Animal Welfare & Rescue Officer

City of New Braunfels, TX • New Braunfels, TX

23h • Onsite

About The Position

The City of New Braunfels is seeking a driven individual to join its Neighborhood Services Division as an Animal Welfare & Rescue Officer. This role involves coordinating and performing a variety of Animal Welfare & Rescue functions, enforcing animal control laws, patrolling for stray or injured animals, responding to citizen complaints, and investigating animal concerns. Key duties include impounding unrestrained and/or nuisance animals, quarantining rabies and/or bite case animals, handling aggressive animals for public safety, providing animal aid and euthanasia, and performing wildlife control, including removing trapped, injured, or dead wild animals. The officer will also respond to after-hour calls during on-call shifts and assist law enforcement personnel with animal transport/impoundment under certain circumstances. The Animal Welfare & Rescue Officer II level includes additional responsibilities such as providing field and technical training and support, offering input for employee performance evaluations to the Senior Officer, performing administrative functions, assisting the Senior Officer with field assignments, monitoring field activities, re-assigning officers as needed, participating in public presentations, resolving customer concerns, and maintaining accurate records and reports.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• At least six (6) months to one (1) year of animal care/control experience or related field; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience (for Officer I).
• Five (5) years of direct animal care/control/welfare experience (for Officer II).
• Basic Animal Control Officer certification or must be able to obtain from the Texas Department of State Health Services within 6 months of employment (for Officer I).
• Basic Animal Control Officer certification (for Officer II).
• Must be able to obtain Euthanasia Technician Certification issued by TXDSHS within 1 year of employment (for Officer I).
• Euthanasia Technician Certification issued by TXDSHS (for Officer II).
• Must possess a valid Texas Driver’s License, with acceptable driving record.
• Advanced Animal Control Officer certification (for Officer II).
• Knowledge of Principals of supervision and training.
• Knowledge of Department rules and regulations & principles and practices of animal welfare.
• Knowledge of State and local laws pertaining to animal control.
• Knowledge of Basic animal physiology and behavioral principles.
• Knowledge of Common zoonotic diseases.
• Knowledge of Techniques used in the capture and restraint of animals.
• Knowledge of Animal welfare equipment, tools, and documentation.
• Knowledge of Operating and maintaining a personal computer utilizing a variety of business software and communications equipment.
• Skill in Coordinating and performing a variety of animal control functions.
• Skill in Responding to public inquiries and complaints regarding animal welfare related matters.
• Skill in Conducting investigations and enforcing animal welfare laws.
• Skill in Capturing, restraining, impounding, quarantining, and providing basic first aid to animals.
• Skill in Educating the public regarding animal care/safety and bite prevention.
• Skill in Preparing and maintaining a variety of animal welfare records, reports, and documentation.
• Skill in Establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with City employees, officials, and representatives from other local, state and Federal agencies.
• Skill in Effective communication skills, both verbal and written for positive relationships with employees, citizens, and the general public.

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual (English / Spanish) skills beneficial but not required.

Responsibilities

• Enforces State and local animal control regulations, laws, and codes; ensures compliance with the Rabies Control Act, New Braunfels leash control laws, and applicable Texas Penal codes.
• Responds to and investigates public concerns and complaints involving animal welfare, animal cruelty, dog fighting, and animal bite cases.
• Impounds unrestrained and/or nuisance animals including dogs, cats, and livestock.
• Quarantines bite case animals; isolates animals with potential rabies exposure; reports all bite/rabies cases in accordance with regulatory requirements.
• Issues animal control citations; prepares and maintains case documentation; attends court proceedings involving animal control violations.
• Provides transport to injured animals; transports animals to veterinarians for medical treatment; may administer euthanasia as required.
• Removes, transports, and disposes of animal carcasses.
• Performs wildlife control duties including removing trapped, injured, or dead wild animals.
• Assists law enforcement personnel in transporting/impounding animals under certain circumstances.
• Prepares, updates, and maintains a variety of departmental records, reports, and logs.
• Performs other duties as assigned or required and engages in special projects and activities as needed.
• Assists in inspection program of commercial animal establishments, including pet shop and grooming facilities and monitors for regulatory compliance (Officer II).
• Responds to animal welfare inquiries and participates in educating the public regarding animal safety/care and bite prevention; delivers school presentations (Officer II).
• Assists and monitors animal welfare officer’s enforcement actions, including cruelty case investigations, search & seizure warrant processes and evidence documentation (Officer II).
• Monitors quarantine activities for bite/exposure cases; ensures isolation or testing of animals with potential rabies exposure; ensures reports are produced in accordance with regulatory requirements (Officer II).
• Assist Senior Officer in training and evaluating Animal Welfare Officers and other staff as assigned (Officer II).

Benefits

• Competitive medical, dental and vision insurance
• 2:1 match on retirement contribution
• Paid volunteer time off – 16 hours per year
• Vacation accrual starts at date of hire – up to 120 hours annually your first year
• Get paid to stay – longevity pay on top of your regular pay after one full year
• Tuition reimbursement program
• Bilingual pay offered
• Keep learning – professional and personal development training available

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees