Animal Control Officer II

Collier County, FL; Naples (FL); On-site; USD 36,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Collier County is seeking an Animal Control Officer to protect public health and animal welfare while enforcing local and state ordinances. You will supervise staff, coordinate field operations, and respond to animal control incidents across the county.

The role emphasizes safety, documentation, and community education. Responsibilities include handling and transporting animals, enforcing licensing, and assisting with emergencies.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Three years of related experience.
• Fingerprinting required.
• Must obtain and maintain state certification in Animal Control and Euthanasia Injection within six months of hire.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Florida Driver’s License.

Responsibilities

• Supervises, directs, and evaluates assigned staff; completing employee performance appraisals.
• Coordinates and assists with overseeing operations and activities of animal control officers; trains newly appointed officers.
• Organizes and prioritizes complaints and staff work assignments; ensures completion of assigned tasks efficiently.
• Enforces provisions of codes and ordinances for regulation, care, and registration of animals.
• Patrols county streets and responds to dispatched calls concerning animal control issues.
• Investigates, collects evidence, prepares reports, and testifies in court as necessary.
• Educates the public on responsibilities of pet ownership and animal welfare.
• Maintains records and database entries; notifies officers to respond to requests for service.

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Collier County strives to be an employer of choice, and many of our employees build long-term careers with us. The salary listed in the job description reflects the full pay range for this position, from entry level through advanced career stages.

NEW EMPLOYEES ARE HIRED AT, OR NEAR THE ENTRY POINT SHOWN, DEPENDING ON QUALIFICATIONS AND RELEVANT EXPERIENCE.

Performs general/specialized work functions associated with providing effective and efficient animal control, protecting the health and welfare of citizens and animals, and enforcing state and local animal control ordinances.

• Supervises, directs, and evaluates assigned staff, processing employee concerns and problems, directing work, counseling, disciplining, and completing employee performance appraisals.
• Coordinates and assists with overseeing operations and activities of animal control officers; trains newly appointed officers.
• Organizes and prioritizes complaints and staff work assignments; ensures completion of assigned tasks in an effective and efficient manner.
• Enforces the provisions of federal, states, and local codes and ordinances providing for regulation, care, and registration of animals.
• Patrols county streets and responds to dispatched calls from citizens concerning animal control issues such as potential animal abuse, animal bites, stray/nuisance animals, wild/dangerous animals, and injured/dead animals.
• Organizes and prioritizes complaints; verifies vaccinations and licensing of animals; distributes and collects licenses from veterinarians.
• Attempts to keep the peace between complainants and animal owners; issues warnings and citations for violations of animal control laws and advises owners of their responsibilities; follows up as necessary.
• Tracks and traps/captures animals; assists with locating lost pets; may remove animals from roofs, trees, and under houses; impounds animals in violation of ordinances; assist with disaster animal response.
• Handles animals, retraining as appropriate; administers medical aid to injured animals; transports to animal shelter, veterinarian, or as otherwise directed; prepares and administers medications, vaccinations, and worming treatments.
• Assists in subduing feral animals; arranges quarantines with owners of animals for rabies observations; returns animals to owners after appropriate detainment or after having been found; decapitates and ships specimens to the state lab for rabies testing as necessary.
• Investigates, collects evidence, establishes files, prepare and type investigative reports and compiles animal control related cases; prepares for, attends, and testifies in courtroom hearings and juridical proceedings as necessary.
• Educates the public on responsibilities of pet ownership, animal care techniques and procedures, laws and ordinances, and pet adoption; handles public inquiries concerning animal services and pet adoptions.
• Receives and records call information in appropriate database; prioritizes requested field services and notifies animal control officers via two-way radio to respond to requests for service; ensures information in the appropriate database is complete and accurate.
• Provides callers with general information regarding animal-related laws and ordinances, zoonotic diseases and rabies quarantine procedures, and Division policies and procedures; attempts to resolve complaints or refers callers to appropriate division, County, or outside agency personnel or community resources when appropriate.
• Processes adoptions and impounded animals; identifies color, sex, breed of animals; scans animals for identification chips; places identification band on animal and cage card on cage; houses animals in proper area of kennel.
• Processes and maintains identification files and other required paperwork on all animals housed in the center; closes out complaints when resolved.
• Assists law enforcement and fire personnel in emergency situations including fire and hurricane evacuations; performs traffic control while attending injured animals; assists with evictions and injured/deceased humans involving animals.
• Documents all activity conducted in assigned position; takes photographs to document incidents.
• Maintains a comprehensive, current knowledge and awareness of animal care and maintenance, zoonotic diseases, animal characteristic behavior, and applicable laws/regulations.
• Receives and records call information in appropriate database; prioritizes requested filed services and notifies animal control officers via two-way radio to respond to requests for service; ensures information in the database is complete and accurate.

ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS

• Maintains, cleans, and disinfects vehicles, cages, and kennel areas; provides for the care of animals in kennel including obtaining food and supplies, feeding and grooming.
• Responds to questions, complaints and requests for information/assistance from visitors, veterinarian personnel, the public, employees, supervisors, or other individuals.
• Provides educational exhibits; conducts facility tours; assists customers in front lobby.
• Substitutes for co-workers during their temporary absence; provides guidance, training, and/or assistance to other division personnel.
• Performs other related duties as required.
• High school diploma or GED required.
• Three (3) years of related experience.
• Fingerprinting required.

LICENSES/CERTIFICATES

• Must obtain and maintain state certification in Animal Control and Euthanasia Injection within six (6) months from date of hire.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Florida Driver’s License with any applicable endorsement(s) to drive a County vehicle as provided in CMA 5805.

• Salary offers above the minimum pay grade may be considered based on qualifications.
• Essential Employees may be required to work during an undeclared or declared emergency. The County’s Administrative Office will determine who will be required to work on an incident-by-incident basis.
• This job posting is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, skills, or working conditions associated with the position.