ANIMAL SERVICES OFFICER I

Fulton County; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Fulton County is seeking an Animal Control Officer I to provide a safe environment for people and animals while enforcing animal-related laws across the county.

The role requires a high school diploma or GED, a valid Georgia driver’s license, and 1 year of experience with shelter animals and wildlife. Within 12 months, the ACO I certificate from NACA must be obtained.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED required.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Georgia driver’s license.
• Within 12 months of employment: National Animal Control Association (NACA) ACO I certificate.
• 1 year of experience caring for and handling shelter animals and wildlife.

Responsibilities

• Enforces animal-related laws and handles domestic, wild, dangerous, or aggressive animals.
• Relocates wildlife and assists law enforcement during animal-related incidents.
• Responds to complaints and investigates animal code violations; issues warnings and citations.
• Assists in shelter operations including intake data, feeding, cleaning, and animal care.
• Interprets animal control laws; educates residents about services, laws, and animal welfare.

Skills

Animal care experience

Valid driver's license

Policy comprehension

Education

High School diploma or GED

Job description

UNCLASSIFIED POSITION

CURRENT VACANCY IS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT

Minimum Qualifications

High School diploma or GED required: supplemented by one (1) year of experience caring and handling of shelter animals and wildlife; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.

Specific License or Certification Required

Must possess and maintain a valid Georgia driver’s license. Must possess and maintain the following certificate (s) within 12 months of employment: National Animal Control Association (NACA) ACO (Animal Control Officer) I.

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.

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.

Purpose of Classification

The purpose of this classification is to provide a safe environment for both humans and animals residents in Fulton County. Responsibilities involves responding to dispatch 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. This classification is distinguished from Animal Services Officer II in that the latter is a higher-level position that includes training responsibilities. Incumbents work on a varied shift schedule and are subject to be on 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; and 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 investigations and prepares written reports of incidents; 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 courter related activities; and performs follow‑up 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, includingcomplaint 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, follow procedures, and respond effectively in challenging situations.
• Operational Planning & Execution – Ability to organize assignments, follow procedures, coordinate activities, and complete field operations.
• Adaptability & Rapid Problem Solving – Ability to assess changing conditions, respond to unexpected situations, and identify effective solutions.
• Team Cohesion & Communication – Ability to work collaboratively, communicate effectively with diverse individuals, and resolve conflicts.
• Safety & Risk Awareness – Ability to assess risks, maintain situational awareness, follow safety protocols, and protect personnel, the public, and animals.
• Technical & Equipment Proficiency – Experience operating vehicles, specialized equipment, technology systems, and other tools safely and effectively.

Performance Aptitudes

Data Utilization: Requires the ability to review, classify, categorize, prioritize, and/or analyze data. 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.

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 rational systems; to interpret instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule form; and to exercise independent judgment to adopt or modify methods and standards to meet variations in assigned objectives.

Situational Reasoning: Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving evaluation of information against measurable or verifiable criteria.

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, taste, 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, explosives, 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.