Animal Services Officer

Douglas County (NV); Nevada (IA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

Douglas County Animal Care and Services seeks an Animal Services Officer to enforce local animal care codes, respond to control calls, educate the public, and investigate complaints. A safety-sensitive role with drug/alcohol screening applies.

Nevada euthanasia technician certification must be obtained within 6 months. Responsibilities include handling animals, maintaining records, conducting inspections, and coordinating with law enforcement and veterinarians as needed.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED and 2 years' animal care/animal control experience.
• Equivalent education, training and experience may apply.

Responsibilities

• Respond to calls for service; issue citations and respond to animal control needs.
• Investigate nuisance and cruelty complaints; interview witnesses and write reports.
• Educate the public on responsible pet ownership and animal-related codes.
• Inspect animal-related businesses to issue operation permits when applicable.
• Maintain records and prepare daily reports using agency software.
• Assist with shelter operations and coordinate with law enforcement as needed.

Skills

Customer service

Animal care

Education

High School diploma or GED

Tools

Humane traps

Mobile radios

Job description

Would you like to play a part in protecting the health and welfare of our community? The Animal Services Officer with Douglas County Animal Care and Services plays a crucial part in the enforcement of and compliance with Title 6 of the Douglas County Code. By performing such duties as responding to calls for animal control, educating the public on responsible pet ownership, and investigating animal nuisance and cruelty complaints, this position not only helps to keep the community safe, but also helps to promote humane ethics in the treatment of animals. If you are someone who wants to help both humans and animals alike, has strong customer service skills and experience working with animals, and is dedicated to ensuring compliance with important codes and ordinances, the Animal Services Officer position could be a great fit for you.

Animal Services Officer must obtain Nevada State Veterinary Board Euthanasia Technician certification within six (6) months of date of employment.

Primary Objectives

Performs intermediate work ensuring that local ordinances concerning the care, use, treatment, licensing and impounding of animals are followed; conducting investigations and inspections, issuing citations/warnings; educating the public; performs related tasks as apparent or assigned.

This is a safety sensitive position and is subject to random and pre-employment drug and alcohol screening.

Supervision Exercised

None

1. Assists the general public, customers, and/or County employees in person or by phone answering inquiries related to services, programs, and records.
2. Uses County vehicle to perform various tasks related to job duties.
3. Responds to calls for service; utilizes specialized equipment and techniques to safely capture, contain, and impound animals; transports animals to veterinary hospital; euthanizes if necessary; disposes of dead animals.
4. Responds to animal bites; verifies wounds, rabies vaccination records; locates animals, submits for rabies testing and/or places in quarantine.
5. Investigates nuisance and cruelty complaints: interviews witnesses; notifies owners and involved parties of violations and corrective actions; writes reports, issues citations, and prepares court documentation; may testify in court; coordinates efforts with law enforcement, court officials, and veterinarians.
6. Inspects animal related businesses to issue operation permits.
7. Educates the public in regard to responsible pet ownership, animal related codes and regulations; conducts shelter tours.
8. Cleans and disinfects truck and other equipment.
9. Operates humane traps, mobile radios, cellular phones, and related animal control tools and equipment.
10. Performs duties of Animal Care Assistant and Office Specialist as required.
11. Assists other agencies and County departments in animal control and handling.
12. Assists with shelter operations as required.
13. Maintains records and prepares daily reports related to work performed using Animal Services and Spillman software applications.
14. Represents the County with dignity, integrity, and a spirit of cooperation in all relationships with staff and the public.
15. Contributes effectively to the accomplishment of team or work unit goals, objectives, and activities.

Minimum Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED and two (2) years of experience with animals in a shelter or animal control function; OR an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Certifications / Licenses

• Valid Driver’s License
• Nevada State Veterinary Board Euthanasia Technician certification within six (6) months of date of employment

Working Conditions

The characteristics listed below are representative of the physical demands, physical agility, sensory requirements, and environmental exposures required by an individual to successfully perform the essential duties of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

• This work requires the regular exertion of up to 50 pounds of force, frequent exertion of up to 100 pounds of force and occasional exertion of over 100 pounds of force.
• Work regularly requires standing, speaking or hearing and using hands; frequently requires walking, kneeling or crawling, reaching with hands and arms, pushing or pulling and repetitive motions; occasionally requires sitting, climbing or balancing and tasting or smelling.
• Work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to receive detailed information through oral communication and/or to make fine distinctions in sound.
• Work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, use of measuring devices, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities.
• Work is generally in a loud noise location (e.g. heavy traffic, large equipment).
• Work occasionally requires exposure to wet/humid conditions (non-weather), exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals, exposure to outdoor weather conditions, wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus and exposure to bloodborne pathogens (may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment).
• Exposure to animal bites and other related injuries; incumbent must be willing to handle injured, ill or dead animals in potentially hazardous situations.

Acknowledgements

1. Continued employment is contingent upon all required licenses and certificates being maintained in active status without suspension or revocation.
2. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of background/screening.
3. Douglas County participates in E-Verify and will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each applicant’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. All candidates who are offered employment must complete Section 1 of the Form I-9 along with the required proof of their right to work in the United States and proof of their identity prior to starting employment. Please be prepared to provide required documentation as soon as possible after the job offer is made.
4. This job description indicates, in general, the nature and levels of work, knowledge, skills, abilities and other essential functions expected of the incumbent. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Incumbent may be asked to perform other duties as required.