The City of Richmond Animal Care and Control is seeking dynamic, enthusiastic, and hardworking candidates for the position of Animal Control Officer. The incumbent will be responsible for investigating complaints, picking up stray and dead animals, patrolling the city for violations of animal ordinances which may include aiding animals in distress, transporting stray animals to the kennel and caring for kenneled animals. The selected candidate must be able to address citizen inquires and inform citizens of animal control laws and have the ability to humanely tranquilize and euthanize unhealthy animals and wildlife.

Richmond Animal Care and Control is committed to being an employer of choice and we are dedicated to the growth of our workforce. We value our employees and seek to attract and retain the best. We are also committed to individual professional growth! The selected candidate will have the opportunity to attend applicable training and educational workshops.

This position may require working weekends and holidays, as needed.

This position is considered an Essential Personnel, which means that the incumbent is required to work when the City is closed due to public emergencies, critical or hazardous conditions, or inclement weather.

Enforcing the Animal Welfare Laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Codes for the City of Richmond pertaining to animals to ensure the health and safety of the public
Conducting and coordinating, and sometimes assisting other City Agencies, with independent investigations of incidences of cruelty to animals and enforcing the appropriate City and State codes
Responding to requests for assistance with aggressive animals
Assisting residents with dangerous wild and/or exotic animals, such as snakes, raccoons, opossums, etc.
Responding to calls for assistance regarding the potential exposure to rabies
Providing animal care, vaccinations, and medications for animals
Performing euthanasia and lab specimen preparation
Investigating citizen complaints related to companion animal concerns
Assisting residents with their companion animal's needs and concerns
Educating the public regarding responsible pet ownership and care requirements
Preparing reports and records on a daily basis
Composing court records and files and testifying in court regularly
Responding to the need for service as an emergency responder
Updating animal/client records to reflect the most current status and information available
Driving a City of Richmond vehicle
Performing other related duties as assigned

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent
One (1) year of experience handling animals and/or enforcing animal laws
An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification

LICENSING, CERTIFICATIONS, and OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Requires a valid Commonwealth of Virginia Driver's License within 30 days of hire
Requires a Animal Control Officer certification within one year of hire
Requires a euthanasia certification within one year of hire
Required to work scheduled and on-call shifts which include evening, weekends and holidays

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge (some combination of the following):

Animal behavior and handling
Animal control laws
Aggressive animal handling
Basic knowledge of animals, including different breeds and types
Electronic databases and related software applications such as the shelter intake system Shelterbuddy
Licensing laws

Skills (some combination of the following):

Understanding and appreciation of animals
Capturing and impounding dangerous or stray animals
Answering calls regarding animals in the City
Communicating with various internal and external departments
Driving a City of Richmond vehicle
Enforcing licensing laws
Ensuring animal owners are in compliance with the animal control laws
Identifying different breeds and types of animals
Investigating cases of animal cruelty
Maintaining a professional attitude and a positive relationship with citizens
Using communication skills to deescalate situations
Providing expert testimony in court cases
Providing humane care to animals
Rescuing trapped animals
Using a variety of animal control equipment such as control pole leash, animal trap, nets, mace, gloves, snake and cat tongs, etc.
Using discretion to decide whether to seize an animal from a location pending an investigation
Using discretion to decide whether to issue a summons to a citizens or provide them a chance to come into compliance
Writing reports such as an incident report

Abilities (some combination of the following):

Be compassionate
Follow standard procedures and established practices to resolve problems
Communicate
Make judgments
Multi-task
Problem solve
Work well with a team

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS: Working conditions may include exposure to travel to other locations within the City of Richmond as well as outside of the City of Richmond; exposure to hazardous physical conditions such as mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibrations, etc.; atmospheric conditions such as fumes, odors, dusts, gases, and poor ventilation; inadequate lighting; intense noise; and environmental hazards such as disruptive people, imminent danger, and a threatening environment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT: Due to the nature of work assignments, incumbents must be able to perform detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks, with frequent interruptions and under time constraint. The essential duties of this classification may require the 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. The working conditions may include environmental hazards. In terms of the physical strength to perform the essential duties, this classification is considered to be heavy work, exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

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