ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER
City of Salina, Kansas
Parks & Recreation / Animal Services
Apply Directly with the City of Salina
Apply: jobs.salina-ks.gov
The Animal Control Officer role offers meaningful, hands-on work for individuals seeking a long-term municipal career centered on public service, animal welfare, & community impact. In this position, the employee enforces animal control ordinances, responding to calls for assistance, educating the public, & caring for animals at the Salina Animal Shelter. The role adds visible value to the Salina, Kansas community through compassionate service, responsible code enforcement, & support for safe neighborhoods & humane animal care practices. As a City position, it also provides stability & structure many professionals value when looking for a career that supports work-life balance while offering purposeful daily work. With a mix of field response, shelter operations, public interaction, & specialized training, this opportunity is well suited for dependable candidates who want to build a rewarding future in local government service.
Career Advancement: Lead Animal Control Officer
On-the-Job Training: Training for an Animal Control Officer in Salina, Kansas is a process designed to empower new officers through practical learning under the guidance of experienced staff. The training includes mastering the use of specialized equipment such as catch poles, tranquilizer guns, & animal transport vehicles, ensuring officers are well-prepared to handle various scenarios. Training also emphasizes the importance of community interaction, enhancing communication skills to address public inquiries with confidence & authority. Staff provide insightful mentorship, sharing crucial insights into recognizing & dealing with animal health & safety concerns. This comprehensive training not only equips officers with immediate operational capabilities but also lays the groundwork for long-term career growth.
Duties:
- Enforces & applies ordinances & regulations of the Salina City Code pertaining to animal control via verbal warnings, written warnings, & citations; chases, apprehends, impounds, & transports domestic, farm, exotic, & wild animals that are stray, injured, & diseased; uses catch poles & traps to capture & impound animals; uses tranquilizer guns to subdue vicious & fractious animals; transports captured animals to the Salina Animal Shelter.
- Investigates incidents involving animal cruelty, illegal pit bulls, animal bites, & animal nuisances; interviews complainants, victims, & witnesses on possible law, ordinance & regulation violations; identifies, collects, & preserves evidence pertaining to investigations of animal cruelty; identifies owners of animals that are subjects of investigations; testifies in court & at hearings on animal control matters.
- Inspects pet shops, grooming shops, boarding kennels, animal breeders, catteries, & animal daycare facilities to ensure that animals are being handled in accordance with applicable ordinances & regulations.
- Issues licenses & permits for dogs & cats residing in Salina City Limits; provides public education on animal control ordinances & regulations & animal care methods/techniques
- Establishes quarantines involving rabies incidents & other health concerns as needed; prepares rabies specimens for laboratory tests by decapitating & placing specimens in insulated shipping coolers.
- Performs first aid on injured animals by applying splints, tourniquets, blankets, muzzles, & other related medical supplies & equipment; performs euthanasia on injured, sick, dangerous, or unwanted domestic, wild & exotic animals by means of lethal injection; picks up dead animals found in public streets & highways; disposes/incinerates animal carcasses.
- Works variable work schedule, including evenings & weekends; performs overtime as needed & other duties as assigned.
Education:
- High school diploma or G.E.D.
- Must obtain Level I & II National Animal Control Association Academy training.
Experience:
- One (1) year animal care experience in animal shelter, veterinary clinic, animal hospital, or other related area including customer service skills to the public preferred.
Requirements:
- Must live within 40-minutes response time.
- Must possess a valid Kansas driver‘s license.
Work Type:
- Moderate, exerting up to 80 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
- Works inside & outside.
- Adverse weather conditions are possible.
Equipment:
- Animal shelter equipment, calculator, catch pole, computer, crematorium, electronic tablet, fax machine, laboratory equipment, scanner, temperature gun, telephone, tranquilizer gun, two-way radio, voice recorder, & vehicles.
Hours:
- Works variable work schedule, including evenings & weekends.
- Shifts vary: 4 x 10-hour shifts/week including nights, weekends & holidays.
- Shifts may start at 5:00 a.m. & responds to overnight calls.
Starting Pay DOQ EOE:
- $21.14-22.20/hr.
- $43,971-46,176/yr.
- Additional $1.50/hour paid for hours worked after 6:00 p.m. & before 6:00 a.m.
Paid Time Off:
- 48 hours of vacation available upon hire; additional 48 hours earned during the year (96 hours in first year).
- 96 hours of sick leave during first year.
Application Deadline:
Apply: jobs.salina-ks.gov
Important: You must complete an application for employment directly with the City of Salina to be considered.
