Animal Control Officer

City of Kenedy
Kenedy County, Texas
Full time
3 weeks ago

ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER

REPORTS TO: Animal Control Officer Supervisor

EMPLOYEE STATUS: Regular

SCHEDULE: Full-time

STANDARD HOURS PER WEEK: 40.00

OVERTIME STATUS: Non-Exempt
PRIMARY LOCATION: Kenedy, TX, 78119

TRAVEL: Up to 75% of the time

STARTING SALARY RANGE: $18.00/hour+ DOE

Summary/Objective:

The Animal Control Officer is responsible for enforcing city ordinances and state laws related to animal control, ensuring the safety and well-being of both animals and the community. This position responds to animal-related calls, captures and transports stray or dangerous animals, investigates cases of animal cruelty or neglect, and educates the public on responsible pet ownership and local regulations. Key responsibilities include patrolling for stray or abandoned animals, issuing citations for violations, handling dangerous or aggressive animals, and coordinating with shelters and veterinary services for animal care. The Animal Control Officer also assists in public outreach, licensing enforcement, and managing records of impounded animals and related incidents. Success in this position is demonstrated through effective enforcement of animal control laws, timely response to service calls, humane treatment of animals, and positive community engagement.

Supervisory Status:

This position carries no authority over personnel supervision.

Essential Functions:

- Enforce city ordinances and state laws related to animal control, issuing citations and warnings for violations such as leash laws, animal neglect, and public safety concerns.

- Patrol designated areas to locate, capture, and transport stray, injured, or dangerous animals, ensuring their safe removal from public spaces and residential areas.

- Investigate complaints of animal cruelty, neglect, or dangerous animal behavior, gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and coordinating with law enforcement as necessary.

- Respond to emergency and non-emergency animal-related calls, including loose or aggressive animals, injured wildlife, and rabies control incidents.

- Coordinate with shelters, veterinary services, and rescue organizations to ensure proper care, quarantine, or adoption placement for impounded animals.

- Educate the public on responsible pet ownership, licensing requirements, and city animal control policies, promoting community awareness and compliance.

Minimum Experience:

· A high school diploma or GED is required.

· A valid Texas driver’s license.

· Must obtain Basic Animal Control Officer Certification through the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) within twelve (12) months of hire.

· No prior experience is required; however, prior experience as a animal control officer, military, or work in a shelter or veterinary clinic is preferred.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

Skills in:

Ability to:

Work Schedule:
The standard schedule is Monday through Friday, with flexibility for evenings, weekends, and on-call duties as needed for meetings, events, and emergencies. This is an on-site position with no remote or hybrid work options.

Work Environment:

The Animal Control Officer works in a varied and physically demanding environment (80%), with frequent exposure to outdoor conditions, extreme temperatures, and unpredictable situations while patrolling, responding to calls, and capturing animals. Work occurs in residential areas, public spaces, animal shelters, and roadways, requiring adaptability to different environments. This position involves moderate to high noise levels (50%), including barking dogs, sirens, and traffic while responding to animal-related incidents. Frequent exposure to potential hazards (60%), including aggressive animals, zoonotic diseases, waste, and hazardous weather conditions, requires strict adherence to safety protocols. The role also includes office-based administrative duties (20%), such as documenting reports, processing citations, and coordinating with shelters and veterinary services.

Physical Demands:

The Animal Control Officer role requires frequent physical activity (80%), including standing, walking, running, bending, and crouching while capturing, restraining, and transporting animals. The position involves prolonged periods of driving (40%) while patrolling assigned areas and responding to calls. The role requires lifting and carrying animals, equipment, and supplies (50%), with frequent lifting of 25-50 pounds (30%) and occasional lifting over 75 pounds (10%), particularly when handling large or injured animals. Reaching, pulling, and pushing (40%) are necessary when using animal control tools, such as catch poles and traps. Fine motor skills (60%) are required for operating capture equipment, handling tranquilizer darts (if applicable), and completing detailed documentation. Gross motor skills (70%) are necessary for restraining aggressive animals, maneuvering around obstacles, and loading animals into transport vehicles. The role demands high visual acuity (90%) for identifying animals, reading tags, assessing injuries, and safely driving in varying conditions. Hearing acuity (80%) is required for listening for service calls, identifying animal distress sounds, and responding to verbal instructions in high-noise environments. Due to the unpredictable nature of animal control work, quick reflexes, stamina, and endurance (70%) are essential for responding to emergencies, handling aggressive animals, and performing physically demanding tasks in outdoor and high-stress environments.

Disclaimer:

The City of Kenedy provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the City of Kenedy provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities during all phases of employment. The City of Kenedy will make reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Applicants or employees requiring accommodations should contact the City of Kenedy at (830) 583-2230 or via email at applications@kenedytx.gov.

All employment offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment process, including a drug screening conducted in compliance with applicable federal and state laws, a job-related pre-employment physical examination consistent with ADA requirements, and a criminal history check conducted in accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and other applicable fair hiring practices and regulations. Pre-employment screenings, including drug testing and physical examinations, will be conducted in accordance with the ADA and other applicable regulations, ensuring they are job-related and consistent with business necessity. The City of Kenedy will provide applicants with the required notices and obtain written authorization prior to conducting any background check, in compliance with FCRA requirements. Employment with the City of Kenedy is at-will and may be terminated by either party at any time, with or without cause or notice. This policy may not be altered except by a written agreement signed by the City Manager.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $18.00 per hour

Expected hours: No less than 40 per week

Benefits:

Schedule:

Work Location: In person

Apply
Other Job Recommendations:

Tender Care Animal Hospital-Morton

Tender Care Animal Hospital
Tazewell County, Illinois
$95,652 - $128,560 a year
Tender Care Animal Hospital is growing and looking for an Associate Veterinarian to join our team! Located in Morton, IL, we are...
3 weeks ago