Animal Control Officer 3

Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County seeks an experienced Animal Control Officer to patrol Nashville-Davidson County, respond to calls, rescue animals, and enforce local animal control laws. The role requires CAET certification or ability to obtain within six months and a valid Tennessee driver’s license.

The officer will function as the lead Animal Control Officer, train and schedule officers, investigate violations, and testify in court when required, while promoting humane

Qualifications

• High school diploma.
• 5-7 years of professional animal care or animal control experience.
• Must be a Certified Animal Euthanasia Technician (CAET), or obtain certification within six months of hire.
• Valid class D driver's license, use of personal vehicle, and maintenance of valid personal vehicle insurance.
• Must receive pre-exposure rabies vaccinations.

Responsibilities

• Patrols assigned area within Nashville-Davidson County in assigned vehicle; performs animal control services, including responding to calls for assistance.
• Functions as lead Animal Control Officer.
• Trains, coaches, and schedules Animal Control Officers 1 and 2.
• Enforces animal control laws and ordinances, including issuing citations, documenting evidence, and communicating with other law enforcement and prosecuting attorneys.
• Testifies in court and prepares investigative reports and related documents.

Skills

Animal handling

Public safety

Team leadership

Court testimony

Disaster response

Education

High school diploma

Associate’s degree

Job description

Patrols assigned area within Nashville-Davidson County in assigned vehicle; performs animal control services, including responding to calls for assistance, rescuing animals, apprehending stray animals, and investigating animal-related violations of local or state law.

Typical Duties

• Patrols assigned area within Nashville-Davidson County in assigned vehicle; performs animal control services, including responding to call.
• Functions as lead Animal Control Officer.
• Trains, coaches, and schedules Animal Control Officers 1 and 2.
• Identifies problems and responds to the more difficult situations, and provides timely information to officer supervisor.
• Initiates tasks or projects to improve the efficiency of work flow.
• Perform animal control services, including rescuing animals, responding to calls for assistance apprehending stray animals, and investigating animal-related violations of local or state law.
• Patrols assigned area within Nashville-Davidson County.
• Responds to requests for assistance and investigates allegations of animal cruelty and complaints involving animals.
• Enforces animal control laws and ordinances, including issuing citations, documenting evidence, and communicating with other law enforcement and prosecuting attorneys.
• Apprehends, subdues, and impounds stray, unlicensed, and other appropriate animals, including vicious, feral, and sick animals.
• Responds to requests for assistance with wildlife and vicious animals.
• Removes and disposes of dead animals.
• Investigates animal bites and coordinates handling and quarantine of animals and related efforts.
• Transports injured and ill animals to shelter and veterinarians.
• Rescues injured and ill animals, and performs field euthanasia (by chemical injection) when necessary.
• Prepares investigative reports, daily log sheets, legal documents, and other reports as required.
• Testifies in court.
• Addresses groups and organizations on animal control related safety and health issues.
• May conduct or assist with outreach and liaison programs, such as information and other media initiatives.
• May provide training and coordinate special projects as needed.
• Must have and be able to demonstrate knowledge of basic animal care standards, including safe animal handling procedures for domestic and wild animals and proper use, secure storage, and disposal of lethal chemicals, syringes and related equipment.
• Promote a caring attitude toward all animals and treat animals humanely and with compassion at all times, regardless of circumstances, including those that are sick, injured, feral, or aggressive.
• Performs euthanasia of animals.
• Work cooperatively with the shelter manager and staff, and foster a spirit of teamwork.
• Support and participate in departmental response to disaster and emergency events.
• Demonstrates MPHD’s core values of Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Supports and participates in departmental response to disaster/emergency events.
• Regular, reliable and predictable attendance.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma.
• 5-7 years of professional animal care or animal control experience, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
• Must be a Certified Animal Euthanasia Technician (CAET), or obtain certification within six months of hire. NOTICE: State regulations prohibit anyone with a criminal conviction of any kind from obtaining CAET.
• Valid class "D" driver's license, use of personal vehicle, and maintenance of valid personal vehicle insurance as required by Tennessee Law.
• Must receive pre-exposure rabies vaccinations.

Working Environment/Physical Demands:

• Medium to heavy work that involves walking, standing, bending, stooping, lifting, and exerting up to 50 pounds of force on a regular and reoccurring basis, including restraint of animals of varying size, age, and physical condition.
• Must use protective clothing or gear.
• May risk exposure to toxic and caustic chemicals, and animals/wildlife, including exposure to animal bites, scratches, and diseases such as Rabies, Ringworm, Lyme disease and Zoonosis .

Candidates with accreditations earned in a foreign institute are encouraged to apply, however at the present time MPHD is not sponsoring individuals through any of the US Government’s employment-based immigration programs.

MPHD seeks to be a socially and culturally responsive organization that acknowledges and addresses historical and current inequities in our public health promotion and practice. Successful candidates will demonstrate the ability to work with multicultural communities.

Preferred Experience, Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

Associate’s degree

• Full-time, Civil Service positions - 10 Vacation Days per year (increasing after 5 years of service)
• 1 Sick Day per month
• 12 Paid Holidays per year
• Public Safety - Sworn and Civilian positions - 20 vacation days per year
• 3 Personal days per year
• 1 Sick Day per month
• 12 paid holidays per year
• Part-time, Non Civil Service positions - Visit HR and Benefits webpages for more information.
• Full-time, Non Civil Service positions - contact hiring department for benefits information
• Seasonal/Temporary positions - no benefits offered.