Animal Control Officer
About The Position
The Calvert County Animal Control Officer is a field-based public safety position responsible for enforcing local and state animal welfare laws and ordinances. Officers respond to calls involving stray, injured, dangerous, neglected, abused, or mistreated animals and work with law enforcement, health departments, veterinarians, government agencies, and the public. The position requires independent judgment, effective communication, and professionalism and compassion when handling emotionally charged or potentially hazardous situations. Officers participate in an on-call rotation to provide emergency response coverage, including nights, weekends, and holidays. The position provides prompt and humane responses to animal-related concerns through enforcement of ordinances concerning citizen complaints, animal regulation, and human health and safety. Duties include issuing warnings and citations, seizing and transporting animals when necessary, preparing case documentation, and testifying in court. Work requires prior experience and is performed under general supervision.
Requirements
- High school diploma or GED equivalent.
- Three years of professional animal handling experience.
- One year of experience dealing with the resolution of citizen complaints.
- Valid driver's license.
- Must be at least 18 years of age.
- Must be qualified to use a 12-gauge shotgun and a 22-caliber rifle.
- Subject to background investigation.
- Subject to emergency call-back and operation of a county-owned vehicle.
- Ability to work independently and with the public and other agencies.
- Ability to enforce animal control laws, rules, and regulations.
- Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing and deal effectively with the public.
- Good animal handling skills and motivation to ensure animals receive proper care.
- Knowledge of computer applications such as Windows 2003 and/or Windows XP.
- Any acceptable combination of education, training, and relevant experience providing the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be substituted on a full-time year-for-year basis.
- Ability to perform strenuous manual work, including walking over rough, uneven terrain; repeated bending, climbing, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching; and lifting objects up to 100 pounds.
- Ability to work non-standard schedules, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, and to be called in or remain on the job for emergencies.
- Must be able to work around hazards associated with diseased animals and occasionally put animals to death.
Responsibilities
- Enforce regulations and ordinances from County officials, including the Health Department.
- Interact with citizens regarding concerns and enforcement issues and work to resolve them.
- Communicate orally and in writing with the general public.
- Maintain effective working relationships with police, public officials, veterinarians, and other government agencies.
- Conduct routine daily patrols and respond to calls for service.
- Provide emergency animal first aid and transport animals to veterinarians.
- Investigate animal neglect, abuse, and cruelty violations; write investigative reports, enter data into a database, verify and follow up on cases, and ensure compliance.
- Maintain and organize a caseload and prioritize daily workload.
- Handle radio communications with the Animal Control Dispatcher and Calvert County Control Center.
- Issue written warnings and ordinance citations.
- Testify in court hearings.
- Work with the County Health Department on bite investigations and rabies exposures; arrange animal quarantine, conduct follow-up health checks, prepare rabies specimens, and assist with rabies vaccination clinics.
- Distribute county pet licenses, handle money, and submit purchased licenses.
- Trap domestic animals, maintain records of trap locations, transport animals to the shelter, and maintain profile tickets for each animal.
- Ensure the county-issued vehicle is serviced as scheduled and county-issued equipment is in working order and replaced if broken.
- Perform related duties as required.
Benefits
- 15 days of sick leave
- 10 days of annual leave
- 5 days of personal leave
- 13 paid holidays, or 14 in an election year
- Defined Contribution Plan
- 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Flexible spending accounts
- Up to 80% tuition reimbursement
- Gym membership discounts
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
