Field Services Officer

Train and evaluate Animal Services Officer recruits; educate citizens and animal owners on the importance of being a responsible pet owner; respond to the more complex issues to include difficult citizen inquiries and complaints regarding animals; investigate reports of malicious cruelty; draft affidavits for search/seizure warrants; enforce City ordinances pertaining to the care, treatment, impound, handling and quarantine of wild and domestic animals; perform euthanasia; and perform a variety of tasks relative to assigned area of responsibility.

This is a safety sensitive position subject to random drug/alcohol testing.

Job descriptions are intended to present a general list of tasks/duties performed by employees within this job classification. Job Descriptions are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.
 ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Essential functions may include, but are not limited to the functions listed below. Must be able to perform the essential functions of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation.

1. Serve as a field training officer; train and evaluate Animal Services Officer recruits.
2. Respond to and resolve the more complex field issues to include difficult citizen inquiries and complaints regarding animals.
3. Respond to and investigate malicious cruelty reports; prepare affidavits for search/seizure warrants; execute and serve warrants.
4. Educate citizens and animal owners on the importance of being a responsible pet owner
5. Impound animals; determine breed, sex of wild and domestic animals.
6. Patrol all assigned area of City, search for stray, domestic, exotic, wild animals and deceased or diseased animals; take appropriate action.
7. Investigate and respond to reports of animal bites, nuisance complaints, physical abuse, cruelty and abandonment; enforce pertinent city ordinances.
8. Conduct inspections of premises including but not limited to pet stores, pet service providers, guard dog sites and boarding kennels, for compliance of pertinent city ordinances.
9. Issue various citations, criminal complaints or warnings as necessary; receive summons and appear and testify in court.
10. Conduct animal rescues utilizing appropriate equipment.
11. Operate and maintain a variety of animal handling equipment; place animals in quarantine as required by law to prevent spread of disease.
12. Maintain a variety of services animal control logs and files; prepare forms and reports; enter and retrieve information on electronic equipment.
13. Perform euthanasia on wild (non-domestic) rabies carriers such as: skunk, bat, raccoon, badger, squirrel, porcupine, rat, mice, possum, rabbit, ground hog, badger, beaver and prairie dog, in order to prevent suffering of an animal, disease and public safety issues.

SUPPLEMENTAL FUNCTIONS:

1. May be responsible for personnel in the absence of the Field Supervisor.
2. Conduct lectures or training on Animal services issues and behavior at public schools, neighborhood associations and businesses etc.
3. Conduct media interviews as assigned.
4. Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

Education and experience directly related to the minimum requirements below may be interchangeable on a year for year basis.  

Exception: The two (2) years of experience in enforcing ordinances related to the control, impoundment and disposition of animals is not interchangeable.

Associate's degree from an accredited college or university in zoology, biology, animal science or animal welfare; and

Four (4) years of animal handling work experience in a professional animal services facility, which must include at least two (2) years experience in enforcing ordinances related to the control, impoundment and disposition of animals.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: 

Possession of a valid New Mexico Driver's License, or the ability to obtain by date of hire.
Possession of a City Operator's Permit (COP) within 6 months from date of hire.
Possession of a valid Euthanasia Technician License issued by the State of New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department within three (3) months from date of hire.
Possession of the Departments, Field Training Certification within one (1) year from date of hire.Environmental:
Field and animal shelter environments; exposure to a variety of domestic and wild animals, animal body fluids, waste and other infectious materials and inclement weather conditions.

Physical:
Essential and supplemental functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for heavy or moderate lifting; bending, stooping, kneeling, crawling or walking for prolonged periods of time; and operating motorized vehicles.