Animal Control Officer

City of Lynnwood, WA; Lynnwood (WA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Lynnwood is seeking an Animal Control Officer to enforce municipal animal control laws and related ordinances under the Community Health and Safety Section. Duties include patrolling, responding to complaints, pursuing dispositions, and coordinating with shelters.

The role requires field work in various weather conditions and potential court appearances. Candidates must meet licensing and training prerequisites, pass background checks, and maintain equipment.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of state statutes and City of Lynnwood ordinances pertaining to animal control and disaster scene operations.
• Ability to communicate effectively with coworkers, superiors, court officials and the general public, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to testify in court when required.
• Ability to read, understand and analyze statutes and ordinances as well as other written communications.
• Must be able to pass the WSCJTC Animal Control Officer Academy.

Responsibilities

• Patrols and inspects areas to administer and enforce the animal control ordinances.
• Responds to complaints and seeks settlements when possible.
• Investigates complaints in light of laws relating to animal control and related matters.
• Chases, catches or traps animals; impounds and delivers them to shelters.
• Imposes and serves petitions and nuisance charges; refers criminal charges when needed.
• Maintains equipment and prepares reports; may testify in court as required.

Skills

Statutes knowledge

Communication skills

Court testimony

Reading comprehension

Passing academy

Education

High school diploma

Job description

The incumbent of this position is responsible for enforcing animal control and other specific assigned regulations of the City of Lynnwood. The animal control officer is under the direct supervision of the Community Health and Safety Section Sergeant.

The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position‑specific duties.

• Patrols and inspects areas of the City of Lynnwood to administer and enforce the animal control ordinances of the City of Lynnwood.
• Responds to complaints from the public about possible violations of animal control ordinances and attempts to secure settlements of disputes without recourse to court action.
• Investigates complaints in light of City, County and State laws pertaining to animal control, public health, cruelty to animals, trespassers and related matters.
• Chases, catches and/or traps animals as required to enforce animal control ordinance. Impounds animals when necessary and delivers them to appropriate animal shelters.
• Serves petitions and nuisance complaints on proper persons. Refers criminal charges for issuance to offending persons when necessary.
• Uses a variety of equipment including van, tranquilizers, come along, leashes and muzzles to perform and carry out the duties assigned.
• Enforces all ordinances pertaining to automobile impounds, litter control, and any other laws as directed by a supervisor.
• Investigates illegal dumping and attempts to identify offenders for prosecution.
• Maintains all equipment used in the performance of duties in a neat, clean and functional condition.
• Identifies, tags, and impounds abandoned vehicles from city streets.
• Issues parking related infractions when necessary.
• Responds to public assist requests (lock‑outs).
• Prepares work reports, expenditure records and other reports as needed.
• Prepare reports using car mounted MDC (mobile data computing).
• Engages in traffic direction and control in conjunction with accident scenes and public events.
• May be called upon to testify in court. Coordinates prosecution of offenders with prosecuting and judicial officials.
• Other duties as assigned
• Maintain regular attendance.

Job Location and Equipment Utilized

Work is normally performed in an office environment or out‑of‑doors including emergency scenes in all types of weather conditions. Equipment utilized includes standard office equipment and personal computer with associated software and peripherals. This position has exposure to dead, vicious or diseased animals, contact with dissatisfied or abusive individuals and requires driving a vehicle during adverse weather conditions.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of State statutes and City of Lynnwood ordinances pertaining to animal control and disaster scene operations.
• Ability to communicate effectively with co‑workers, superiors, court officials and the general public, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to testify in court when required.
• Ability to read, understand and analyze statutes and ordinances as well as other written communications.
• Ability to pass the WSCJTC Animal Control Officer Academy.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to perform the required physical activities at police emergency and disaster scenes.
• Manual dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a personal computer including keyboarding on a car mounted mobile data terminal for extended periods of time.
• Manual dexterity of hands and fingers to operate other necessary equipment.
• Visual acuity to read and compose various reports and other documentation.
• Ability to speak and hear to exchange and provide information, and to make presentations.
• Ability to run, walk over rough or uneven surfaces, climb stairs, bend at the waist, stop, kneel or crouch, crawl, turn/twist, and reach overhead.
• Ability to perform heavy lifting.
• Ability to work outside in all types of weather conditions

High school diploma plus a valid Washington State Driver’s License and a driving record acceptable to the City’s insurance carrier. Must be able to pass a background investigation, drug screening, psychological and polygraph if required.

The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibility, but should not be considered an all‑inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods, or otherwise to balance the workload.

FLSA Status: Non‑Exempt

Bargaining Unit: Police Support Guild