Animal Control Officer

National Police; Hobbs (NM); On-site; USD 30,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

National Police seeks an Animal Control Specialist to patrol areas, enforce animal regulations, and respond to cruelty and stray animal incidents. The role includes field investigations, transporting animals, and informing the public about municipal codes.

High school diploma or GED is required, plus 2 years of customer service or animal-handling experience. Valid driver’s license is required; certification goals include NACA training and euthanasia certification within one year of hire.

Qualifications

• Graduation from high school or GED equivalent.
• Minimum two years of experience in customer service, public relations, or handling of domestic animals.
• Valid state issued driver's license.
• Ability to obtain National Animal Control Association (NACA) training within one year of date of hire.
• Ability to obtain Euthanasia certification within one year of date of hire and maintain the certification throughout employment with Environmental Division.

Responsibilities

• Answers complaints concerning animals, conducts cruelty investigations and dangerous dog investigations, records and investigates; handles strays and unwanted animals.
• Identifies and handles wild or vicious animals and uses proper handling precautions.
• Investigates reports of potential rabies in wildlife and conducts testing as needed.
• Rescues, transports sick, injured, and dead animals.
• Provides information to the public regarding municipal codes and laws.
• May be asked to appear in court to testify regarding animal control cases and prepare narratives for court.

Skills

Customer service

Public relations

Animal handling

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Salary: $21.98 – $25.28 Hourly

Position Summary:

Patrols designated geographical areas to enforce animal regulations, laws, and ordinances.

Essential Functions:

• Answers complaints concerning animals, conducts cruelty investigations and dangerous dog investigations, picks up stray and unwanted animals, sets humane animal traps, investigates and quarantines biting animals and issues warnings or citations.
• Identifies and handles wild and/or vicious animals and uses proper handling precautions.
• Investigates complaints of potential rabid wildlife, captures, euthanizes, and prepares for rabies testing as needed.
• Rescues, picks up and transports sick, injured, and dead animals.
• Provides information to the public regarding municipal codes and laws.
• May be asked to appear in court to testify regarding animal control cases.
• Prepares narratives for court cases as needed.
• Some weekend work required and rotation of on-call scheduling.
• Maintains logs of incoming animal activity and number of animals euthanized.
• May be called to stand-by in situations involving animals for Police Department, Sheriff's Department, and Lea County Animal Control Department.
• May assist in surgical area.
• Administer pre-sedation medication to animals for surgical purposes, intubate animals for surgery, move animals from one table to another, observe surgical procedures and assist the attending Veterinarian.
• May also administer vaccinations to animals as directed, administer narcotics, ensure proper procedures are followed in the safe handling of narcotics, ensure proper surgical recovery procedures are followed and administered.
• Assist at HAAC as needed and on weekend rotations.
• Assist Code Enforcement Officers as needed.
• May require shift work, including weekends, and being on-call.

Requirements:

• Graduation from high school or GED equivalent required.
• Minimum two years of experience in customer service, public relations, or handling of domestic animals required.
• Valid state issued driver’s license.
• Ability to obtain National Animal Control Association (NACA) training within one year of date of hire, if applicable.
• Ability to obtain Euthanasia certification within one year of date of hire and the ability to maintain the certification throughout employment with Environmental Division.