Animal Control Officer

Iredell County; North Carolina; On-site; USD 35,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Iredell County is seeking an Animal Control Officer to enforce local ordinances and state laws related to animal control. The role involves capturing, confining, returning, and humane euthanizing animals, keeping detailed records, and interacting with the public in potentially tense situations.

Responsibilities include responding to calls, issuing citations or warnings, working weekends/evenings on a rotating schedule, and may require testifying in court.

Qualifications

• Graduation from High School and six (6) months of work experience involving customer service or contact with animals.
• Must reside in or within 15 minutes drive of Iredell County or relocate within four months.
• Requires NC Driver's License and certifications as required by NC law.

Responsibilities

• Responds to calls to enforce animal control laws and explains ordinances to the public.
• Captures, confines, and transports stray or dangerous animals to the shelter.
• Maintains records of animals, bites, and incidents; testifies in court when needed.
• Assists with rabies vaccination clinics and disposal of dead animals.

Skills

Animal behavior

Handling techniques

Discretion & judgment

Interpersonal skills

Recordkeeping

Tranquilizer firearms

Education

High School diploma

Tools

Traps

Firearms

Vehicle operations

Job description

Posting number: 00590

Department: ANIMAL SERV & CONTROL

Job classification: Animal Control Officer

Posting type: Open

Categories: Community Services, Public Safety, Law Enforcement, Animal Control, Animal Services

Summary

IMPORTANT INFORMATION BEFORE STARTING YOUR APPLICATION:

YOU MUST COMPLETE THE APPLICATION IN ITS ENTIRETY AND SUBMIT THE APPLICATION BEFORE IT CAN BE SAVED IN THE SYSTEM.

YOU MUST ANSWER ALL REQUIRED QUESTIONS AND COMPLETE ALL REQUIRED SECTIONS OF THIS APPLICATION TO BE CONSIDERED FOR EMPLOYMENT WITH IREDELL COUNTY

OVERVIEW & PURPOSE:

Under general supervision, performs public safety work in the enforcement of local ordinances and statutes related to the control of animals for the Animal Services & Control Department. Work involves capturing, confining, returning, and humanely euthanizing stray, diseased, vicious and nuisance animals; maintaining records pertaining to collection of animals and animal activity; and enforcing animal laws and ordinances. Employee must exercise independent judgment and initiative in ensuring proper capture of animals. Employee must also exercise tact, courtesy and firmness in frequent contact with animal owners and the general public. Employee is subject to the usual hazards of animal control work. Reports to the Operations Supervisor.

Examples of duties

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Responds to calls for service in assigned area of the County to ensure public compliance with state and county animal control laws; explains animal control laws to citizens and answers questions; notes violations of animal control laws and issues citations or warnings to citizens, and picks up or otherwise controls stray animals, as needed; captures and confines stray, diseased and bothersome animals, including domestic and wild animals, livestock and fowl; impounds animals and places them within the animal shelter according to size, sex, needs, and circumstances involved in pick-up; reports diseased or injured animals to shelter veterinarian; uses traps and/or firearms equipped with tranquilizing ammunition to subdue animals, as necessary.

Receives and investigates cases of animal cruelty and neglect; completes extensive, detail oriented reports; appears in court and testifies, as needed; investigates animal bite cases and ensures that confinement of such animals is proper and complete according to public health law; prepares diagnostic specimens for testing by State labs.

Humanely euthanizes and disposes of animals, as appropriate.

Prepares a variety of reports, including animals collected and confined, animal bites, poultry and livestock damage caused by other animals, animals destroyed by department, etc.; maintains routine activity reports.

ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS:

Assists shelter staff and local veterinarians in conducting periodic rabies vaccination clinics for the public; collects monthly vaccination reports from local veterinarians.

Picks-up and properly disposes of dead animals, as necessary.

Maintains County-owned vehicle.

Will be required to work weekends, evenings, and holidays on a rotating schedule, or as assigned.

Subject to emergency callback in the event of a disaster or other local emergency.

Performs other related work as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:

Knowledge of animal behavior, handling techniques, and relevant state and local animal control laws.

Ability to use discretion and sound judgment in stressful situations.

Strong interpersonal skills; ability to interact tactfully and firmly with the public.

Basic recordkeeping and report-writing skills.

Ability to operate specialized equipment, including traps and tranquilizer firearms

Qualifications

.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE “REQUIREMENTS”:

Graduation from High School and six (6) month’s work experience involving customer experience or contact with animals; or any equivalent combination or training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

ADDITIONAL “REQUIREMENTS”:

Possession of a valid North Carolina Driver's License. Must achieve Certification as a Euthanasia Technician, Certification as a Rabies Vaccinator, become a Licensed Notary Public, and become Firearms qualified within six (6) months of employment. This position is designated as an authorized Motor Vehicle Operator for Iredell County and requires adherence to the Iredell County Vehicle Operations Policy. Completion of continuing education as required by the State of North Carolina involving techniques, laws, and procedures.

Must reside in, or within 15 minutes minimum drive time of Iredell County or must be willing to relocate into the designated area within four (4) months from hire date.

“PREFERRED” QUALIFICATIONS:

Certification in Large Animal Rescue

Certification in Bite Stick

Certification in Pepper Spray (OCAT)

NACA Animal Control Officer Certification