Animal Control Officer

Performs animal control work for the County. Patrols assigned area of the County to enforce animal control ordinances and related laws, rules, and regulations regarding domestic animals.

• Enforces County Animal Regulations and State Laws including, but not limited to, cruelty to animals, dangerous/vicious animals, and animal bites, including dogs, cats, livestock, and fowl.
• Patrols assigned County areas, contains and picks-up stray, sick/injured, feral, and/or unwanted and captured domestic animals, transporting them to appropriate destination.
• Picks up stray, injured, sick, feral, and unwanted domestic animals. Enforces County regulations and state laws, cruelty to animals. Performs emergency animal rescue and emergency night calls. Picks up or confines dangerous vicious domestic and/or wildlife.
• Performs emergency animal rescue service, emergency night call service, and animal first aid when required.
• Serves and responds to court and Animal Control Board summonses as necessary and represents County at court and Animal Control Board hearings. 
• Maintains required telecommunications contact.
• Sets traps to capture evasive domestic animals.
• Educates the public on proper animal care, wildlife problems, and animal control regulations.
• Issues warnings/citations to animal owners found in violation of animal regulations.
• Prepares and maintains necessary reports and records.
• Performs routine vehicle and equipment maintenance.
• Tranquilizes dangerous/vicious animals in a safe humane manner as authorized by supervisor.
• Destroys dangerous/vicious animals in a safe humane manner as authorized by supervisor.
• Responds to and investigates complaints from citizens concerning domestic animals.
• Educates the public on proper animal care and wildlife problems. 
• Responds to dangerous/vicious calls. 
• Prepares and maintain necessary reports and paperwork. 
• Responds to and investigates complaints from citizens concerning domestic animals, bite investigations, pet shop, grooming, boarding, kennel inspections. Issue warning and citation on to animal owner found in violation of animal regulation. 
• Picks up stray, injured, sick, feral unwanted and captured domestic animals. Performs emergency animal rescue services, emergency night calls services and animal first aid when required. 
• Serves and responds to court and animal matter hearing board summonses as necessary and represents County at court and animals matters hearing board, cruelty to animals including dog. cats, livestock, and fowl.
• Performs other related job duties as assigned. 

Education and Experience:
High school diploma or acceptable equivalency diploma (GED). Two (2) years of progressively responsible experience working with animals; or an equivalent combination of education, experience, and training.

Licenses or Certifications:
A valid driver's license.
Emergency vehicle operator’s certificate must be obtained during the first year probationary period.  

Special Requirements/Qualifications:
PLEASE NOTE:   THIS IS A SAFETY SENSITIVE POSITION, AND EMPLOYEES IN THIS POSITION ARE SUBJECT TO RANDOM DRUG AND ALCOHOL SCREENING. Selected applicant’s continued employment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation conducted during the probationary period. Applicant must be eligible to be commissioned as a Peace Officer/Constable in the State of Maryland. Subject to emergency callback.
Subject to work beyond normal scheduled hours, weekends, and holidays.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• Knowledge of the purposes and methods of animal control programs.
• Knowledge of effective methods of controlling and containment of domestic animals.
• Knowledge of legal procedures.
• Ability to perform animal control duties efficiently.
• Ability to control/capture domestic animals in sometimes adverse conditions.
• Ability to work independently and make independent judgement.
• Ability to communicate properly both orally and written.
• Ability to handle animals safely and effectively.
• Ability to deal courteously with the public.
• Ability to operate vehicle safely.
• Ability to carry out daily assignments, follow through on matters and use independent judgment and training to take appropriate action to deal with standard recurring situations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work is sedentary with frequent periods of heavy exertion, and is performed in office, field settings and outside in varying weather conditions.  Typical positions require workers to walk or stand for long periods; lift and carry up to 100 pounds; climb stairs, ladders, and scaffolding; bend, kneel, run, crouch and crawl; reach, hold, grasp, and turn objects; feel the size, shape, and temperature of items; and use fingers to operate computer or typewriter keyboards; and requires the ability to speak normally, to use normal or aided vision and hearing, and to detect odors.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Worker is continuously exposed to chemicals, zoonotic diseases, and subject to injuries at any given time.

Department/Division:      Department of Emergency Services/Animal Control

Pay Grade:                         111 

FLSA Status:                      Non-Exempt

Telework Eligible:              No

Reports to:                         Animal Control Lieutenant

Supervises:                        None

Salary : $55,271 - $89,538