ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER

City of Weslaco; Weslaco (TX); On-site; USD 16,000 - 23,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Weslaco is seeking an Animal Control Officer to capture and impound dangerous or stray animals, investigate cruelty cases, and enforce city ordinances. You will provide humane care, write incident reports, and may testify in court.

The role includes field duty, paperwork, and occasional after-hours work to protect the community. Responsibilities include outreach to residents, organizing adoptions, and coordinating with shelters.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• 1–3 years of field experience preferred.
• Valid Class C Driver's License and insurability required.
• Basic Animal Control Officer license and Euthanasia license within 1 year.
• Pre-employment background check and drug screen required.
• Emergency Management training within 3 months of hire.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

Responsibilities

• Investigate reports of animal attacks or cruelty.
• Capture and remove stray or abused animals.
• Write activity reports; maintain impoundment files.
• Inform owners that pets are at holding facilities.
• Clean facilities and equipment such as pens and trucks.
• Issue warnings or citations for animal-related offenses.
• Organize adoption of unclaimed animals.
• Educate the public about welfare laws.
• Hold animal clinics.
• Respond to emergencies; supervise teams and volunteers.
• Vector control and related duties as assigned.
• Work beyond normal hours including nights/weekends.

Skills

Record keeping

Public safety

Communication

Emergency response

Bilingual preferred

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Job Summary

The Animal Control Officer is responsible for capturing and impounding dangerous or stray animals, investigating cases of animal cruelty, and enforcing city ordnance. Providing expert testimony in court cases, writing incident reports, rescuing trapped animals, and providing humane care to animals under their supervision. Position requires to clean and feed the animal in the shelter and humanely euthanize animals.

Essential Job Functions

• Investigate reports of animal attacks or animal cruelty.
• Capture and remove stray, or abused animals from undesirable conditions.
• Write reports of activities and maintain files of impoundments and dispositions of animals.
• Contact animal owners to inform them that their pets are at animal holding facilities.
• Clean facilities and equipment such as dog pens and animal control trucks
• Issue warnings or citations in connection with animal-related offenses
• Organize the adoption of unclaimed animals.
• Educate the public about animal welfare and animal control laws and regulations.
• Hold animal clinics.
• Responds to natural disaster emergencies; supervises damage team members and volunteers.
• Vector Control
• Perform other similar or related duties as assigned.
• Employee may be required to work beyond normal business hours at night and/or on weekends.

Minimum Qualifications & Requirements

• Must have a high school diploma; or equivalent.
• Have one (1) to three (3) years of experience in the field.
• Must have a current valid Class \"C\" Driver's License and be insurable.
• Must be able to obtain the Basic Animal Control Officer License and Euthanasia Technician License within 1 year of employment.
• Applicant must pass pre-employment criminal background check and drug screen at City's expense.
• Must successfully complete Emergency Management and Incident Command Training within first three months of hire date
• Bilingual English/Spanish Preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Knowledge of the local ordinances, Texas state laws and the ability to relay such information to professional, non-professional, and residents of the City of Weslaco for minimum code compliance.
• Individual must maintain a positive attitude to adapted and full-fill new ordinances, regulations, changes, and other duties as requested by supervisors.
• Ability to carry out duties during emergency situations under adverse weather and stressful, life-threatening conditions.
• Ability to maintain detailed and accurate records.
• Ability to deal with disgruntled members of the public in a tactful manner.
• Ability to handle animals under extraordinary conditions of stress.
• Ability to execute and follow oral and written instructions.
• Patience to proper inform or enforce on going or ever-changing regulations from multiple agencies and city commission.

Working Conditions/Physical Demands

• Work involves frequent and recurring assignments requiring strenuous effort and endurance or quick reflexes to perform the work.
• Lifting, moving, and carrying on a continuous basis for extended periods of time.
• Regular travel (move) on foot or bicycle over rough terrain or barriers, or the potential need to subdue or restrain violent persons or animals.

Disclaimer

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so assigned to this position. This job description does not constitute an employment agreement and is subject to change as the needs and requirements of the job change.

Any applicant selected for employment with the City of Weslaco must receive satisfactory results from pre-employment drug testing, references, background checks, and credential verification.

Salary: $14.28 per hour