Animal Services Officer

Current Title                          ANIMAL SERVICES OFFICER

Department                            Police

Immediate Supervisor          Animal Services Supervisor

FLSA Status                          Non-Exempt

Pay Rate                                $18.14- $20.38- DOQ

Job Summary

Enforces City ordinances and state laws as pertains to animals and maintains shelter to meet State Health Code standards. Position requires some weekend and evening hours plus overtime, as needed.  

Essential Job Functions:

1.     Enforces City ordinances and state laws pertaining to animals.

2.     Picks up stray and unwanted animals.

3.      Takes citizen complaints by telephone relating to vicious dogs, stray animals, barking dogs, and related calls.

4.      Maintains shelter to conform to State Health Code.   Includes lifting bags from storage area to empty into container (load weight = 50 lbs.) 

5.      Maintains required records.  

6.      Performs euthanasia on animals and must be certified in euthanasia by the 120^th day of employment, pursuant to Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 169.

7.    Obtains and maintains CJIS access.      

8.     Performs related duties as assigned.

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:

1.      Skills in typing (25 correct words per minute; skills test may be given).

2.      Skills in the use of animal restraints.

3.      Knowledge of animal behavior and City ordinances and state laws pertaining to Animal Services.

4.      Ability to work and communicate effectively with co-workers and the public, especially under stressful conditions.  

5.     Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.

6.     Ability to read and follow safety procedures and City rules and codes.

7.     Ability to maintain accurate records with attention to detail.  

8.     Ability to learn and adhere to the City of Hurst Code of Ideals.

9.     Ability to use office equipment and software for reports.

10.   Ability to testify in legal proceedings.

Additional essential job functions, skills, knowledge, and abilities common to all animal services positions

Physical Demands:

Standing/Walking:

Patrol Duties:  Stands and walks on concrete or asphalt pavement or uneven, unpaved surfaces about 30% of the day.  Distance is normally 500 feet or less at any one time.

Office Duties:  Stands and walks on concrete and vinyl about 50% of the day.  Distance is normally 100-feet or less.

Sitting:

Patrol Duties:  Sits in a vehicle 20% of the day.

Office Duties:  Sits in the office 10% of the day in chairs normally at a table or using a computer terminal.

Carrying:

May routinely carry objects or animals of varying sizes up to 500-feet in distance.  Objects may be of different shapes.  Some carrying may be under emergency conditions.

Lifting:

May routinely lift objects as part of regular duties.  Some lifting may require over shoulder height.  May include lifting animals and other objects up to 130 pounds, but routinely weigh 10-80 pounds.

Pushing/Pulling:

May be required to pull weights up to 150 pounds under emergency conditions.  Routinely may push/pull objects weighing 10 to 100 pounds.  

Bending:

Move from the waist to pick up or lay down an object.  May be down on knees for short time periods, as duties require.

Reaching:

Patrol Duties:  Reaching will be required under emergency capture of vicious animals.  Measurement of the degree is not possible to quantify.  Reaching frequently in patrol vehicle for radio – two feet or less

Office Duties: Some reaching required while changing into uniform, reaching for office supplies across a table.  Reaching is not normally required for distances over three feet.

Twisting:

Patrol Duties:  Twisting will be required under emergency/arrest conditions.  Measurement of the degree is not possible to quantify.  Twisting in the patrol vehicle is 45% to one side or the other as well as some twisting is involved in entering/leaving vehicle.

Office Duties:  Twisting is required sitting at a table or desk as officer reaches for the phone or paper.  Twisting in this environment is 45% to one side or the other.

Climbing – Height:

Patrol Duties:  On/over various building surfaces, fences, walls (approximately 6 feet high), etc.  Climbing stairs between building levels common part of daily routine; slope/number of steps varies, dependent on situation.  May be under emergency conditions.

Office Duties:  Minimal exposure to this activity.

Crawling:

Patrol Duties:  May be required in emergency situations. Surfaces may vary, inside/outside environments.  Distance normally limited to less than ten feet.

Running:

Patrol Duties:  Running may be required for short distances.

Hearing:

Patrol Duties:  Officer must have hearing sufficient (unaided or aided) to perform essential hearing tasks without posing a direct threat to officer or others.  Essential hearing tasks include, but are not limited to: discerning and distinguishing spoken words and speech from ambient background noise, such as highway traffic, sirens, “crowd noise”, et cetera; being able to determine from which direction speech or noise is coming from.  If amplification devices are used, they must be of the type that prevents further hearing loss but also allows the officer to perform essential hearing tasks.

Vision:

Patrol Duties:  Officer must have vision sufficient (unaided or aided) to perform essential sight tasks without posing a direct threat to officer or others.  “Vision” includes color discrimination, peripheral vision, depth perception, and either uncorrected or corrected visual acuity in both eyes.  Essential vision tasks include, but are not limited to: day and nighttime driving, use of tools, observing activity around officer, reading documents, and issuing citations.  

Voice:

Patrol Duties:  Officer must have voice sufficient (unaided or aided) to perform essential speaking tasks without posing a direct threat to officer or others.  Essential voice tasks include, but are not limited to: use of voice commands to project control and direct action.  

Environment:

Outside 30% of the work day (including in vehicle), 70% indoors.

Hazards:

Patrol Duties:  Variety of environments including noise, fumes, dust, traffic, et cetera.  Extensive motor vehicle operation.  Subject to assault, vicious animals, and combative persons.  

Equipment/Tools:

Patrol Duties:  Operates motor vehicle under regular conditions, including two-way radio.  Uses hand tools to effect apprehension of animals, including, baton, pepper spray, and flashlight.  

Office Duties:  Normal office tools/equipment (i.e. copier, fax machine, computer terminal, phone, and small desk tools).

Products/Materials:

Patrol Duties:  Medical supplies, pepper spray, cleaning supplies, and any other material used in the workplace.

Office Duties:  Paper, glue, copier toner, and other common office products.

Additional Demands:

Subject to varying levels of stress in accordance with type of assignment.

Minimum Education, Certification, and Experience Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required.   One year related experience preferred.   Basic certification by the Texas Department of Health and must be certified in euthanasia training by 120^th day of full-time employment.  Valid State of Texas driver's license with a good driving record