Animal Control Officer

Calvert County, MD; Prince Frederick (MD); On-site; USD 48,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

Calvert County Government seeks an Animal Control Officer (ACO) to enforce local/state animal welfare laws through fieldwork and 24/7 coverage. You will respond to stray, injured, dangerous, and neglected animals, write citations, seize animals when needed, and testify in court as required.

The role requires independent judgment, strong communication, and the ability to handle emotionally charged situations while working with public safety partners and health departments.

Qualifications

• Three years of professional animal handling experience.
• One year experience dealing with citizen complaints.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Must be 18 years of age.
• Must be qualified to use a 12-gauge shotgun and a 22-caliber rifle.
• Subject to background investigation and call-back in emergencies.
• Operation of County owned vehicle.

Responsibilities

• Enforces regulations and ordinances from County officials, including the health department.
• Interacts with citizens over concerns and enforcement issues and resolves them.
• Communicates orally and in writing with the general public.
• Maintains effective working relationship with police, public officials, veterinarians, and other government agencies.
• Performs daily routine patrols and responds to calls for service.
• Renders emergency animal first aid and transports animals to veterinarians.
• Investigates animal neglect, abuse, and cruelty violations and documents cases.
• Tests in court proceedings as needed.
• Distributes county pet licenses and handles licenses revenue.

Skills

Animal handling

Public communication

Independent work

Enforcement knowledge

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Windows 2003

Windows XP

Job description

The Calvert County Animal Control Officer (ACO) is a field-based public safety position responsible for enforcing local and state animal welfare laws and ordinances. Animal Control Officers respond to a wide range of calls involving stray, injured, dangerous, or neglected animals, and often work in partnership with law enforcement, health departments, and the public. This role requires independent judgment, strong interpersonal communication skills, and the ability to manage emotionally charged or potentially hazardous situations with professionalism and compassion. Officers are expected to participate in an on‑call rotation, including nights, weekends, and holidays, to ensure 24/7 emergency response coverage across the county. This position also includes responsibilities related to issuing citations, seizing animals when necessary, preparing case documentation, and testifying in court proceedings.

This position is responsible for providing prompt and humane response to animal related issues through the enforcement of ordinances associated with citizen complaints, animal regulation and human health and safety. The work requires prior experience and is performed under general supervision.

Essential Job Functions:

Enforces regulations and ordinances from County officials, including the heath department.

Interacts with citizens over concerns and enforcement issues and resolves same.

Communicates both orally and in writing with the general public.

Maintains effective working relationship with police, public officials, veterinarians, and other government agencies.

Performs daily routine patrols and responds for calls of service.

Renders emergency animal first aid and transports animals to veterinarians.

Investigates animal neglect, abuse, and cruelty violations. Writes investigative reports and enters data into database. Verifies and follows-up on cases to ensure compliance.

Maintains and organizes caseload and prioritizes daily workload.

Handles radio communications with Animal Control Dispatcher and Calvert County Control Center.

Issues written warnings and ordinance citations.

Testifies in court hearings.

Works directly with County Health Department in bite investigations and rabies exposures. Arranges for animal quarantine and performs follow up health checks. Prepares rabies specimens. Assists with rabies vaccination clinic.

Distributes county pet licenses, handles money, and submits purchased licenses.

Traps domestic animals and maintains records of trap locations. Transports animals to the shelter and maintains profile tickets on each animal.

Ensures county issued vehicle is serviced as scheduled. Ensures all county issued equipment is in working order and is replaced if broken.

Other Duties

Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (These are pre-employment KSA that apply only to Essential Job Functions.)

Knowledge of--

• Good animal handling skills and motivation to ensure animals receive proper care.

• Computer applications such as Windows 2003 and/or Windows XP.

Ability to--

• Work independently.

• Work with the public and other agencies.

• Enforce animal control laws, rules and regulations.

• Communicate effectively orally and in writing.

• Deal effectively with the public.

Required Qualifications (Note: Any acceptable combination of education, training and relevant experience that provides the above knowledge, skills, and abilities may be substituted on a full‑time year for year basis.)

Training and/or Education

High school diploma or GED equivalent.

Experience

Three years of professional animal handling experience and one year of experience dealing with the resolution of citizen complaints.

Licenses or Certificates

Valid driver's license.

Special Requirements

Must be 18 years of age.

Must be qualified to use a 12-gauge shotgun and a 22‑caliber rifle.

Subject to background investigation.

Subject to call‑back in emergency situations.

Operation of County owned vehicle.

Physical Demands

Requires strenuous physical effort to perform manual work involving walking over rough, uneven terrain, repeated bending, climbing, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching or lifting objects up to 100 pounds.

Unusual Demands

Workers are exposed to hazards of dealing with diseased animals.

Workers must occasionally put animals to death.

Requires working non‑standard schedules including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Subject to call in or to remain on the job for emergencies.

FLSA Status

Nonexempt

Compensation Steps:

Pay rate: $26.28 - $28.13 per hour; $47,830 - $51,197 annually

Grade 719, full‑time position, 35 hours per week

Department of Public Safety, Animal Control

Position closing date: Open continuously

Calvert County Government offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support employees' health, financial well‑being, and work‑life balance. Benefits include:

• 15 days of sick leave
• 10 days of annual leave
• 5 days of personal leave
• 13 paid holidays *14 in an election year
• Defined Contribution Plan
• 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Flexible spending accounts
• Up to 80% tuition reimbursement
• Gym membership discounts

Please Note:

A complete application is required to be considered for a position within Calvert County Government. All prior work experience, education, and other certifications should be entered into the application and supplemental questions should be answered completely. Attachments are not provided to hiring managers unless you are selected for an interview.

Calvert County Government is committed to providing equal opportunity and reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you require an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact Human Resources at [e-mail] with as much notice as possible.