Animal Control Officer - Dispatch

Clay County Board of County Commissioners•Safford, AZ

1d•$18 - $21

About The Position

The primary function of the Dispatcher/Animal Care and Control Officer is to perform dispatching duties for Clay County Animal Services. This position is also responsible for investigating animal cruelty and neglect charges and performing related duties to promote compliance with Clay County ordinances regulating animal treatment. The position requires on-call availability, including nights, weekends and holidays.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED equivalent
Must be a minimum of 21 years of age
Minimum of one year of experience in the area of animal control, veterinary medicine, public health or law enforcement
Must become certified as an Animal Control Officer within one year of employment
Must complete Euthanasia Certification course within eighteen months of employment
Valid Florida Driver’s License with a clean driving record
Any combination of education and experience may be substituted, so long as it provides the desired skills, knowledge and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job
Regular attendance is an essential function of this position.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily.
Knowledge of procedures and guidelines for emergency situations.
Excellent communication and active listening skills.
Demonstrate sound judgment and critical thinking skills.
Thorough knowledge of methods and techniques to administer first aid to animals.
Considerable knowledge of County ordinances regulating animal control and related legal procedures.
Ability to comprehend and enforce County ordinances and to comprehend and utilize legal and court procedures as they relate to animal services.
Knowledge of testing procedures of rabid animals.
Considerable knowledge of the Clay County geographical area.
Ability to follow appropriate decapitation procedures.
Ability to deal effectively with the public, especially during emotional or stressful situations and to de-escalate situations using positive communication skills.
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
On-call availability, including nights, weekends and holidays
Employees may be required to perform duties, including the employee’s normal work function or other emergency support functions as deemed necessary by the County, as assigned before, during, and after hazardous weather or state of local emergency.
While requirements may be representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and abilities to perform this job successfully, the incumbent will possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently.
This job description in no way implies that these are the only duties to be performed. Employees occupying the position will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties as requested by their supervisor.
The position regularly lifts and/or moves up to 50 pounds, frequently lifts and/or moves up to 75 pounds, and occasionally lifts and/or moves up to 100-200 pounds.
The person in this position frequently ascends and descends from an animal-transport vehicle and ascends descends stairs as necessary to facilitate investigations of animal wellbeing, bites, aggressive/nuisance animals, etc.
Constantly positions self to inspect and assess animals in a variety of situations in indoor and outdoor spaces.
Frequently communicates with supervisors, other staff, law-enforcement professionals and the public regarding animal welfare, bites, aggressive/nuisance, stray or at-large animals. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
The worker is subject to indoor and outdoor environmental conditions. Indoor exposure may include dust, dander and fur. External exposure may include inclement weather, extreme temperatures, humidity, and pollution.
Position risks exposure to bites, scratches, animal waste and unpleasant odors.
The noise level is typically moderate, but may risk exposure to loud and unpleasant noises.

Responsibilities

Receive emergency and non-emergency calls and record significant information
Address problems and requests by transmitting information or providing solutions
Prioritize calls according to urgency and importance
Use radio, phone or computer to send crews, vehicles or other field units to appropriate locations
Provide field units with information about calls
Enter data in computer system and maintain logs and records of calls, activities and other information
Observes and reports violations of Animal Services Ordinances to appropriate individuals for further consideration.
Responds to and investigates complaints of animal bites, dangerous animals, animal cruelty and animal nuisance and determines if there is a violation; takes appropriate actions to comply with ordinances.
Picks up and impounds stray or at-large animals.
Aids animals in distress by feeding starving animals and freeing trapped animals.
Removes animals from inhumane conditions and drives vehicle to transport animals to shelter for treatment and care.
Prepares written investigative reports, issues warning notices or citations, and takes sworn statements that may result in court action.
Conducts preliminary investigations and files reports on cruelty and animal neglect complaints.
Works closely with other humane and law enforcement agencies on incidents involving animals.
Provides for care and maintenance of assigned vehicles, equipment and facilities.
Performs on call work as needed.
Performs other duties as assigned.