend applicable training and educational workshops for professional growth.

Responsibilities

Enforce Virginia animal welfare laws and City of Richmond animal codes to protect public health and safety.
Conduct and coordinate investigations of animal cruelty and enforce applicable City and state codes, sometimes in collaboration with other City agencies.
Respond to calls involving aggressive animals, dangerous wild or exotic animals, and potential rabies exposure.
Capture, impound, transport, and care for stray, dangerous, or distressed animals, including providing vaccinations and medications.
Perform euthanasia and prepare laboratory specimens.
Investigate citizen complaints about companion animals and assist residents with animal-related needs and concerns.
Educate the public about responsible pet ownership and animal-care requirements.
Prepare daily reports and records, update animal and client information, prepare court records and files, and testify in court.
Respond to service needs as an emergency responder.
Drive a City of Richmond vehicle and perform other related duties as assigned.