What are the responsibilities and job description for the Animal Control position at Wilson County Government?
Wilson County, Tennessee
Classification Specification
Pay: $18.80 per hour
40 hour/full time employee
| CLASSIFICATION TITLE: | ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER |
| FLSA STATUS: | NON-EXEMPT |
PURPOSE OF CLASSIFICATION
The purpose of this classification is to perform general/specialized work associated with providing effective and efficient animal control. Duties and responsibilities include enforcing animal control ordinances and regulations, responding to complaints involving animals, trapping/capturing animals, picking up injured or stray animals, investigating cases of animal bites or animal abuse, performing euthanasia of animals, answering telephone calls and dispatching staff, completing forms and maintaining records, and providing information and assistance. Reports to Animal Control Director.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.
An officer will be available on- call for after- hours request of Law Enforcement and emergency calls from the community. The on-call officer will be assigned a cell phone for emergency contact.
Enforces the provisions of all applicable animal control ordinances, codes, laws, and regulations; initiates any actions necessary to correct deviations or violations; issues warning notices, and citations as appropriate.
Follows safety procedures, utilizes safety equipment, and monitors work environment to ensure safety of employees and other individuals.
Responds to and investigates incoming calls concerning various animal issues, such as animal bites, potential animal cruelty/abuse, animals in distress, stray/nuisance animals, animals, sick/injured animals, animal behavior problems, or animal control laws.
Provides information and assistance to the public.
Prepares bite notification, bite reports, and other related forms as well as performs follow-up as needed.
Patrols county roads to locate and pick up stray animals; assists animals in problem situations; traps/captures domestic, wild, dangerous, aggressive, or injured animals; sets and monitors animal traps; loads/unloads animals into/out of cages; transports animals to animal shelter, veterinarians, or other locations.
Handles, lifts, and carries animals, restraining as appropriate; handles frightened, fractious, and injured animals; checks animals for current license tags and for signs of rabies, disease, or other illnesses; checks animals into animal shelter.
Cleans and disinfects animal runs, kennels, cages, receiving areas, holding areas and laundry to ensure the health and well being of the animal population.
Feeds and waters all animals in shelter.
Performs euthanasia of animals.
Prepares and forwards laboratory specimens for rabies testing or other testing as well as reviews laboratory reports.
Provides training, guidance, and assistance to co-workers, volunteers, public service workers, or others as appropriate.
Operates various machinery, equipment, and tools associated with animal control activities, which may include an animal control truck, animal restraint equipment, animal traps, catch poles, nets, tranquilizing equipment, mechanical tools, or radio communications equipment.
Performs general/preventive maintenance tasks necessary to keep animal control vehicles, equipment and tools in clean and operable condition, which may include inspecting equipment, refueling vehicles, checking/replacing fluids, greasing equipment, washing/cleaning truck/equipment, or cleaning work areas; monitors equipment operations to maintain efficiency and safety; reports faulty equipment.
Monitors inventory levels of department equipment, tools, and supplies; ensures availability of adequate materials to conduct work activities; initiates requests for new/replacement items.
Prepares or completes various forms, reports, correspondence, logs, citations, or other documents.
Receives various forms, reports, correspondence, animal complaints, laboratory reports, policies, procedures, laws, codes, ordinances, maps, manuals, reference materials, or other documentation; reviews, completes, processes, forwards or retains as appropriate.
Assists with office activities as needed, which may include dispatching staff members in response to calls, processing animal adoptions, issuing/processing citations, and handling money from adoptions.
Communicates with supervisor, employees, other departments, law enforcement personnel, other animal control agencies, veterinarians, the public, community organizations, lawyers, judges, and other individuals as needed to coordinate work activities, review status of work, exchange information, or resolve problems.
Records/relays messages or directs calls to appropriate personnel.
Provides information and education to the public concerning animal control issues, ordinances, humane treatment of animals, animal behavior problems, or related issues.
Maintains a current knowledge and awareness of applicable laws, codes, and ordinances; maintains an awareness of new procedures, trends, and advances in the profession.
Works under the supervision of Animal Control Director who defines overall objectives and priorities of the work.
Expected to perform their assigned duties in a timely manner, which inspires confidence from the public, other employees and the County; conducting yourself in a professional and courteous manner at all times.
Strong public relation skills, working to educate the public on laws and ordnances pertaining to animals.
Set a professional example when faced with confrontation, always be fair and firm when necessary, offering suggestions and solutions.
Maintain all vehicles and equipment clean and properly sanitized. Preventive maintenance on all vehicles and equipment should be completed in a timely manner in accordance with manufactures guidelines. Any mechanical problems should be reported immediately.
All equipment used in the field by officers will be kept in proper working condition at all times. Any equipment that is damaged or not working is to be reported immediately.
Maintain up to date knowledge of Animal Control guidelines for impoundment of all types of animals such as but not limited to stray animals, animals with owners, animals that bite, suspected rabid animals, suspected fighting animals and suspected animal cruelty cases.
Serve as the primary responder and investigator in the event of animal bite complaints, obtaining as much information as possible to accurately complete an animal bite report.
All officers assigned to the field are responsible for accurately completing and submitting an Officer Daily Report (ODR) form before the end of every shift. It is imperative that all required information is logging in the proper area and any action taken be recorded.
ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS
May deal with investigations for livestock animals.
Provides assistance to other animal care employees or departments as needed.
Performs other related duties as required.
Follows all guidelines set forth in the Animal Control Standard Operating Procedures.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
High school diploma or GED; supplemented by 2 months previous experience and/or training involving animal control or animal handling; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job. Must possess and maintain a valid Tennessee driver’s license. Must possess and maintain valid Euthanasia Certification. Must possess experience and knowledge in determining animal condition and health and has the ability to handle situations in a professional/tactful manner. Must also possess time management skills, including the capability to work productively in fast-paced environment, keep focus on several tasks at once, and be prepared for interruptions when needed to attend to more crucial matters. Must be able to effectively communicate knowledge and information to a non-technical audience. Must possess basic computer skills, including but not limited to word processing, email, and Internet.
PERFORMANCE APTITUDES
Data Utilization: Requires the ability to calculate and/or tabulate data. Includes performing subsequent actions in relation to these computational operations.
Human Interaction: Requires the ability to provide guidance, assistance, and/or interpretation to others regarding the application of procedures and standards to specific situations.
Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization: Requires the ability to operate and control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools and/or materials requiring complex and rapid adjustments.
Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, and/or advisory data and information.
Mathematical Aptitude: Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; the ability to calculate decimals and percentages; the ability to utilize principles of fractions; and the ability to interpret graphs.
Functional Reasoning: Requires the ability to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagrammatic form. Involves semi-routine standardized work with some latitude for independent judgment concerning choices of action.
Situational Reasoning: Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria, as opposed to that which is clearly measurable or verifiable.
ADA COMPLIANCE/PHYSICAL DEMANDS ANALYSIS
Physical Ability: Tasks require the regular and, at times, sustained performance of moderately physically demanding work, typically involving some combination of climbing and balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and crawling, and that may involve the lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling of moderately heavy objects and materials (20-50 pounds); may occasionally involve heavier objects and materials (up to 150 pounds).
Sensory Requirements: Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors, sounds, odor, depth, texture, and visual cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.
Environmental Factors: Performance of essential functions may require exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as dirt, dust, pollen, odors, wetness, humidity, rain, fumes, temperature and noise extremes, machinery, vibrations, traffic hazards, bright/dim light, toxic agents, violence, disease, pathogenic substances, animal/wildlife attacks, or animal bites.
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Wilson County, Tennessee, is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
Salary : $19
