Animal Welfare Officer - Animal Control – Animal Services Department

Close Date: April 16, 2025

This class enforces State and local animal control laws and ordinances, investigates violation complaints, assists the public with varied requests, and ensures the humane handling and treatment of animals to be impounded.

This a "mandatory-testing position" that requires Drug Testing.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Responds to and investigates animal nuisance complaints or other violations of the animal control ordinances and laws, including processing and prioritizing complaints received via phone, fax, or e-mail

Receives and responds to animal control dispatch instructions and investigates complaints of animals roaming, nuisances, cruelty, dog bites, and/or other violations of animal control laws and ordinances for the County and applicable cities

Assists the public by providing information regarding responsible pet ownership

Prepares and maintains records and statistics; creates records of investigation and gathers evidence and information for use in court

Captures, handles, and transports stray, sick, injured, diseased, vicious, feral, domesticated, wild, and exotic animals; removes and disposes of deceased animals

Maintains County vehicles and animal control equipment

Responds to and assists law enforcement with requests to help with evictions, impounds, neglected, mistreated, and abandoned animals; prepares and presents cases in court

Performs other duties of a similar nature or level

TYPICAL QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Qualification Requirements:

Training and Experience:

High School Diploma or Equivalent (G.E.D.) and one year experience dealing directly with the public in a public setting; or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.

Experience in animal care and handling or law enforcement preferred.

Licenses and Certifications:

Must possess a valid driver's license from state of residence

Florida Animal Control Officer Certification

Successful Completion of Escambia Animal Welfare Officer Training program

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience in animal care and handling or law enforcement

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics (KSAO's):

animal behavior, handling, and husbandry principles and practices

zoonotic diseases

occupational hazards and safe work practices

customer service principles

applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, regulations, codes, and/or statutes

emergency disaster response principles and practices

applicable animal capture equipment

hazardous materials handling procedures

providing customer service

interpreting and applying applicable laws, rules, and regulations

handling animals

responding to emergency disasters

repairing and maintaining animal capture equipment

communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

County-wide Employee Responsibilities:

All Escambia County BCC employees must serve the public and fellow employees with honesty and integrity in full accord with the letter and spirit of Escambia County BCC's Employee Code of Ethics, gift, and conflict of interest policies.

All Escambia County BCC employees must establish and maintain effective working relationships with the general public, co-workers, elected and appointed officials and members of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, political affiliation, familial status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, or gender identity and expression.

Emergency Management Responsibilities:

During emergency conditions, the incumbent of this position will automatically be considered an emergency service worker. This employee is subject to being called to work in the event of a disaster, such as a hurricane, or other emergency situation and is expected to perform emergency service duties, as assigned.

Physical Requirements:

Positions in this class typically require balancing, stooping, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pulling, lifting, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing, finger and hand dexterity as well as repetitive motions.

Very Heavy Work: Exerting in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Incumbents may be subjected to extreme temperatures, intense noises and travel.

Benefits/Compensation Package:

• Medical / Dental / Vision plans

• Prescription coverage

• Employee health clinic

• Employee fitness centers

• Employer-sponsored retirement plan or an investment plan

• Deferred Compensation Plan

• Flexible Spending Account(s)

• Employee Assistance Program

• Annual/Sick Leave or Paid Time Off (PTO)

• Group Life Insurance