ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER

 DEFINITION

 Under direction, handles, captures and, when necessary, humanely
 destroys wild and strayed domesticated animals and birds; cares 
 for impounded animals; cleans and maintains the impounding facility; 
 may take the lead over one or more Assistant Animal Control Officers; 
 does other related work.

 NOTE: The examples of work for this title are for illustrative
 purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform
 all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties
 performed on the job may not be listed.

 EXAMPLES OF WORK:

 Patrols the streets, captures and impounds stray animals, wild game,
 birds, and unlicensed dogs.

 Cares for and feeds animals in the public pound and observes their
 physical condition and behavior.

 Contacts veterinarian when necessary.

 Uses nets, traps, or tranquilizer gun to capture wild animals or
 strayed domesticated pets.

 Captures and impounds animals suspected of being rabid and 
 observes their physical condition.

 Destroys rabid animals in a humane way and takes their remains 
 to State Health Clinic for analysis.

 Handles complaints regarding wild and stray animals, and licensed 
 and unlicensed domesticated animals. 

 Enforces the rabies control program and issues summons for 
 violations of local or state animal control ordinances.

 Cleans and maintains sanitation of the impounding facility; washes 
 and scrubs the facility, cleans up feces and urine, and dips and 
 bathes animals, to rid them of fleas and ticks.

 Promotes the adoption of animals and arranges for their spaying 
 and neutering.

 Where authorized to serve as the designated Humane Law 
 Enforcement Officer for the jurisdiction, investigates, signs 
 complaints, arrests violators, and otherwise acts as an officer 
 for the detection, apprehension, and arrest of offenders against 
 animal welfare and animal cruelty laws and ordinances.  

 Prepares clear, sound, accurate, and comprehensive reports of 
 inspections and other reports containing findings, conclusions, 
 and recommendations.

 Maintains essential records and files.

 Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic 
 and/or manual recording and information systems used by the 
 agency, office, or related units.
 
 REQUIREMENTS:

 EXPERIENCE:

 One (1) year of experience in animal control.

 NOTE:  The experience requirement is applicable ONLY in those 
 jurisdictions where  an Assistant Animal Control Officer is also
 employed.  Applicants seeking employment in jurisdictions where 
 only the Animal Control Officer title is used do not have to meet this 
 experience requirement.

 NOTE:  In jurisdictions where the Animal Control Officer serves 
 as the designated, authorized Humane Law Enforcement Officer, 
 appointees will be required to satisfactorily complete a Police 
 Training Commission (PTC) approved animal protection law 
 enforcement training course within one year of designation as 
 a Humane Law Enforcement Officer.  Such training includes 
 successful attainment of a satisfactory level of proficiency in the 
 use of firearms on a semi-annual basis.   

 LICENSE:

 Applicants must possess a current and valid certificate as an Animal 
 Control Officer issued by the New Jersey Department of Health.

 NOTE:  Appointees may be required to complete a course and 
 obtain certification in the Chemical Immobilization of Animals.  

 Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in 
 New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee 
 mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

 KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

 Knowledge of the methods and techniques used to handle and 
 capture stray and wild animals, and birds.

 Knowledge of the types of equipment used in animal control.

 Knowledge of the common communicable diseases of 
 domesticated and wild animals and the methods of control.

 Knowledge of the methods used to care for and feed impounded 
 animals.

 Knowledge of the humane methods used to destroy stray and 
 wild animals, and birds.

 Ability to interpret laws, rules and regulations and apply them 
 to specific situations.

 Ability to capture and impound animals.

 Ability to feed and care for animals.

 Ability to promote the adoption of animals.

 Ability to recognize sick or injured animals and to arrange 
 for medical care.

 Ability to handle complaints regarding animals and take proper
 remedial actions.

 Ability to humanely destroy animals and birds when necessary.

 Ability to enforce the jurisdiction's rabies control program.

 Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or 
 manual recording and information systems used by the 
 agency, office, or related units.

 Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in 
 English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position.  
 American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered 
 as acceptable forms of communication.

 Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long 
 as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without 
 reasonable accommodation.  If the accommodation cannot be 
 made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, 
 such persons may not be eligible.


This job specification is applicable to the following title code:
Job
Spec
Code
Variant
State,
Local or
Common
Class of
Service
Work
Week
State
Class
Code
Local
Class
Code
Salary
Range
Note
00264@
L
C
  
N/A
04
-

This job specification is for local government use only.
Salary range is only applicable to state government.
Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions.

 2/01/2019