Animal Resources & Care Dispatch Officer

NOTE: TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS VACANCY, ALL APPLICANTS MUST APPLY ONLINE AT EXTERNAL LINK PROVIDED

Graduation from high school or equivalent and one year of experience in the area of animal control, dispatcher, veterinary medicine, code enforcement or law enforcement; or any equivalent combination of related training and experience. Must provide means of being contacted by phone. Applicants within six months of meeting the minimum education/experience may be considered for trainee status.

A Valid Florida Driver License is required and a Motor Vehicle Record that meets the requirements of Alachua County policy #6-7; Motor Vehicle Records will be reviewed prior to employment.   If, in the past 24-month period, the applicants Motor Vehicle Record has more than three (3) moving traffic infractions or three (3) or more at fault motor vehicle accidents (or combination of both and /or a conviction/pending charge for driving under the influence) or is in violation of any standard mandated by Federal or State Law or Regulation, the minimum qualifications are not met for the position.

As a condition of employment, incumbents must meet all Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) requirements/ prerequisites to handle controlled substances and successfully pass both the forty-hour minimum standards training course (Animal Control Officer Certification) and the Euthanasia Technician Certification Course through the Florida Animal Control Association (FACA) and become a Florida Notary Public within six (6) months of date of hire.

Successful completion of a drug screen & pre-employment physical examination and successful completion of all applicable background checks pre-hire and ongoing are required.

Position Summary:

This is specialized dispatch, compliance, and investigative work enforcing County Animal Ordinances in the Alachua County Animal Resources & Care Department.

An employee assigned to this classification gathers and generates information to and from the public and outside agencies and dispatches the appropriate personnel; ensures public safety, animal welfare, and officer safety.  The employee in this position investigates animal cruelty and neglect charges and performs related duties to promote compliance with Alachua County ordinances regulating animal treatment.

Work is performed under the direction of a higher-level supervisor and is reviewed through conferences, reports and observation of the results obtained.

Examples of Duties:

This is an emergency essential classification. Upon declaration of a disaster and/or emergency, all employees in this classification are required to work.

Exudes a positive customer service focus.

Advocates building organizational culture through aligning decisions with core values including: integrity, honesty, respect, diversity, innovation, accountability and communication.

Receives incoming calls from the public or outside agencies for animal-related services; evaluates information to determine services needed.

Understands and explains state statues and county ordinance of animal welfare to the public and staff.

Prioritizes requested field services, records information necessary to determine priority of complaint, location, nature of incident and status of complaint and notifies applicable officers to respond to requests for service.

Conducts research of locations, persons histories, and relays information to officers; monitors animal field officers’ location and safety remotely.

Responsible for data entry, including but not limited to, entering animal control officer paperwork, vaccination records, transfer paperwork, checking lost and found reports, and intake paperwork.

Assists with acquisition of aggressive and non-aggressive animals by means of restraint, vaccination, transport, and placement of animals into kennels.

Investigates complaints, determines if there is a violation and takes appropriate actions to comply with ordinances.

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.

Coordinates fleet maintenance to include scheduling, arranging transport and/or transporting department vehicles to fleet division.

Performs euthanasia on injured, sick, dangerous, or unwanted animals by means of lethal injection; calculates dosage requirements for euthanasia procedures according to the weight of the animal.

Prepares rabies specimens for laboratory tests by decapitating and placing specimens in biohazard containers.

May transport rabies specimen.

Drives a County and/or personal vehicle to perform duties.

Performs the duties listed, as well as those assigned, with professionalism and a sense of urgency.

NOTE: The examples listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various kinds of work performed in positions allocated to this class. 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.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Thorough knowledge of methods and techniques used to administer first aid to animals and to perform euthanasia procedures on animals.

Considerable knowledge of County ordinances regulating animal control and related legal procedures.

Considerable knowledge of the Gainesville/Alachua County geographical area.

Knowledge of testing procedures of rabid animals.

Knowledge of effective telephone etiquette.

Ability to perform euthanasia procedures on injured, sick dangerous or unwanted animals by means of lethal injection.

Ability to follow appropriate euthanasia and decapitation procedures.

Ability to comprehend and enforce County ordinances as they relate to animal services.

Ability to deal effectively with the public, especially during emotional or stressful situations.

Ability to effectively investigate complaints and prepare appropriate documentation.

Ability to effectively handle animals in all situations.

Ability to comprehend and utilize legal and court procedures as they apply to Alachua County Animal Ordinances.

Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Ability to deal effectively with outside agencies, other County employees and the public.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear, and use hands to finger, handle or feel.

The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance.

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to outdoor weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.