Animal Control Officer I

The purpose of this job is to address quality of life concerns for the citizens of Montgomery County by providing a safe and healthy environment and education as related to animal control and welfare.

Department: Animal Control Officer I

Pay Grade: 70, Non-Exempt

Starting hourly rate: $21.56

Minimum Experience: One (1) year of animal handling experience and working with the public.

Minimum Education: High school diploma or equivalent. Coursework in veterinary sciences, zoology, biology or other related fields preferred.

Certifications, Licenses: 

• Must possess a valid driver’s license. 

• A pre-employment criminal background check is required.

• Basic First Aid/ CPR certification preferred.

• State of Tennessee Certified Euthanasia Technician.

• Basic Animal Control Officer Certification within the first year of employment.

• Advanced Animal Control Officer Certification within the second year of employment.

The purpose of this job is to address quality of life concerns for the citizens of Montgomery County by providing a safe and healthy environment and education as related to animal control and welfare.

GENERAL POSITION DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The following duties are normal for this position.  However, they are not to be construed as exclusive or all–inclusive. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily.  Other duties may also be required or assigned.

• Provides customer service to internal and external customers; addresses and resolves customer questions as able and refers complex inquiries, requests, or complaints to appropriate staff.   

• Patrols designated areas and responds to dispatched assignments to enforce State and County animal control laws and ordinances.

• Investigates and gathers information on animal-related complaints (animal bites, animal attacks, dangerous dog, reports of animal cruelty, strays, injured, neglected, sick/diseased, and possible rabies exposure cases) and resolves related problems in a tactful manner.

• Follows up on complaints for final dispositions. 

• Compiles a variety of data regarding animal control; prepares daily, weekly, and monthly reports of activities, and maintains paper and computer files and records relative to actions taken. 

• Issues Montgomery County Citations to General Sessions Court for violation of Montgomery County Animal Control Regulations and State of Tennessee Animal Laws.

• Maintains effective relationships with the community by educating the general public on responsible pet ownership, animal control functions, and animal safety, animal laws and animal care programs.

• Carries out duties in conformance with all Federal, State, and County laws and ordinances.

• Checks for current rabies vaccination and follows up with quarantine procedures.

• Checks homes in question for various animal violations including lack of food, water, shelter, and assesses outside temperatures relating to cruelty to animal regulations.

• Testifies and represents the County in court.

• Traps and tests rabies specimens when necessary.

• Impounds, quarantines, and disposes of animals as appropriate; transports injured animals to a veterinarian to be treated. Euthanizes sick, injured or homeless animals as necessary.

• Responsible for appropriate feeding and watering and direct care of animals in the shelter; including cleaning and disinfecting, medicating animals, kennel maintenance, observing and reporting status of animal health, food and water consumption, appearance, behavior

• Adoption and redemption of animals by their owners

• Record animal intake information on appropriate logs and complete and accurate data entry into the animal tracking system.

• Work professionally with other public safety/law enforcement County and State agencies. 

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITIES

This position has no fiscal responsibilities.

COUNTY ORGANIZATION DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Represents the Department to other County departments, elected officials and outside agencies; coordinates Department activities with those of other departments and outside agencies and organizations.

• Responds to and resolves difficult and sensitive citizen inquiries and complaints. 

SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIPS:

Animal Control Officers work under the guidance and supervision of the Lead Animal Control Officer and/or Supervisor. 

JOB QUALIFICATIONS – KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• County and State animal control laws, regulations and procedures.

• Principles and practices for capturing and handling a variety of wild and domestic animals.

• Specialized animal control equipment and techniques.

• Animal science and behavior, also as it relates to an Animal Shelter/Control environment. 

• Computer software consistent for this position. 

• Current office practices and procedures.

• The County and Department’s operating requirements, policies, procedures, and practices; and local, State, and Federal regulations related to department programs and operations. 

• Management and supervisory practices & principles, including the ability to make final employment recommendations, preparing performance evaluations, managing time off, and maintaining personnel records.

Skill in:

• Answering calls and complaints involving animal control.

• Advising owners of loose animals, leash laws and the necessity of keeping animals under control.

• Analyzing complex administrative information and issues, defining problems and evaluating alternatives, and recommending methods, procedures, and techniques for resolution of issues.

• Organizational and time management to prioritize duties to accomplish a high volume of work product while adapting to constant changes in priority.

• Applying judgment and discretion in resolving problems and interpreting policies and regulations.

Ability to:

• Perform detailed work accurately and independently in compliance with stringent time limits requiring minimal direction and supervision.

• Adapt and take control of situations, dictating subordinate activities in a responsible manner.

• Instruct and train in methods and procedures.

• Organize, assign, and modify the work assignment of others, and (re)-establish priorities to meet deadlines.

• Set work priorities and train, direct, motivate, and evaluate the work of assigned staff.

• Select, supervise, train and evaluate staff. 

• Interpret and implement local policies and procedures; written instructions, general correspondence; Federal, State, and local regulations. 

• Perform mathematical calculations required of this position.

• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

• Establish and maintain accurate records of assigned activities and operations.

• Analyze facts and to exercise sound judgment in arriving at conclusions. 

• Think quickly, maintain self-control, and adapt to stressful situations.

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work. 

• Maintain confidentiality and discretion regarding business-related files, reports, and conversations, within the provision of applicable State and Federal statutes.

• Work the allocated hours of the position.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work is performed in the field and an animal shelter setting requiring mobility and physical activity. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to noisy. Level of responsibility subjects the incumbent to moderate stress due to interruptions. 

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS/ACTIVITIES:

• This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 100 pounds of force; work regularly requires standing, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and repetitive motions and occasionally requires walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling and reaching with hands and arms.

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance and peripheral vision; depth perception; and the ability to adjust focus. 

• Vocal communication and normal hearing are required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.

• Acceptable verbal and conversation skills to effectively communicate with others via the phone, at meetings and to greet and assist visitors.

• Use and normal maintenance of office machines, (copier, computer, printer, etc.).

• Ability to recognize occupational hazards in work activities and take safety precautions. 

• Work requires operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surrounding and activities.  This may involve driving in inclement weather conditions.

• Work occasionally requires exposure to outdoor weather conditions.

• Work requires wearing specialized personal protective equipment.

• May be subject to animal attacks and infectious diseases carried by animals.

• Maintain mental capacity which allows the capability of making sound decisions and demonstrating intellectual capabilities. 

The intent of this position description is to provide a representative summary of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and is not a declaration of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may also be assigned job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description. 

Montgomery County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with the requirements of the Civil Rights Act of 1966 (Section 1981) and 1964 (Title VI, VII,) Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), Equal Pay Act (EPA) and the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act (USERRA).