ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER

Patrols designated geographical areas to enforce animal regulations, laws, and ordinances. 

•  Answers complaints concerning animals, conducts cruelty investigations and dangerous dog investigations, picks up stray and unwanted animals, sets humane animal traps, investigates and quarantines biting animals and issues warnings or citations.  

• Identifies and handles wild and/or vicious animals and uses proper handling precautions.  

• Investigates complaints of potential rabid wildlife, captures, euthanizes, and prepares for rabies testing as needed.  

• Rescues, picks up and transports sick, injured, and dead animals.  

• Provides information to the public regarding municipal codes and laws.

• May be asked to appear in court to testify regarding animal control cases.  

• Prepares narratives for court cases as needed. 

• Some weekend work required and rotation of on-call scheduling.  

• Maintains logs of incoming animal activity and number of animals euthanized.  

• May be called to stand-by in situations involving animals for Police Department, Sheriff’s Department, and Lea County Animal Control Department. 

• May assist in surgical area.  

• Administer pre-sedation medication to animals for surgical purposes, intubate animals for surgery, move animals from one table to another, observe surgical procedures and assist the attending Veterinarian.  

• May also administer vaccinations to animals as directed, administer narcotics, ensure proper procedures are followed in the safe handling of narcotics, ensure proper surgical recovery procedures are followed and administered.

• Assist at HAAC as needed and on weekend rotations.  

• Assist Code Enforcement Officers as needed.

• May require shift work, including weekends, and being on-call.

Education and Experience:

Graduation from high school or GED equivalent required. Minimum two years of experience in customer service, public relations, or handling of domestic animals required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Skill in handling of a snare, Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) spray, and an animal control stick in order to capture, disable and/or restrain animals.

• Knowledge of standard Microsoft Software and basic computer skills. 

• Knowledge of city geography.

• Ability to learn and understand all components related to the Animal Adoption Center.
   Ability to learn and understand all computer based equipment related to the Animal Adoption Center and the Hobbs Police Department in order to complete their job functions. 

• Ability to undergo a series of prophylaxis vaccinations.

• Ability to perform euthanasia and become proficient with euthanasia equipment. 

• Ability to work with aggressive, vicious and/or biting animals. 

• Ability to become familiar with City and State Animal Control laws.  

• Ability to communicate effectively and deal with complainants and offenders, who are often frustrated, angry, or irate. 

• Ability to work independently and to complete daily activities according to work schedule. 

• Ability to perform duties with a high degree of attention to detail with a high degree of accuracy.

• Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing.  

• Ability to understand, follow and transmit written and oral instructions.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the Officers, the Fire Department, Water Department, City Attorney, Municipal Court personnel, County Treasurer’s office, County Assessor’s Office, County Environmental, and general public.

LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS

• Valid state issued driver’s license.

• Ability to obtain National Animal Control Association (NACA) training within one year of date of hire, if applicable.    

• Ability to obtain Euthanasia certification within one year of date of hire and the ability to maintain the certification throughout employment with Environmental Division.

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 frequently required to talk, hear, or reach with hands and arms from a standing position.  The employee is frequently required to sit, stand, walk, run, kneel or twist and use hands and fingers to handle feel or operate objects, tools or controls. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance, stoop, crouch or crawl. 

The employee must frequently lift and/or move heavy objects up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 80 pounds or more.  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 regularly works outdoors.  The employee is frequently exposed to adverse weather conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals and animal diseases transmittable to humans.   The employee is frequently around animals that are agitated or injured that may attempt to bite or scratch, and occasionally exposed to stinging insects, snakebites, and varmints. 

The noise level in the work environment is moderate to loud, depending on duties performed.