ANIMAL SERVICES BITE INVESTIGATOR

Fulton County; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 38,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Fulton County in Georgia is seeking an Animal Services Officer to respond to dispatched calls, provide animal rescue, and enforce local animal statutes within the County and municipalities. The role includes bite investigations, court preparation, and testimony as needed.

The position requires a High School diploma or GED, 3 years of related experience or 2 years as Animal Services Officer I, plus a valid Georgia driver’s license and NACA ACO I & II certificates within 18 months.

Qualifications

• Minimum education requirement is High School diploma or GED
• Three (3) years of experience as an animal control officer, law enforcement officer, code enforcement officer, or related field; or two (2) years as Animal Services Officer I (Fulton County Police Dept)
• Must possess and maintain a valid Georgia driver’s license and NACA ACO I & II certificates within 18 months of employment

Responsibilities

• Respond to dispatched calls to provide animal rescue and assist the public with animal-related situations
• Enforce state and local animal statutes within Fulton County and municipalities, including bite investigations
• Conduct bite investigations, prepare court-related reports, and testify as a witness in animal control cases
• Assist in maintaining the shelter, including intake data accuracy, kenneling, and animal care
• Interpret and enforce applicable codes, educate citizens, and visit schools to discuss animal safety
• Document departmental operations, prepare reports and maintain records
• Operate County vehicle and basic office software; coordinate with officials and stakeholders

Job description

UNCLASSIFIED POSITION

CURRENT VACANCY IS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT

Minimum Qualifications

High School diploma or GED required: supplemented by three (3) year of experience as an animal control officer, law enforcement officer, code enforcement officer, or in a related field involving ordinance enforcement and the care and handling of shelter animals and wildlife; or two (2) years of experience as an Animal Services Officer I (Fulton County Government Police Department—current or former employees only).

Specific License or Certification Required

Must possess and maintain a valid Georgia driver’s license. Mustpossess and maintain the following certificate(s) within 18 months of employment:National Animal Control Association (NACA) ACO (Animal Control Officer) I & NACA ACO II.

Specific Knowledge, Skills, or Abilities

Must be able to demonstrate proficiency in performance of the essential functions and learn, comprehend, and apply all county or departmental policies, practices, and procedures necessary to function effectively in the position.

Veterans’ Preference

Qualifying veterans will be given preference in the form of a guaranteed invitation to interview for any position to which they applied and have been found to have met the minimum qualifications. Veterans’ preference provides for hiring preference on initial appointment only. To see the full Fulton County Veterans’ Preference Policy and Procedure, please click here

Examination

The examination will consist of an evaluation of education and experience, accomplished by analysis of the application. Application must document that the applicant possesses the minimum knowledge, skills, education and experience as listed to be rated as qualified. If selected, an official, accredited college transcript is required, at time of employment, for all degrees/course work used to qualify for this position.

ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE COMPLETED IN FULL BEFORE THEY ARE SUBMITTED. PLEASE REVIEW ALL APPLICATIONS FOR ACCURACY AND MAKE ALL CORRECTIONS BEFORE SUBMITTAL BECAUSE ERRORS CAN RESULT IN NOT MEETING THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AFTER ALLOCATIONS ARE RECEIVED BY THE PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT.

Purpose of Classification

The purpose of this classification is to provide a safe environment for both human and animal residents in the community. Responsibilities involve responding to dispatched calls, to provide animal rescue, assist the public with animal-related situations, and enforce state and local animal statutes within Fulton County and its municipalities. A key responsibility of this position is to conduct bite investigations and follow-ups. Incumbent work on a varied shift schedule and is subject to stand-by or on-call duty outside of normal work hours, as part of a 24-hour, seven (7) days a week operation, including weekends and holidays.

Essential Functions

The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.

Enforces animal related laws or ordinances; captures domestic, wild, dangerous, or aggressive animals; sets animal traps and loads animals into cages; transports animals to animal shelter, veterinarian offices, or other locations; relocates displaced wildlife and removes dead animals from roads; assists law enforcement by removing animals from accident scenes or crime scenes; patrol assigned areas to catch, handle, restrain, confine, transport and impound stray, injured, unwanted, diseased, neglected or abused animals using specialized equipment, methods and techniques; inspects animals to determine medical condition, care received and to decide on the most appropriate course of action to be taken to prevent inhumane treatment of animals.

Responds to citizen complaints and investigate alleged violations of animal laws and regulatory ordinances; observe areas of alleged violations and interview witnesses to determine if laws are being violated; issues warning and citations to violators; set up inspections calls to ensure compliance with laws and ordinances; and performs follow-up site inspections as needed.

