Animal Protection Officer (Animal Control Officer)

Job Title: Animal Protection Officer
Reports to: Director of Animal Services
Department: Services Animal Services
Job Classification: FT, Hourly
Revised: June 2022

JOB DESCRIPTION

McKamey Animal Center Animal Services Officers are the face of progressive, humane law enforcement in the communities we serve. Officers are responsible for enforcement of state and local animal welfare laws and ordinances, protecting the public from dangerous animals, providing support and resources to pet owners, and assisting animals in need. To be successful in this position, candidates must have strong animal handling skills, the ability to exercise good judgment when dealing with animals and people, a passion for animal welfare and caretaking, and compassion not just for animals but for humans.

SALARY, SCHEDULE AND BENEFITS

• Salary: $18.00 upon hiring, $19.00 upon receiving officer commission
• Schedule: Full time, non-exempt, overnight and weekend shifts required
• Benefits: Medical, dental, holidays, retirement plan

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES (includes, but not limited to):

• Ensure proper application and enforcement of all local and state laws and ordinances concerning the care, use, treatment, selling, licensing, and impounding of animals.
• Ensure compliance with all MAC policies and procedures regarding Animal Control functions and activities, humane handling, community-focused outreach, etc.
• Ensure appropriate and timely response to complaints, inquiries and requests for service.
• Perform animal cruelty investigations and inspections, including applying for warrants, issuing warnings and citations, conducting crime scene and forensic investigations, participating in judicial proceedings and ensuring all requirements necessary for successful prosecution of offenders.
• Cover any and all assigned shifts, including on-call overnights.
• Ensure proper use, storage, maintenance of equipment assigned to the Animal Services Department and Officers – i.e. vehicles, supplies, animal handling and related equipment, electronics, radio communication system, safety equipment, humane animal traps, etc.
• Maintain necessary records and prepare routine required reports regarding Animal Control activities, equipment and maintenance inventories, etc.
• Humanely euthanize animals as necessary, and ensure proper maintenance and renewal of necessary permits and licenses for euthanasia drugs, chemical capture agents, etc.; maintain strict control of all pharmaceutical products and their use in accordance with state and federal regulations.
• Advise and support the general public regarding Animal Control laws and ordinances, animal shelter procedures and responsibilities of pet ownership, and identify opportunities for progressive methods of achieving compliance with animal welfare standards.
• In collaboration with shelter staff, ensure proper management of animals held for protective custody, bite quarantines, rabies testing, etc., and work closely with staff to achieve animal care and population management goals with respect to impounded animals.
• Humanely manage nuisance wildlife calls or complaints.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Animal Services Officer 1

Job Qualifications and Skills

• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to relate and confer with staff and the general public.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and decision making when dealing with staff and the public.
• Proven organizational skills with outstanding attention to detail (effective record keeping ability).
• Knowledge of law enforcement techniques, principals, & practices; local & state animal laws and procedures; animal health, care and welfare; and progressive Animal Control philosophies and practices.
• Strong humane animal handling skills and knowledge of animal behavior and animal medicine, and ability to recognize signs of animal neglect, abuse and cruelty.
• Ability to operate all equipment, tools, technology, vehicles and other tools relevant to job duties.
• Ability to complete physical agility test that demonstrates the candidate’s ability to perform actual or simulated job-related tasks, including, but not limited to, climbing, running jumping fences, crawling under or through small spaces and lifting or carrying heavy objects.
• Ability to humanly handle large, aggressive dogs (> 100 lbs.) along in field situations.
• Ability to acquire certification as a euthanasia technician within 3 months of employment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Must be at least 21 years of age (required for insurance purposes), have a valid driver’s license and insurable driving record.
• Must live within 20 miles of the Center to ensure a 30-minute response time for emergencies.

Education and Experience Required

• High school diploma is required, Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• Experience in Animal Protection, investigation, law enforcement, or equivalent strongly preferred.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions
The conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Combination of office setting and outdoor field work, with associated exposure to weather conditions.
• Potential exposure to high noise levels, zoonotic diseases, and animal bites/scratches when handling animals.
• Must be able to lift over 50 pounds, up to 100 pounds with support.
• Potential exposure to sick, injured, and dangerous animals.
• Must be able to respond to emergency situations and calls for service at any hour.
• Potential for standing/walking/bending up to eight to ten (8-10) hours a day.
• Must be able to performing physical tasks like animal restraint, physical examinations of animals, scrubbing cages, cleaning floors and more.
• Must have quick reflexes and ability to use both hands simultaneously (example: open cage door while handling animal, react to escaping animal).
• Must have ability to bend and squat in order to leash/harness, and/or pick up an animal.
• Must have ability to see well enough to move safely around the building, distinguish animal body language, read instructions, and read an animal’s paperwork.
• Must have ability to hear if an animal is giving warning signs, such as growling, yelping or hissing.
• Must have ability to effectively communicate verbally.

McKamey Animal Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer.We reserve the right conduct criminal background checks and requires drug testing of all employment candidates.

Animal Services Officer 2

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $18.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Holidays
• Night shift
• On call
• Overnight shift

Work Location: In person