Animal Control Officer

Tazewell; Tremont (IL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Tazewell County is seeking an Animal Control Officer to enforce local and state animal control laws and respond to animal-related incidents. The role involves handling strays, cruelty investigations, and public safety duties, including courtwork and on-call emergencies.

You will interact with the public daily and mediate as needed. The position requires a high school diploma or GED and one year of related experience or training, with the ability to perform field duties and testify in court when

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED with one year related experience and/or training.

Responsibilities

• Responds to calls for service from citizens, law enforcement, emergency agencies, and other authorities requesting assistance from animal control.
• Aprecends? impounds stray, unleashed, vicious, or dead animals, rescues and impounds sick, injured, and abused animals.
• Enforces an animal control and rabies control ordinances; issues notices to appear in court and citations.
• Investigates cruelty or neglect to animals; inspects sanitation, housing, and care for animals; participates in mass impoundments.
• Investigates animal bites; records rabies inoculation history, confinement, and observation; collects information from witnesses.
• Enters and retrieves information on pets, owners, citations, bite reports; conducts inspections for violations.
• Performs on-call standby after hours for emergencies.
• Notifies Animal Shelter Director for dangerous/vicious dogs; serves impoundment notices and dangerous dog notifications.
• Provides public information on animal control ordinances and care requirements.
• Prepares dead animals for rabies examination and necropsy; testifies in court as needed.
• Utilizes tranquilizer gun for chemical capture as necessary.
• Completes reports and maintains animal control vehicle and equipment.
• Euthanizes animals in emergency situations.

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

SUMMARY:

The Animal Control Officer ensures public safety through the enforcement of local and state animal control laws. The Animal Control Officer responds to calls for service including animal bites, cruelty and neglect investigations, stray animals, sick/injured animals, and nuisance complaints. The Animal Control Officer interacts with the public on a daily basis, acts as a mediator in certain situations.

JOB RELATIONSHIP:

Under the direction supervision and direction of the Animal Control Director.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

include the following. Other duties may be assigned to meet business needs.

Responds to calls for service from citizens, law enforcement, emergency agencies (fire, ambulance, etc.), and other authorities requesting assistance from animal control.

Aprehends and impounds stray, unleashed, vicious, or dead animals, in addition to those suspected of having rabies. Rescues and impounds sick, injured, and abused animals. Removes wild/exotic animals from homes and businesses.

Enforces an animal control and rabies control ordinances. Issues notices to appear at court, and issues citations in the enforcement of state, county, and municipal ordinances.

Investigates cruelty or neglect to an animal compounds. Inspects proper sanitation, housing, and care for animals. Participates in mass impoundments due to animal harboring in private homes, abandonment, or other violations.

Investigates all reports regarding animal bites to people and other animals. Determines proper rabies inoculation history, confinement and observation. Takes information from citizens, emergency and medical personnel about an animal bite.

Enters and retrieves information on pets, pet owners, citations, bite reports, and other situations.

Conducts systematics inspections for violations of animal control or ordinance.

Performs on call standby after work hours for emergency situations.

Notifies Animal Shelter Director for dangerous/vicious dogs. Serves impoundment notices and dangerous dog notifications.

Provides information to the public on the animal control ordinance and general requirements for caring for animals.

Prepares dead animals for an animal disease laboratory for rabies examination and necropsy.

Appears and testifies in court cases needed.

Utilizes a tranquilizer gun for chemical capture as necessary.

Completes and submits written reports to describe activities and actions. Maintains care of the animal control vehicle, and equipment.

Euthanize animals in emergency situations.

EDUCATION and /or EXPERIENCE:

High school diploma or general education degree (GED) with one year related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience in office/clerical duties.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: November 2nd, 2026

Tazewell County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

EOE - race/color/religion/sex/Sexual orientation/gender identity/national origin/disability