Animal Control Officer

Position Summary

The Bozeman Police Department is now accepting applications for a dedicated and compassionate Animal Control Officer who will enforce state and municipal animal control laws and investigate animal-related incidents while ensuring the safety of both animals and the community.

This is your opportunity to make a meaningful difference in your community by joining the City of Bozeman! You will be part of a passionate team driving positive change while enjoying a fantastic benefits package. Full-time City of Bozeman employees receive top-tier benefits including 15 vacation days, 12 sick days, 12 holidays, 8 weeks of paid parental leave, bilingual pay, excellent retirement options, comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans, discounted ski tickets and gym memberships, and much more!

• Patrols areas within the jurisdiction of the Bozeman Police Department proactively, driving a vehicle, riding a bicycle, and walking on sometimes uneven terrain (trails, etc.), enforcing State codes and municipal ordinances;
• Responds to and investigates complaints of stray, sick, injured, nuisance, or dangerous animals, capturing and/or impounding nuisance, dangerous, or stray animals;
• Captures sick or injured animals and makes or assists in making arrangements for appropriate care of the animal;
• Keeps and maintains accurate investigative material on all related cases;
• Issues and serves citations for violations of State and municipal animal control codes;
• Delivers and instructs citizens in the proper use of animal traps;
• Completes dog kennel and chicken house inspections in accordance with City procedures, guidelines and related laws;
• Testifies and presents evidence in court cases, hearings, or city commission meetings;
• Participates in serving subpoenas for court cases or hearings;
• Completes and verifies all necessary documentation and paperwork;
• Responds to questions and concerns from the public;
• Maintains assigned equipment;
• Coordinates efforts with veterinarians and/or animal shelters, including attending meetings, adjusting animal handling procedures, and preparing related reports when necessary;
• Collects found property and assists in the location of an owner for the found property;
• Assists in the sale or disposal of unclaimed property;
• Provides needed information, training, and demonstrations concerning how to perform related work tasks to current and new employees;
• Keeps immediate supervisor and designated others accurately informed concerning work progress, including present and potential work problems and suggestions for new or improved ways of addressing such problems;
• Attends meetings, conferences, workshops, and training sessions and reviews publications and audio-visual materials to become and remain current on principles, practices, and new developments in assigned work areas;
• Responds to citizens’ questions or complaints in a courteous and timely manner;
• Communicates and coordinates regularly with others to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of interdepartmental operations and activities;
• Performs other duties consistent with the role and function of this classification.

Minimum Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED; and
• Some (1-3 years) experience working with animals, customer service and public contact; or
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the work.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Substantial knowledge of local and agency policies and procedures;
• Substantial knowledge of State, County, and City rules and regulations governing the performance of job duties;
• Substantial knowledge of animal care, behavior, and personality characteristics;
• Substantial knowledge of investigative techniques and resources;
• Substantial knowledge of legal issues and documents involved in animal control cases;
• Substantial knowledge of safety policies and procedures involved in pet care;
• Substantial knowledge of local geography;
• Ability to recognize signs of disease, abuse, or extreme distress in animals and notice details relevant to establishing the facts of a case;
• Ability to use a tranquilizer gun without harm to self, animals or other people including accurately estimating the weight of the animal to be tranquilized and communicating with veterinarians when necessary to determine appropriate dosage;
• Ability to catch, transport, and restrain animals and release them from traps without harm to self, animals, or other people;
• Ability to recognize and handle biohazards;
• Ability to effectively testify and present evidence in court;
• Ability to effectively interview and interrogate people;
• Ability to effectively coordinate animal care services with veterinarians when necessary;
• Ability to effectively represent agency services to others;
• Ability to effectively use designated equipment;
• Ability to drive safely;
• Ability to communicate effectively with others, both orally and in writing;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisors, other employees, and the general public;
• Ability to deal with a wide range of persons, including situations in which individuals may be upset over some issue involved with City activities and policies;
• Ability to maintain a calm and controlled demeanor and take appropriate action in contentious situations;
• Ability to exercise good judgment, flexibility, creativity, and sensitivity in response to changing needs and situations;
• Ability to carry and demonstrate proper use of assigned defensive tools;
• Ability to communicate effectively with others, both orally and in writing, using both technical and non-technical language;
• Ability to understand and follow oral and/or written policies, procedures, and instructions;
• Ability to prepare and present accurate and reliable reports containing findings and recommendations;
• Ability to operate a personal computer using standard or customized software applications appropriate to assigned tasks;
• Ability to use logical and creative thought processes to develop solutions according to written specifications and/or oral instructions;
• Ability to perform a wide variety of duties and responsibilities with accuracy and speed under the pressure of time-sensitive deadlines;
• Ability and willingness to quickly learn and put to use new skills and knowledge brought about by rapidly changing information and/or technology;
• Ingenuity and inventiveness in the performance of assigned tasks;
• Consistently performs assignments in accordance with the City’s Core Values of Integrity, Leadership, Service and Teamwork.

Required Special Qualifications

• Must possess a valid Class D Driver’s License and obtain a Montana Driver’s License within 60 days of employment;
• Completion of CJIN/NCIC certification within 180 days of employment;
• Good moral character as defined by the Department’s established regulations;
• As a condition of continued employment, must possess and retain ability to provide credible testimony in court;
• Offers for employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of the conditional offer process.