Job Description

Summary:

Under direct supervision, performs a variety of duties involved in the enforcement and communication of animal services codes, ordinances, and regulations; ensures public safety by capturing and caring for wild, vicious, and/or injured animals; and performs related work as required.

Supervision Received and Exercised:

Receives direct supervision from the Director of Animal Services. No supervision of staff is exercised.

Distinguishing Characteristics:

This is the entry-level class in the Animal Services Officer series. Initially, under direct supervision, incumbents learn to and perform basic animal services duties, including field patrol, investigation, and quarantine of specified animals. As knowledge and experience are gained, the work becomes more complex in scope and assignments are more varied and are performed under more general supervision. This class is distinguished from the Animal Services Officer II in that the latter is a journey-level class responsible for more complex duties assigned to the division and receives more general supervision.

Essential Functions:

Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This list is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class. Employees are required to be in attendance and prepared to begin work at their assigned work location on the specified days and hours. Factors such as regular attendance at the job are not routinely listed in job descriptions but are an essential function. Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job. Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This list is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class. Employees are required to be in attendance and prepared to begin work at their assigned work location on the specified days and hours. Factors such as regular attendance at the job are not routinely listed in job descriptions but are an essential function. Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job. Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Patrols areas within the Town and enforces animal services codes, ordinances, and regulations; investigates reports of animal abuse; issues citations; collects fees; takes other appropriate actions.
• Captures and impounds unlicensed, stray, and uncontrolled animals; transports animals to shelter; arranges for proper containment and humane care.
• Picks up dead or injured animals; provides aid to injured animals; transports animals to shelter for treatment or euthanasia; medicates and vaccinates animals to be adopted.
• Assists in responding to calls from citizens for animal services; investigates complaints involving animals; investigates reports of dogs, cats, or other animals creating nuisances.
• Establishes and maintains positive community relations through programs, demonstrations, and public assistance regarding humane animal services, including wildlife issues, adoption procedures, and enforcement of animals regulations; and answers general questions.
• Assists in identifying and investigating animal related crimes, interviews witnesses, collects evidence, and writes reports.
• Investigates reports of animal bites, completes state mandated quarantines as necessary.
• Determines whether calls meet the criteria for emergency response and call-out and how quarantines should be handled; evaluates, and authorizes immediate euthanasia for sick and injured animals, emergency seizure of animals, owner relinquishments in the field; determines whether a criminal complaint and/or dangerous/vicious animal investigation should be initiated.
• Assists in follow-up investigations on previously issued notices, citations, service requests, public nuisance animals, abandoned animals and habitual violators.
• Answers general questions regarding the enforcement of animal services, regulations, adoption, and licensing policies and procedures.
• Prepares reports and maintains records, logs, and files of activities; prepares cases and complaints for court action; testifies in court.
• Inspects, cleans, and performs preventive maintenance on vehicle such as checking oil, water, tires, and lights, and related maintenance duties; advises supervisor of potential problems and required services.
• Provides stand-by duty, as assigned, by responding to emergency calls, maintaining contact with answering service, resolving building alarm codes, and checking facility area for intruders or escaped animals.
• Advises supervisor of unusual circumstances or questionable conditions encountered in the area of responsibility.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

An equivalent combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.  A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Education, Training, and Experience Guidelines
An equivalent combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities may be considered. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:
Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth (12th) grade and six (6) months of experience in the enforcement and communication of animal services codes, ordinances, and regulations and the humane care and handling of animals. College-level coursework in animal healthcare and experience with a public agency are highly desirable; OR an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

License and Certification Requirements:

• Valid California class C driver’s license with satisfactory driving record and automobile insurance.
• PC 832 of the Peace Officers Training Certificate within six months following employment.
• Must obtain euthanasia certification within six months following employment.

Knowledge of:

• Methods and techniques of handling, collection, impoundment, and registration of a variety of wild and domestic animals in various conditions.
• Identification of various breeds of dogs, cats, and other domestic and wild animals.
• Principles of animal behavior and care.
• Principles, practices, methods and techniques of code violation investigation and compliance.
• Practices for documenting inspections and correcting violations.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations, including administrative and departmental policies.
• Occupational hazards and standard safety practices necessary in the area of animal services.
• Principles of record keeping and reporting.
• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment.
• Computer applications related to the work.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Techniques for dealing with and solving the problems presented by a variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds, in person and over the telephone.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service to public and Town staff, in person and over the telephone.

Ability to:

• Recognizing normal and abnormal animal behavior.
• Handling potentially dangerous animals in a safe manner.
• Inoculating and medicating animals, after completion of the appropriate training.
• Interpreting, explaining, applying, and enforcing laws, ordinances, and regulations pertaining to animal services.
• Investigating animal care violations and respond to inquiries, complaints, and requests for service in a fair, tactful, and timely manner.
• Accessing, retrieving, entering, and updating information using a computer terminal.
• Interpreting and applying applicable Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations, including administrative and departmental policies.
• Preparing, maintaining and updating accurate and detailed documentation of inspection findings and other written materials, records, logs, and reports.
• Effectively representing the Town in meetings with community groups, property owners, business owners, and the public.
• Operating and maintaining a variety of animal services equipment.
• Operating a two-way radio.
• Making accurate mathematic computations.
• Maintaining accurate records and files of work performed.
• Understanding and carrying out oral and written instructions.
• Operating modern office equipment including computer equipment and software programs.
• Using English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone and in writing.
• Using tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with employees and those contacted in the course of the work.
• Responding to emergency calls within 30 minutes while on stand-by duty.

Physical Demands and Working Environment:

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; to operate a motor vehicle, to inspect various Town and residential sites, and to walk on uneven terrain; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups and over the telephone. This is primarily a field classification with frequent standing in work areas and walking between work areas required. Wrist flexion and lateral rotation are necessary in combination with grasping to handle a snare and leash. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter and retrieve data using a computer keyboard, typewriter keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification frequently bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push and pull to perform work. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull animals of 75 pounds, as necessary to perform job functions
Employees primarily work outside with occasional exposure to loud noise levels and may be exposed to inclement weather conditions, animal hair, dust, and potentially hazardous physical substances. May involve exposure to wild, dangerous, and/or diseased animals, and animals known to cause allergies. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

Fair Labor Standards Act labels cannot be given to a group of employees. Each employee must meet every requirement for the claimed exemption. The designation mentioned above is for general manager guidelines.