Animal Control Officer
The City of Benbrook is accepting applications for the position of Animal Control Officer.
Salary Range: $48,056 to $64,400 annually.
Responds to citizen inquiries regarding nuisance animals, deceased animals, animal capture and disease information. Investigates rabies inquiries, gathers victim and owner information, captures animals for quarantine and advises on State rabies control laws. Checks animals for rabies and prepares rabies specimens for shipment to laboratory. Prepares and ships rabies specimens. Investigates animal bite and other animal related injury cases and prepares associated reports. Investigates cases of animal cruelty, prepares any associated reports, and works with criminal investigators and other police personnel on animal cases involving cruelty. Captures, restrains, releases or disposes of wild animals such as skunks, bats, foxes, badgers and opossums. Manages livestock by capturing, returning, restraining or removing from premises. Enforces state, local laws and ordinances and issues citations when warranted. Cleans and maintains shelter areas daily. Provides a safe and sanitary environment for the temporary housing of impounded animals. Provides food, water, and care for all impounded animals on a daily basis. Assesses the health of animals housed in the shelter and provides basic care as required. Provides public education regarding animal control ordinances and responsible pet ownership. Gives tours of the animal shelter and speaks at schools and local civic organizations. Operates and cares for animal control vehicles and equipment. Maintains inventory in animal control shelter and vehicles. Provides humane euthanasia services on a varying number of animals as needed for relief of suffering conditions. Performs administrative duties as required such as maintaining a database of impounded animals, scanning impounded animals for microchips, and answering phones. Serves as the Local Rabies Control Authority and performs the duties required in Section 826.017 of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Ability to sit, stand and drive a vehicle to and from various worksites. Employee will be exposed to extreme temperatures while patrolling and retrieving animals and maintaining kennel and grounds. Employee also may work around potentially hazardous chemicals or dangerous animals while moving them from or to different areas. Ability to lift bags of materials such as dog food or animals weighing 40 to 60 pounds regularly.
KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES AND SKILLS
Knowledge of the following: Operations and services of an animal control program; Methods and techniques of animal control; Principles and practices of animal behavior and animal care; Principles and practices of animal investigations; Principles and procedures of animal handling, collection, impoundment, quarantine, and disposal; Computers, including but not limited to Microsoft Office products; Equipment necessary to restrain animals such as catch poles, trucks and various traps and cages.
Ability to: Communicate clearly, concisely, and effectively, both orally and in writing; Take direction and be willing to learn; Capture and handle both domestic and non-domestic animals; Establish and maintain effective working relationships with citizens, other agencies, supervisors, and employees: Lift and control animals safely; Identify mistreated animals and determine severity of injuries; Understand and follow written and oral instructions; Respond to emergency calls during evenings, after-hours, holidays, and weekends; Ability to work all shifts and on-call schedule.
Skilled in: Organization and detail; Multitasking, planning, and prioritizing; Customer service; Communication, both written and oral; Interpreting and applying City policies, procedures, and regulations; Math, in order to compute and maintain various records and measure chemicals.
MINIMUM EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND CERTIFICATION
High School diploma or equivalent; Texas Vehicle Operators License; six months experience working with animals.
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS: Employees receive paid medical, life and dental insurance; optional dependent insurance at employee expense, TMRS Retirement, 5 year vesting, 7% employee contribution, City match 2-1; sick and vacation leave, paid holidays optional deferred compensation plan.
Applications are available by download or may be picked up at City Hall, 911 Winscott Road or at Benbrook Police Department, 1080 Mercedes Street, Benbrook, TX.
