Animal Services Attendant

Identification

Current Title                           Animal Services Attendant                                     

Department                            Police

Immediate Supervisor          Animal Services Supervisor

FLSA Status                           Non-Exempt

Job Summary

Responsible for the cleaning, feeding, and overall care of the animals.  Also responsible for assisting citizens on the telephone and in person with animal services questions.  

Job Scope

No supervisory and budgetary responsibilities.

Essential Job Functions:

1.     Performs tasks related to the care and feeding of animals in the shelter.

2.     Provides customer service to Animal Services and patrons, both on the telephone and in person.

3.      Performs tasks related to clerical duties to include, but not limited to, record keeping, quarantine reports, and data entry.   

4.      Processes complaints from citizens.

5.      Prepares animals for adoption, surrender, and reclaiming.

6.      Performs radio dispatch for Animal Services Section, as needed.

7.      Transports animals to veterinarian for surgeries and/or medical attention.

8.      Performs tasks related to cleaning and maintaining the animal shelter.

9.      Obtains and maintains CJIS access.

10.    Performs related duties as assigned.

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

1.      Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws pertaining to Animal Services.  

2.      Ability to deal tactfully and effectively with the public.  

3.      Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees and the public.  

4.      Basic knowledge of animal behavior.

5.      Ability to physically handle domestic and wild animals.   

6.      Ability to read, understand, and adhere to City and Departmental rules and regulations.  

7.      Ability to clean shelter, including dog runs and cat cages.  

8.      Ability to lift and carry 50-pound bags of dog food and cat litter.  

9.      Ability to prepare and maintain accurate records.   

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

11.    Ability to testify in legal proceedings.

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

Physical Demands:

Standing/Walking:

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

Sitting:

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.  Lifting does not normally require anything 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:

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:

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:

Office Duties:  Minimal exposure to this activity.

Hearing:

Office Duties:  Must have hearing sufficient (unaided or aided) to perform essential hearing tasks.  Essential hearing tasks include, but are not limited to: discerning and distinguishing spoken words and speech from ambient background noise.  If amplification devices are used, they must be of the type that prevents further hearing loss but also allows the employee to perform essential hearing tasks.

Vision:

Office Duties:   Must have vision sufficient (unaided or aided) to perform essential sight tasks. 

Voice:

Office Duties:  Employee must have voice sufficient (unaided or aided) to perform essential speaking tasks. 

Environment:

Virtually all of the work day is indoors with rare instances of driving to locations.

Hazards:

Motor vehicle operation.  Exposed to moving traffic control situations.  

Office Duties:  Normal office environment.

Equipment/Tools:

Rare operation of motor vehicle under regular conditions.  

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

Products/Materials:

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

Additional Demands:

Subject to varying levels of stress in accordance with interaction with peers and others in office environment.

Minimum Education, Certification, and Experience Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent is required.   Experience and training in working with animals is preferred.  Basic certification by the Texas Department of Health.  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.