Animal Control Officer

Performs field work as a deputized Animal Control Officer.  Captures and impounds unlicensed, stray and uncontrolled animals.  Enforces animal licensing statutes and regulations, statutes and regulations governing the importation and ownership of exotic animals, and animal cruelty statutes and regulations.
 
Work is performed under general supervision with reasonable latitude for independent judgment and discretion.The essential functions of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Captures and impounds unlicensed, stray and uncontrolled animals.
• Removes and/or receives pet animals for which owners no longer wish to be responsible.
• Conducts door-to-door surveys of animal licenses to enforce animal licensing statutes and ordinances.
• Inspects animal kennels for compliance with health, sanitation, space and other standards and enforces licensing regulations.
• Investigates complaints with respect to neglect of and cruelty to animals and issues court appearance tickets for violations of Michigan animal cruelty statutes.
• Issues civil citations for violations of County animal control regulations.
• Investigates complaints with respect to vicious and diseased animals.
• Collects evidence with respect to alleged violations of county and state animal control and anti-cruelty regulations.
• Investigates reported animal bites and captures, impounds and quarantines biting animals in accordance with Animal Control policies and procedures.
• Investigates complaints of animal attacks on domestic livestock.
• Presents educational programs on pet ownership, animal control and bite prevention to the community.
• Performs related work as required.

High school diploma or GED.  Successful completion of 100 hours of instruction required by the State of Michigan within 12 months of the date of hire.
 
Licenses and Certifications: 
Valid, unrestricted State of Michigan motor vehicle operator's permit.The qualified candidate will have the following knowledge and skills: 

• Familiarity with municipal and township boundaries, unincorporated areas, and the network of surface roads and streets in Ottawa County.
• Working knowledge of state statutes and County ordinances and regulations with respect to animal ownership and licensing, importation and ownership of exotic animals, and neglect of and cruelty to animals.
• Working knowledge of safe and humane practices for capturing, restraining and transporting animals.
• Working knowledge of accepted practices for proper animal care.
• Working knowledge of the proper use of animals traps, ring poles, cages and other implements used to capture and restrain animals.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to interact positively with animal owners and members of the general public from a wide range of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.

Physical Requirements: 

• Must possess sufficient strength and mobility to pursue, capture, restrain and carry animals weighing up to 40 lbs; load and unload cages from vehicles; and place animals in, and remove animals from, cages and other restraints.
• Must have sufficient manual dexterity to operate traps and ringpoles and safely maneuver animals.
• Must have sufficient hearing acuity with or without audiological appliances to receive dispatches and other information communicated by two-way radio.
• Must have sufficient visual acuity with or without corrective lenses to visually locate and identify animals.
• Must be able to tolerate exposure to inclement weather conditions ranging from heat and high humidity to extreme cold, high winds and heavy precipitation.
• Must be free of any allergic reactions to animals.
• Must be able to wear any protective clothing and equipment that may be required.

 
Working Conditions: 
A significant portion of the workload is performed outdoors and entails exposure to the full range of seasonal inclement weather conditions.  Essential job functions require frequent contact with domestic and wild animals of unknown temperament, with risk of personal injury and exposure to a variety of zoonotic disease vectors and bloodborne pathogens.

Salary : $22 - $28