Job Title: Animal Control Officer

Department: Sheriff's Office

Salary: $23.93 - $30.27 per hour, depending on experience

General Position Summary
At the direction of the Operations Lieutenant, enforce County and State animal ordinances and cruelty laws pertaining to licensing and dog control in the protection of County citizens and their property and ensures the humane treatment of animals.  

Essential Functions
The following may not be all inclusive and other duties may be assigned.

• Conducts investigations of dangerous dogs and/or exotic hybrid complaints in accordance with Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) Chapter 609 and Klamath County Code (KCC) 403; assesses animal temperament; makes recommendations to the Court on the issue of declaring the animal dangerous; and testifies in Court as an expert witness.
• Investigates cruelty, abuse, or neglect complaints pertaining to dogs; interviews witnesses and suspects; gathers evidence and may seize or impound the animal.
• Receives calls requesting assistance or investigation of violations and patrols the County looking for violations, dogs running loose, unlicensed dogs; dogs destroying livestock; initiates investigations; makes referrals to local law enforcement, or issues citations to violators as appropriate.
• Represents the Animal Control program to the public, civic and educational groups interested in dog care, bite prevention, safety and other related topics.
• May assist law enforcement officers in situations involving animals; provides instruction in animal control techniques, apprehension and control of dangerous animals and accidents involving animals; arranges transport of injured animals to appropriate treatment facilities.
• Maintains program equipment and supplies such as vehicles, radios and catch poles.  Ensures the operability of all equipment and maintains supplies in sufficient quantity within department standards.
• Maintains activity logs of citations issued and dogs transported calls received in current records management system.
• Investigates dog bite incidents and refers victims to medical treatment; enforces statutory rabies quarantine requirements and effectively reviews recommendations on prevention reoccurrence.
• On-Call to respond to officer verified emergencies or dogs killing livestock (If available).
• Enters both criminal and violation citations into the current County records management system, files citations and reports into the existing systems; follows up with Justice Court for citation disposition and conducts record searches.
• Assist Animal Control Clerical personnel as necessary.

Supervisory Responsibilities
This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education, Certification, & Experience
High school diploma or general education degree (GED); BA/BS preferred: work in jobs having similar duties; experience in supervision preferred.

• Valid Driver's License
• Current Oregon Notary License
• Current First Aid/CPR
• Ability to be sworn as an Animal Control Officer.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Language Skills
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.  Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.  Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
Mathematical Skills
Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.  Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
Reasoning Ability
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Computer Skills
To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Spreadsheet software; Word Processing software and Contact Management systems.

Physical Requirements
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.  The employee is frequently required to walk; sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel.  The employee is occasionally required to stand; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds or more.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Working Conditions
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.
The duties of this Job are conducted within an office environment, within a vehicle and outdoors.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate with frequent exposure to barking dogs and police radio.  There is frequent exposure to the outdoor elements commensurate with the current season and weather condition such as heat, cold, rain, snow and ice.

Work Schedule
The normal work schedule is 8.00 hours per day 5 days per week; exact schedules are assigned by management.  It is the attendance standards of the employer that all employees be present and on time each shift they are scheduled to work.  Full or partial absence during any scheduled shift, arriving late, or leaving early, for whatever reason, may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.  Time off may be approved if allowed by applicable policies covering illness, injury, or other personal emergency.