Animal Control Officer

City of DeSoto; DeSoto (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

City of DeSoto is seeking an Animal Control Officer to perform responsible office work and fieldwork handling animal control operations, dispatching messages, and enforcing the City’s Animal Control ordinance. The role requires investigations, citations, and community education on responsible ownership.

Responsibilities include responding to animal-related reports, patrolling for violations, capturing and transporting animals, maintaining documentation, and supporting court proceedings when

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Two years of related work experience in animal control or related field.
• Or equivalent training, education, and/or experience.
• Valid Driver’s License.
• Valid Texas Basic Animal Control Certification within a year of hire.
• Valid Euthanasia Certification within a year of hire.

Responsibilities

• Responds to reports concerning animal issues and citations.
• Interprets and enforces animal control regulations; conducts investigations; issues citations and maintains reports.
• Patrols city to locate stray animals; enforces ordinances; assists in problem situations.
• Captures/Imposes animals; loads into cages; transports to shelter or vet; relocates wildlife.
• Processes captured animals; checks for rabies; quarantines; prepares and maintains related documentation.
• Advises citizens on responsibility of animal ownership; explains regulations; processes complaints.
• Assists with preparing animal-related cases for arrest and trial; gathers evidence; may testify in court.
• Answers incoming calls; dispatches personnel via two-way radio; maintains note records.
• Participates in on-call rotation; responds after-hours; performs other duties.

Skills

City policies knowledge

Geography knowledge

Radio equipment operation

MS Office

Oral & written communication

Regulations enforcement

Animal handling skills

Animal breeds & wildlife ID

Problem solving resourcefulness

Prioritization & deadlines

Vehicle operation

Working independently

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

2 years related experience

Equival... training/education/experience

Valid Driver’s License

Texas Basic Animal Control Certification within 1 year

Euthanasia Certification within 1 year

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Our Core Values

We LOVE DeSoto

• L- We lift up our community
• O- We take ownership of our collective performance
• V- We value and respect all employees
• E- We empower employees to grow

The purpose of this position is to perform responsible office work and fieldwork involving the reception and transmission of radio and telephone messages, the apprehension of stray animals, and the enforcement of the City’s Animal Control ordinance. Work involves accurate and efficient receipt, routing, and dispatching of information via two-way radios; investigating complaints, issuing warnings, citations and summons for violations; advising citizens on the responsibility of animal ownership; investigation of animal related complaints; and animal impoundment. Work calls for the ability to apply standard communication procedures and operating methods in receiving and dispatching messages and personnel under normal circumstances and requires the exercise of mature judgment and initiative.

• Responds to reports concerning various animal issues, such as animal bites, potential animal cruelty and abuse, animals in distress, stray and nuisance animals, barking dogs, wild and dangerous animals, sick and injured animals, animal behavior problems, or animal control laws;
• Interprets and enforces animal control ordinances and codes; provides information and answers questions; conducts investigations; conducts investigations and interviews; issues citations and violations; and maintains detailed reports of enforcement activities;
• Patrols City to locate and pick up stray animals and to look for animal control violations; enforces animal related ordinances; and assists animals in problem situations;
• Captures/Impounds domestic, wild, dangerous, or aggressive animals; sets animal traps; loads animals into cages; transports animals to animal shelter, veterinarian offices, or other locations; relocates displaced wildlife; removes dead animals from roads; and assists law enforcement by removing animals from accident scenes or crime scenes;
• Processes captured animals and animals removed from homes or dangerous situations; checks animals for signs of rabies, disease, or other illnesses; quarantines exposed animals; assigns and transports animals to shelter; and prepares and maintains all related documentation;
• Advises and educates citizens of the responsibility of animal ownership; explains animal control regulations; and advises citizens on proper procedures for processing complaints, licensing, and other animal control issues;
• Assists with preparing animal-related cases for arrest and trial; gathers and collects evidence; and appears in court and provides testimony as needed;
• Conducts preliminary investigations on cruelty and animal neglect complaints; makes reports to proper agencies; and works closely with other humane and law enforcement agencies on incidents involving animals;
• Answers incoming calls from the public, department personnel, and others: takes accurate notes of needed service; determines nature and priority of calls; and contact emergency response department when necessary;
• Dispatches personnel to pertinent locations: operates two-way radio or console; relays and confirms information, instructions and directives; monitors activities of field employees, maintaining awareness of their location; and follows up with callers as needed;
• Participates in the on-call rotation as scheduled to include weekdays, weekends and holidays; responds as needed after-hours; and
• Performs other assigned duties.

• High school diploma or equivalent;
• Two (2) years of related work experience in animal control or related field;
• Or equivalent training, education, and/or experience; and
• Valid Driver’s License;
• Valid Texas Basic Animal Control Certification within a year of hire;
• Valid Euthanasia Certification within a year of hire

• Knowledge of City policies and procedures;
• Knowledge of the geography of the area;
• Knowledge of the efficient operation of radio receiving and transmitting equipment;
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
• Skill in communicating effectively both orally and in writing; and
• Ability to interpret and enforce animal control regulations and codes with firmness, tact, and impartiality;
• Ability and strength to control animals and perform daily assignments;
• Ability to demonstrate the use of all animal control equipment;
• Ability to identify animal breeds and wildlife;
• Ability to make recommendations and to use resourcefulness and tact in solving new problems;
• Ability to ascertain priorities and meet deadlines and objectives;
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle;
• Ability to establish and maintain working