Animal Services Officer

City of McKinney; McKinney (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of McKinney is seeking an Animal Control Officer to enforce city ordinances regarding animal services and respond to calls involving animal welfare.

You will capture stray and injured animals, educate the public on rabies vaccine requirements, and work with partner agencies to provide care and impoundment as needed. This role requires agility, on-call hours, and a commitment to humane treatment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Basic Animal Control and Euthanasia certifications or ability to obtain within 6 months.
• Ability to pass a physical and background checks.
• On-call and weekend shifts may be required; respond within 30 minutes.
• Bi-lingual Spanish-English preferred.

Responsibilities

• Patrols the city for compliance with animal ordinances and responds to public calls.
• Captures stray, injured, or unwanted animals and arranges impound.
• Works with partner agencies to provide medical care.
• Enforces rabies vaccine requirements through education and enforcement.
• Writes reports and testifies in municipal and circuit court for cases.
• Prepares community animal welfare presentations to schools and groups.

Skills

Bilingual Spanish-English

Communication skills

Humane animal handling

Team collaboration

Education

High school diploma or GED

Basic Animal Control Certification

Euthanasia certification

Tools

Driver's License Class C

Job description

WORKING FOR THE CITY OF MCKINNEY

Working for the City of McKinney is more than a job. It is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. It is also an opportunity to have a hand in the development of one of the fastest growing communities in the nation. Proudly recognized on the Top Workplaces USA list by USA TODAY, our team is dedicated to making McKinney one of the best places to work, live, and raise a family. That’s why we exist. Join us and start making a difference today.

OUR CORE VALUES

City of McKinney employees work hard and at a very fast pace. However, we also look after and support one another. All of us are guided by four employee-inspired values – Respect, Integrity, Service, and Excellence (RISE). We are also supported by servant-based leaders who foster and support a healthy, family-oriented culture. All new employees are expected to embrace and live by our core values and commit to helping us sustain our exceptional work environment as a high performance organization (HPO).

SUMMARY OF POSITION

Under general supervision, the purpose of the position is to enforce the city ordinance regarding animal services. Employees in this classification perform technical and skilled level work. Position is responsible for addressing owner responsibility; nuisance complaints; hurt, stray, or unwanted animals and wildlife. Enforces state laws pertaining to rabies. Performs related work as required.

GENERAL EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL EMPLOYEES

In order for us to continue to achieve our primary function of making McKinney a better place to live, work, and raise a family, we hold these expectations for all employees.

• Learn and demonstrate an understanding of how team, department, and City goals are interconnected.
• Contribute to a positive work culture.
• Maintain regular and reliable attendance.
• Ability to assess his/her work performance or the work performance of the team.
• Contribute to the development of others and/or the working unit or overall organization.
• Ability and willingness to work as part of a team, to demonstrate team skills, and to perform a fair share of team responsibilities.
• Ability to continuously learn and develop through a mix of internal and external training opportunities, and if applicable, encourage subordinates to do the same.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Patrols the city for compliance with animal ordinances, responds to calls for service from the public involving animal cruelty, neglect, dangerous dog, animals at large, lost, stray sick and injured animals, barking dogs or unwanted wildlife; loose livestock; and removal of deceased animals.
• Captures stray, vicious, injured or sick animals; returns animals to owners if possible or transports animals for impound to the shelter.
• Works closely with partner agencies contracted to operate the shelter and provide medical care to the animals under the city’s care.
• Gains the public’s compliance with the city’s rabies vaccine requirements through education and enforcement.
• Answers inquiries and educates the public on city ordinances and provides general pet care and responsible pet ownership information.
• Works daily with animals of varying sizes and temperaments, handling them in a humane and respectful manner.
• Investigates and cites for violations and criminal offences of the animal ordinances and other related animal laws. Participates in court preparation and testifies in municipal and circuit court for criminal cases.
• Writes reports and maintains investigative records and evidence in accordance with department policy.
• Collaborates with sworn personnel on investigations into animal crimes. Assists sworn personnel on police calls; impounding pets in cases where the owner is deceased, arrested, or experiencing a medical emergency.
• Prepares and presents animal welfare presentations to schools, clubs, agencies, media and the general public.
• Assists and coordinates with other city departments, law enforcement agencies and private organizations in special assignments regarding animal-related issues and to provide comprehensive enforcement of the law.
• Actively supports and respects diversity in the workplace and helps create a supportive workplace for all employees.

OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Perform other duties as assigned or directed (of a similar nature or level) as required by management to meet the needs of the department.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND BEHAVIORS

• Ability to embrace and embody the City’s core values of Respect, Integrity, Service, and Excellence (R.I.S.E.).
• Ability to communicate effectively with peers, supervisors, subordinates, and people to whom service is provided.
• Ability to produce desired work outcomes, including quality, quantity, and timeliness.
• Ability to plan and organize work, time, and resources, and if applicable, that of subordinates.
• The ability to work in a team environment; contribute as a team member and treat co-workers, subordinates and customers with respect.
• Build professional relationships with internal staff and customers.
• Offer flexibility and adaptability, especially during times of change.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Requires the ability to review, classify, categorize, prioritize, and/or analyze data and/or information. Includes exercising discretion in determining data classification, and in referencing such analysis to established standards for the purpose of recognizing actual or probable interactive effects and relationships.
• Requires the ability provide guidance, assistance, and/or interpretation to others on how to apply procedures and standards to specific situations.
• Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions.
• Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of descriptive data and information, such as city ordinance and the Texas Department of Health’s Health and Safety Code regarding the enforcement of the Rabies Act.
• Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
• Requires ability to apply principles of rational systems. Ability to interpret instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule form. Ability to exercise independent judgment to adopt or modify methods and standards to meet variations in assigned objectives.
• Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving a variety of generally pre-defined duties which are often characterized by frequent change.
• Requires the ability to perform coordinated movements involving placing and turning motions, such as utilizing a snake tongs, restraint poles, traps, and syringes/needles (euthanasia).

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Any work related experience resulting in acceptable proficiency levels in the below Minimum Qualifications may be an acceptable substitute.

High school diploma or GED required. Requires Basic Animal Control and Euthanasia certifications, or ability to obtain within 6 months of hire. Must have the ability to pass a physical appropriate to the physical demands of this position. Must possess and maintain a Class C Driver’s License in good standing. On-call and alternate working shifts, including weekends, may be required, and must be able to respond to call outs within 30 minutes. May be required to receive rabies pre-exposure vaccinations.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bi-Lingual (Spanish-English) preferred.
• Animal handling experience.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Must pass a drug screen and background check.
• Must have Class C Texas Driver’s License

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Positions in this classification frequently bend, stoop, kneel, and reaching animals. Positions in this classification frequently lift, move, and carry animals and/or supplies that typically weigh up to 100 pounds. The position requires firm grasping and wrist extension and rotation on a frequent basis.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The position is frequently exposed to loud noise such as barking of dogs and other animal noises. The position works outdoors as well as indoors and is subject to variable weather conditions (e.g. dirt, cold, rain, fumes, strong odors, smoke, toxic chemicals, pollen, dust, etc) and exposure to animal bites and scratches hazards (vicious, wild, rabid animals, dust mites, etc.), and potentially infectious diseases or allergies.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed as of the date of preparation and approval. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of the position. Employees holding this position will be required to perform any other job-related duties as requested by management. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee, and all requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

The City of McKinney is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) committed to an alcohol / drug free workplace and to providing equal opportunities regardless of age, race, color, gender, religion, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.