Animal Control Officer

The City of Gulfport; Gulfport (MS); On-site; USD 26,957 - 36,403; Full time

Job summary

The City of Gulfport seeks an Animal Control Officer within the Police Department to enforce animal ordinances, handle stray animals, and respond to complaints while protecting life and property.

The role requires a high school diploma or equivalent, considerable experience in animal care, and a valid Mississippi driver's license; the officer will work in the field with varying weather, sometimes under hazardous conditions.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent with experience in animal care.
• Knowledge of animal welfare laws and local ordinances.
• Ability to work independently in field operations.

Responsibilities

• Patrol city areas in a radio-equipped vehicle to manage humane care of animals.
• Answer complaints, apprehend and impound stray animals using equipment.
• Dispose of dead or injured animals and inspect vaccination records.
• Investigate abusive treatment and enforce animal ordinances.
• Inform the public about city animal regulations.

Skills

Animal handling

Public interaction

Hazard assessment

Reading animal behavior

Legal knowledge (animal welfare)

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Animal Control Officer

Department: Police

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Annual Salary: $31,654.84

Per Mississippi State Statute 21-31-63: Any applicant for a position of any kind under civil service must be a citizen of the United States and an elector of the county in which he resides and must meet only such bona fide occupational residency requirements as may be determined by the civil service commission or the governing authority of the municipality.

Position Overview

The Animal Control Officer answers complaints and the enforcement of Ordinances which regulate the keeping of small animals in the protection of life and property in apprehending, impounding and caring for stray animals. Work involves an element of danger and incumbent must be able to act without direct supervision and to exercise independent discretion in dealing with emergencies.

Essential Job Functions

• Patrols the entire area of the city in a radio-equipped vehicle to preserve the practice of humane care and handling of all animals.
• Answers complaints regarding animals; apprehends and impounds stray animals using tranquilizing gun or animal control pole.
• Picks up and disposes of dead or injured animals.
• Lodges animals in pound or in a licensed veterinary hospital when observation is indicated in animal-bite cases.
• Destroys dangerous animals in the field using firearms; preserves, packs and forwards brain of suspected rabid animals to regional laboratory for testing.
• Inspects vaccination certificates; and, investigates complaints concerning abusive treatment of animals and non-compliance with animal ordinances; informs the general public of city ordinances dealing with animals.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Must possesses required knowledge, skills, abilities and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Considerable knowledge for the care and the handling of animals.
• Knowledge of Mississippi State Law on animal welfare; knowledge of the leash-law within the municipality, as well as the City's Ordinance which regulate the keeping of small animals within the city limits.
• Ability to analyze situations quickly and objectively, to determine proper course of action to be taken with due regard to surrounding hazards and circumstances.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions, to meet, talk and deal effectively with the public and to cope with situations firmly, courteously, tactfully and with respect for the rights of others.
• Skills to read body signs of animals and how to handle scared injured and aggressive animals.

Education and Experience

High school graduate or acceptable equivalent, with considerable experience in the control and care of animals, and on-the-job training as necessitated by work assignments.

Licenses or Certificates

Must possess a valid Mississippi Driver's License

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

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.

Physical requirements include occasional lifting/carrying of 50+ pounds; visual acuity, speech and hearing; hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate equipment. Subject to sitting, standing, reaching, walking, twisting and kneeling to perform the essential functions. Working conditions are both indoors and outdoors.