Animal Control Officer

The Animal Control Officer plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety of both the community and animals. This work involves the administration and overall enforcement of statutes and ordinances pertaining to dogs and handling general animal complaints.

Duties include response to complaints of sick, injured or vicious dogs, or other animal nuisances, removal of dogs or other wild animals.  This position is also responsible for making difficult public safety decisions regarding the handling of animal complaints.  Work requires considerable knowledge, skill and ability in animal care and in dealing effectively with the public.

Qualifications:

·         Graduation from high school or an equivalency certificate

·         Must have a valid driver's license.

·         Considerable knowledge of dog and domestic animal care and handling. 

·         Will be trained in state and local dog control laws and related ordinances. 

·         Good knowledge of township geography.

·         Considerable skill in handling vicious, diseased or uncooperative dogs and other animals.

·         Considerable ability to establish effective working relationships with superiors, co-workers, the

          veterinary community and the public.

·         Good ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing.

·         Knowledge of Microsoft Office Word, Excel, and Outlook software programs for word

          processing, spreadsheet and electronic mail functions.

·         Must be able to successfully pass a drug and alcohol screening.

·         Must be able to successfully pass a background check, child abuse, and FBI fingerprint

          screening.

Essential Functions:

·         Make information available to citizens concerning animal laws and ordinances.

·         Responds to complaints concerning stray, lost, stolen, injured, mistreated or vicious animals. 

          Takes appropriate action including impoundment, investigation or public relations/education.

·         Drives a vehicle and patrols areas of the township.  Maintains vehicle and equipment. 

·         Enforces state and local animal control laws, including laws relating to wild animals, birds and

          fish.  Issues summons for infractions of laws.

·         Prepares quarantine notices for owners of diseased or suspect animals.  Assists in enforcing

          local health and housing ordinances relating to domestic animals.

·         Removes deceased animals from the township and disposes of them in a safe manner.

·         Ability to maneuver in wooded and rough terrain and climb over obstacles.

·         Removal of deceased deer and other animals from the roadway. 

·         Other duties as assigned.

Licenses, Registrations, or Certificates Required:

Valid Driver’s License

Physical Demands:

Frequent strenuous physical effort required; ability to lift and carry 50 to 100 pounds. Required to climb, bend, kneel, reach and squat frequently throughout a work shift. Frequent movement in and out of equipment and vehicles. Frequent use of hands and fingers to manipulate leashes/restraints and other tools required for this role.

Frequent movement in a variety of terrain, uneven surfaces, in all types of weather conditions.

Ability to use and wear personal protective equipment and clothing such as hearing protection, eye protection, foot and hand protection and respiratory protection.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Position involves a great deal of bending, squatting, kneeling, climbing, reaching, twisting, traversing varied terrain and uneven surfaces in all types of weather conditions.

Work occasionally involves responding to angry, frustrated or upset individuals.

Antidiscrimination Policy:

It is hereby declared to be the public policy of Haverford Township to foster the employment of all individuals in accordance with their fullest capacities regardless of their race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, handicap or disability, use of guide or support animals because of the blindness, deafness or physical handicap of the user or because the user is a handler or trainer of support or guide animals, or because of a person's sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

Salary : $24