Conducts bites investigations and prepares written reports of incidents; sends all animal bites to the Department of Health using SENDSS system; delivers rabies specimens; prepares evidence for court cases; testify in court as a witness in animal control related cases; monitors and assist with court related matters; reviews cases submitted by officers; develops summaries of court related activities; and performs 10 day bite quarantine follow-ups as needed.

Assist in maintaining the shelter by performing duties such as recovery of animals, cleaning, feeding and other duties that may be required; work closely with the intake coordinator, impoundment, dispatch, and animal care team to ensure correct intake data is given; ensures that animals are accurately identified, recorded, and placed in kennels; and secures proper confinement and disposition of animals.

Interprets and enforces the provisions of applicable federal, state, and local codes, ordinances, laws, rules, regulations, specifications, standards, policies and procedures: provides information and assistance concerning code and ordinances requirements; discusses problem areas with animal owners, residents, and businesses; makes suggestions and recommends solutions to violations; responds to questions or complaints concerning animal code violations; educates citizens about services, resources, laws, and regulations relating to the control, confinement, vaccinations, adoptions, shelters, and care of animals; and visits schools to educate students about animal safety.

Processes a variety of documentation associated with department/division operations, within designated timeframes and per established procedure; receives, reviews, completes, processes, forwards or retains documentations, including complaints as appropriate; prepares or completes various forms, reports, correspondence, and other documentation, including complaint investigation forms, daily intake calls, violation notices and citations, court reports, or other documents; compiles data for further processing or for use in preparation of department reports; and maintains computerized and/or hardcopy records.

Operates and maintains a County motor vehicle; operates a personal computer to enter, retrieve, review or modify data, utilizing word processing, spreadsheet, database, presentation, Internet, e-mail, or other software; and operates general office or other equipment as necessary to complete essential functions.

Communicates with County officials, supervisor, other employees, law enforcement personnel, residents, veterinarians, businesses, Court officials, the public, and other individuals as needed to coordinate work activities, review status of work, exchange information, or resolve problems.

Additional Functions

Performs other related duties as required.

For Applicants With Prior Military Service

We strongly encourage veterans, prior military and transitioning service members to apply. Many of the competencies and transferable skills developed through military service directly support success in this role, including:

• Leadership Under Pressure – Ability to remain calm, exercise sound judgment, and respond effectively to sensitive or high-stress situations.
• Operational Planning & Execution – Ability to organize investigations, gather information, conduct interviews, document findings, and complete assignments accurately and timely.
• Adaptability & Rapid Problem Solving – Ability to assess circumstances, evaluate information, identify discrepancies, and determine appropriate courses of action.
• Team Cohesion & Communication – Ability to communicate effectively with victims, animal owners, witnesses, coworkers, and other stakeholders while handling sensitive situations professionally.
• Safety & Risk Awareness – Ability to assess potential risks, maintain situational awareness, follow safety protocols, and protect the public, personnel, and animals.
• Technical & Equipment Proficiency – Experience using technology, vehicles, communication systems, records systems, and other equipment to support field investigations and documentation.

Performance Aptitudes

Data Utilization

Requires the ability to evaluate, audit, deduce, and/or assess data using established criteria. Includes exercising discretion in determining actual or probable consequences and in referencing such evaluation to identify and select alternatives.

Human Interaction

Requires the ability to work with and apply principles of persuasion and/or influence over others to coordinate programs or activities of a project, and resolve typical problems associated with the responsibilities of the job.

Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization

Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions.

Verbal Aptitude

Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, and/or advisory data and information.

Mathematical Aptitude

Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; the ability to calculate decimals and percentages; the ability to utilize principles of fractions; and the ability to interpret graphs.

Functional Reasoning

Requires the ability to apply principles of influence systems, such as motivation, incentive, and leadership, and to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to resolve problems.

Situational Reasoning

Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria, as opposed to that which is clearly measurable or verifiable.

Other Requirements

Physical Ability

Tasks require the ability to exert physical effort in moderate work, typically involving some combination of sitting, standing, walking, climbing, kneeling, crouching, crawling, lifting, carrying, bending, twisting, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of moderate weight (50-100 pounds).

Sensory Requirements

Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors, sounds, odor, depth, texture, and visual cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.

Environmental Factors

Performance of essential functions may require exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as dirt, dust, pollen, odors, wetness, humidity, rain, fumes, smoke, temperature and noise extremes, hazardous materials, fire, unsafe structures, heights, confined spaces, machinery, vibrations, electric currents, traffic hazards, bright/dim lights, toxic agents, animal/wildlife attacks, animal/human bites, firearms, water hazards, violence, disease, pathogenic substances, or rude/irate customers.

Fulton County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.