Animal Control Officer

Alvarado, City of•Alvarado, TX

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

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.

Requirements

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.
High school diploma or GED
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.
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.

Responsibilities

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.