The purpose of this classification is to enforce the City ordinance regulating the keeping of animals. Duties include, but are not limited to, patrolling the City limits, initiating enforcement action on violators, and capturing animals.
- Enforces the provisions of all applicable animal control ordinances, codes, laws, and regulations; initiates any actions necessary to correct deviations or violations; issues warning notices or citations as appropriate.
- Performs City-wide patrol and inspects for animals at large; assists animals in problem situations; captures stray, vicious, or diseased animals; places animal traps where needed; loads/unloads animals into/out of cages; lifts cages on/off of truck; transports animals to animal shelter, veterinarian, or other locations; removes dead animals from roads in our jurisdiction.
- Handles, lifts, and carries animals, restraining as appropriate; handles frightened, fractious, and injured animals; checks animals for current license tags and for signs of rabies, disease, or other illnesses.
- Patrols city limits for animals at large.
- Transports laboratory specimens to laboratories for testing.
- Prepares documentation to support cases for court; testifies in court as required.
- Responds to public inquiries and investigates complaints; mediates disputes; assists owners in locating lost pets.
- Euthanizes and disposes of sick, wild, and unadoptable animals.
- Picks up supplies for animal care; loads and unloads supplies from truck.
- Provides care for animals while in custody of animal control personnel; performs cleaning, feeding, and watering of animals as needed.
- Assists with animal shelter operations as needed; opens/closes animal shelter facilities; answers telephone calls and assists visitors; checks animals into animal shelter; shows animals to visitors and processes animal adoptions; ensures proper cleaning, sanitation, and maintenance of shelter kennels, cages, equipment, and facilities.
- Scans animals for microchip to ensure that they get back to their owners.
- Receives moneys in payment of adoptions, impound fees, fees/services; records transactions, issues receipts, and secures revenues as appropriate; transports bank deposits to City Hall.
- Operates various equipment and tools associated with animal control activities, which may include an animal control truck, animal restraint equipment, animal traps, catch poles, nets, dart gun, euthanasia, two-way radio, hand tools, personal computer, general office equipment, or other equipment as necessary to complete essential functions, to include the use of word processing, spreadsheet, database, e-mail, Internet, or other computer programs.
- Orders euthanasia and logs various drugs that are administered to animals.
- Follows safety procedures, utilizes safety equipment, and monitors work environment to ensure safety of employees and other individuals.
- Performs general/preventive maintenance tasks necessary to keep animal control vehicles, equipment and tools in clean and operable condition, which may include inspecting equipment, refueling vehicles, checking/replacing fluids, checking tires, washing/cleaning truck/equipment, or cleaning work areas; monitors equipment operations to maintain efficiency and safety; reports faulty equipment.
- Assists supervisor with the preparation of the annual budget; prepares a variety of reports, records, and related documentation; maintains files or transmits as appropriate.
- Prepares or completes various forms, reports, correspondence, case documentation, bite reports, citations, work orders, purchase orders, bank deposits, or other documents.
- Receives various forms, reports, correspondence, payments, animal complaints, laboratory reports, policies, procedures, laws, codes, ordinances, maps, directories, manuals, reference materials, or other documentation; reviews, completes, processes, forwards or retains as appropriate.
- Interacts with supervisor, law enforcement personnel, court officials, veterinarians, other animal agencies, and the general public as needed to provide information, coordinate activities, discuss problems, or receive advice/direction.
- Provides information and education to the public concerning animal control issues, city ordinances, humane treatment of animals, animal behavior problems, or related issues; participates in presentations to schools, civic groups, and community organizations.
- Maintains a current knowledge and awareness of applicable laws, codes, and ordinances; maintains an awareness of new procedures, trends, and advances in the profession.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Knowledge of basic arithmetic functions.
- Knowledge of basic laws, codes, ordinances, and new procedures.
- Skill in operating, maneuvering and/or controlling the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions.
- Ability to calculate and/or tabulate data. Includes performing subsequent actions in relation to these computational operations.
- Ability to provide guidance, assistance, and/or interpretation to others regarding the application of procedures and standards to specific situations.
- Ability to utilize a wide variety of reference and descriptive data and information.
- Ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
- Ability to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagrammatic form. Involves semi-routine standardized work with some latitude for independent judgment concerning choices of action.
- Ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving a variety of generally pre-defined duties which are often characterized by frequent change.
Education and Experience: High school diploma or equivalent; supplemented by little or no previous experience or training in animal handling or animal control; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.
Licenses or Certifications: Valid State of Alabama driver’s license.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work is medium work which requires exerting up to 50 pounds of pressure. Work requires balancing, climbing, crawling, crouching, feeling, grasping, handling, hearing, kneeling, lifting, mental acuity, pulling, pushing, reaching, repetitive motion, standing, stooping, and walking. Tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors, sounds, depth, texture, and visual cues or signals. Tasks may require the ability to communicate orally.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work is performed in an outdoor environment. Essential functions may require exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as dirt, dust, pollen, odors, wetness, humidity, rain, temperature and noise extremes, heights, traffic hazards, bright/dim light, toxic agents, disease, pathogenic substances, animal/wildlife attacks, animal/human bites, or rude/hostile citizens.