Major Functions
Are you passionate about making a difference in your community by protecting both people and animals? Do you thrive in a role where every day brings new challenges and the opportunity to create positive change? Volusia County Animal Services is looking for a dedicated Animal Control Officer to join our team and help ensure the safety and well-being of animals and residents.
As an Animal Control Officer, you'll play a vital role in enforcing animal-related laws, rescuing animals in need, and educating the public about responsible pet ownership. This is more than just a job—it’s a fulfilling career where you’ll protect the community, ensure animal welfare, and be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves. Your work will make a tangible difference in the lives of both people and animals.
Why This Career Is For You
- Impact: You'll protect both public health and safety while ensuring animals are free from cruelty, pain, and suffering.
- Rewarding Work: Every day is different—whether you’re investigating a dangerous situation, reuniting lost pets with their families, or educating the community.
- Comprehensive Training: Receive specialized training to excel in animal handling, public safety, and investigations, including the completion of the Florida Animal Control Officer Certification within one year.
- Community Engagement: Educate the public on responsible pet ownership and help foster a safer community for all residents and their pets.
Schedule
- Varies, the typical schedule is 5 eight hour shifts weekly and on call as needed. Must be able to work rotating weekend dates. Some shifts may be on the beach in direct sunlight. This position also requires you to work in the event of a County-wide emergency.
Illustrative Duties
(
NOTE: These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position.)
- Respond to calls regarding stray animals and public safety concerns.
- Investigate violations of local animal control ordinances and state laws.
- Investigate animal bite cases in accordance with state health laws.
- Rescue and handle domestic animals, ensuring their safety and transporting them to shelters or veterinary facilities.
- Educate the public on local animal control laws, responsible pet ownership, and the importance of spay/neuter programs.
- Work with residents to resolve animal-related issues and return stray animals to their owners when possible.
- Provide court testimony and support in legal proceedings related to ordinance violations.
- Respond to emergency calls after regular working hours, including weekends and holidays, and help ensure public safety during natural disasters.
- Collaborate with external agencies and emergency field response teams as needed.
- Handle and capture feral, aggressive, or dangerous animals using specialized equipment.
- Performs related work as required.
- Reports to the Field Supervisor position.
Minimum Requirements
Graduation from high school or possession of a GED certificate and one (1) year of experience as an Animal Control Officer, animal handling in the workplace, or related experience.
Must attain an Animal Control Certification within one (1) year of appointment.
Possession of a valid Florida Driver's License.
The preferred candidate, having met the minimum requirements, will have any of the additional qualities below:
- Animal Handling: Experience working as an animal control officer or in a shelter/veterinary setting is preferred.
- Customer Service: Previous experience in customer service or community outreach is highly desirable, as this role requires strong communication and engagement with the public.
- Spanish speaking ability
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Knowledge of the care, humane treatment, and safe handling of animals.
- Knowledge of the Animal Control Ordinance.
- Knowledge of the symptoms of rabies in dogs and cats.
- Knowledge of geography of County unincorporated areas.
- Knowledge of state statutes and codes relative to animal control.
- Ability to explain regulations to the public.
- Ability to deal effectively with the public and animal owners in adverse situations.
- Ability to work alone in the field.
- Ability to investigate complaints of stray or wild animals.
- Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
- Ability to apprehend animals in the field, including aggressive or dangerous animals.
- Ability to utilize special industry tools (e.g., catch pole, traps, tranquilizer gun, blowgun.)
Physical Demands: Heavy work. Ability to see, hear, talk, carry, lift (50 to 100 lbs. occasionally and/or 25 to 50 lbs. frequently), climb, reach, grasp, crouch, pull, walk, run, handle, stand. Ability to traverse uneven, wooded, wet terrains. Exposure to dangerous animals; animal waste.
Environmental Demands: Outside work. Ability to tolerate inclement weather including rain, heat, cold, humidity. Exposure to odors, noise. Exposure to dangerous animals; animal waste.
Mental Demands: Ability to read and comprehend state and local ordinances, statutes, code; technical manuals; safety rules, procedures, instructions, memos, letters. Ability to perform shop math. Ability to speak clearly and concisely; publicly; conversant in the theories, policies, procedures of discipline. Ability to write complex documents relaying details, instructions, summaries, reports.
Volusia County is a drug free workplace and an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a diverse workforce. Veterans' preference in accordance with federal, state, local laws.
We offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package that includes:
HEALTH INSURANCE
- Medical
- Dental
- Vision
- Flexible Spending Account
RETIREMENT
- Florida Retirement System (FRS)
- Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP)
- Deferred Compensation (475 Plan)
SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE
- Life Insurance
- Short Term Disability Insurance
- Long Term Disability Insurance
- Cancer Insurance
- Critical Illness Insurance
PAID TIME OFF
- Personal Leave
- Holidays
- Bereavement
- Military
HOLIDAYS
The County Of Volusia Observes The Following Holidays Annually
- New Year's Day
- Martin Luther King Day
- Good Friday
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving (and day after)
- Christmas
Additional Benefits
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Onsite Wellness/Fitness Center
- Computer Purchase Program
- Direct Deposit Payroll
Temporary and intermittent employees are not paid for holidays and are not eligible for benefits.
01
NOTE: Your response to the following supplemental questions
must match the information in the work experience section on your application. If your responses do not match, your application will be deemed incomplete and will disqualify you from further consideration.
- I have read and understand the above statement
02
Do you possess a High School Diploma or GED?
03
Do you possess a valid Florida driver's license?
04
If you answered "No" to the previous question, will you be able to obtain a Florida driver's license at the time of hire if selected for the position?
05
Do have at least one (1) year of experience as any of the following? Check all that apply.
- Animal Control Officer
- Law Enforcement Officer
- Veterinary Assistant
- Other position that required animal handling in a workplace setting
- No Experience
06
If you answered having experience to the previous question, please indicate:
- The number of years,
- Position title,
- Describe in detail your experience, and
- The name of the agency/organization(s).
If you answered "No Experience," please indicate N/A.
07
Do you currently possess an Animal Control Officer Certification through the Florida Animal Control Association?
08
If you answered "No" to the previous question, will you be able to obtain an Animal Control Officer Certification within one (1) year of appointment?
09
Do you undertested that this position requires: -Outside work -Ability to tolerate inclement weather including rain, heat, cold, humidity -Exposure to odors, noise. -Exposure to dangerous animals; animal waste.
- I have read and understand the above statement
10
Are you willing to work during emergency situations, as necessary, at the Volusia County Emergency Operations Center?
11
Do you understand that this position requires you to undergo a level II background check including a Computer Voice Stress Analyzer?
- I have read and understood the above statement.
12
Have you ever worked as a temporary/lease employee for the County of Volusia?
13
If you answered "Yes", please indicate when, position title, and department/division. If you answered "No", please indicate N/A.
14
Where did you hear about this position?
- Volusia County Website
- Indeed.com
- OrlandoJobs.com
- Social Media (E.g. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn)
- Other
15
If you answered "Other" to the previous question, please indicate which specific source. Otherwise please indicate N/A.
