Animal Welfare and Rescue Officer

Animal Welfare & Rescue Officer I pay range: min. $18.99 – max. $26.58

Animal Welfare & Rescue Officer II pay range: min. $19.75 – max. $27.66 

What we’re looking for: A driven and collaborative individual to join the City of New Braunfels Neighborhood Services Division in the Planning and Development Department. Under general supervision, coordinates and performs a variety of Animal Welfare & Rescue functions for the New Braunfels Animal Welfare & Rescue Division; enforces animal control laws; patrols for stray or injured animals, responds to citizen complaints, and investigates animal concerns; impounds unrestrained and/or nuisance animals; quarantines rabies and/or bite case animals; handles aggressive animals for the health and safety of the public; provides animal aid and euthanasia; performs wildlife control including removing trapped, injured, or dead wild animals; responds to after hour calls during on call shift schedule; Assists law enforcement personnel in transporting/impounding animals under certain circumstances, and conducts other related duties as assigned. 

Benefits & Total Rewards:
Our City team members are our most valuable asset! We offer Total Rewards when you join our team.

• Competitive medical, dental and vision insurance
• 2:1 match on retirement contribution
• Paid volunteer time off – 16 hours per year
• Vacation accrual starts at date of hire – up to 120 hours annually your first year
• Get paid to stay – longevity pay on top of your regular pay after one full year 
• Tuition reimbursement program
• Bilingual pay offered
• Keep learning – professional and personal development training available

The responsibilities you’ll be trusted with:
The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

• Enforces State and local animal control regulations, laws, and codes; ensures compliance with the Rabies Control Act, New Braunfels leash control laws, and applicable Texas Penal codes.
• Responds to and investigates public concerns and complaints involving animal welfare, animal cruelty, dog fighting, and animal bite cases.
• Impounds unrestrained and/or nuisance animals including dogs, cats, and livestock.
• Quarantines bite case animals; isolates animals with potential rabies exposure; reports all bite/rabies cases in accordance with regulatory requirements.
• Issues animal control citations; prepares and maintains case documentation; attends court proceedings involving animal control violations.
• Provides transport to injured animals; transports animals to veterinarians for medical treatment; may administer euthanasia as required.
• Removes, transports, and disposes of animal carcasses.
• Performs wildlife control duties including removing trapped, injured, or dead wild animals.
• Assists law enforcement personnel in transporting/impounding animals under certain circumstances.
• Prepares, updates, and maintains a variety of departmental records, reports, and logs.
• Performs other duties as assigned or required and engages in special projects and activities as needed.

Animal Welfare & Rescue Officer II Additional Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
Animal Welfare & Rescue Officer II is responsible for providing field and technical training and support, providing input for employee performance evaluation processes to the Senior Officer and performs administrative functions as needed. Assist Senior Officer with field assignments, monitors field activities and reassign officers as needed. Participates in public presentations; assures resolution of customer concerns and complaints; reviews and maintains accurate records and prepares a variety of reports.

• Assists in inspection program of commercial animal establishments, including pet shop and grooming facilities and monitors for regulatory compliance.
• Responds to animal welfare inquiries and participates in educating the public regarding animal safety/care and bite prevention; delivers school presentations.
• Assists and monitors animal welfare officer’s enforcement actions, including cruelty case investigations, search & seizure warrant processes and evidence documentation.
• Monitors quarantine activities for bite/exposure cases; ensures isolation or testing of animals with potential rabies exposure; ensures reports are produced in accordance with regulatory requirements.
• Assist Senior Officer in training and evaluating Animal Welfare Officers and other staff as assigned. 

Your areas of knowledge and expertise that matter most for this role:
Education and Experience:

• High School Diploma or equivalent and at least six (6) months to one (1) year of animal care/control experience or related field; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience. Bilingual (English / Spanish) skills beneficial but not required. 

Animal Welfare & Rescue Officer II - Five (5) years of direct animal care/control/welfare experience.
Required Licenses or Certifications:

• Basic Animal Control Officer certificationor must be able to obtain from the Texas Department of State Health Services within 6 months of employment. 
  1. Animal Welfare & Rescue Officer II must already have.
• Must be able to obtain Euthanasia Technician Certification issued by TXDSHS within 1 year of employment. 
  1. Animal Welfare & Rescue Officer II must already have.
• Must possess a valid Texas Driver’s License, with acceptable driving record.
• Animal Welfare & Rescue Officer II – Advanced Animal Control Officer certification.

Required Knowledge of:

• Principals of supervision and training.
• Department rules and regulations & principles and practices of animal welfare.
• State and local laws pertaining to animal control.
• Basic animal physiology and behavioral principles.
• Common zoonotic diseases.
• Techniques used in the capture and restraint of animals.
• Animal welfare equipment, tools, and documentation.
• Operating and maintaining a personal computer utilizing a variety of business software and communications equipment.

Required Skill in:

• Coordinating and performing a variety of animal control functions.
• Responding to public inquiries and complaints regarding animal welfare related matters.
• Conducting investigations and enforcing animal welfare laws.
• Capturing, restraining, impounding, quarantining, and providing basic first aid to animals.
• Educating the public regarding animal care/safety and bite prevention.
• Preparing and maintaining a variety of animal welfare records, reports, and documentation.
• Establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with City employees, officials, and representatives from other local, state and Federal agencies.
• Effective communication skills, both verbal and written for positive relationships with employees, citizens, and the general public.

Physical Demands / Work Environment:

• Work is performed primarily in the field and involves exposure to variable weather conditions, dangerous/vicious animals, infectious diseases, hazardous chemicals, euthanasia equipment, firearms, and potentially volatile members of the public.
• Subject to driving, sitting, standing, walking, bending, reaching, running, capturing animals; and must be able to safely pull, push, lift and carry objects up to one hundred (100) pounds. 
• Must be physically capable to receive pre-exposure prophylaxis vaccinations for applicable communicable disease exposures.
• Must be able to work weekdays, weekends and holidays on any assigned shift; must be able to work on-call and able to respond as needed within sixty (60) minutes. 
• May be required to work immediately before, during or immediately after an emergency or disaster.
• NOTE:  This position is designated safety and/or security sensitive.

Salary : $19 - $23