Walton County Sheriff's Office - Animal Control Officer

Position Summary

The Animal Control Officer is responsible for enforcing animal-related county ordinances, responding to complaints involving domestic, exotic, and wild animals, and ensuring the safety and well-being of both the public and animals. Key duties include investigating animal bites, cruelty, and nuisance complaints; capturing and transporting dangerous or injured animals; issuing citations; providing emergency animal care; and preparing reports for legal proceedings. This position requires frequent interaction with the public, often in stressful situations, and involves handling potentially dangerous animals. The role also includes on-call emergency response, maintenance of transport vehicles, and occasional assistance with kennel duties. Reliable and prompt attendance is essential, along with the ability to perform a wide range of related tasks as assigned.

Qualifications 

Level I:

• Education – High school diploma or GED equivalent
• Experience – One (1) year related experience

*Or any equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the required competencies to perform the job.

• Valid Driver License
• Certifications:
  • o   Must obtain Animal Control Officer Certification within six (6) months of hire
  • o   Must obtain Florida Euthanasia Certification within six (6) months of hire
  • o   Must receive Inmate Work Program Training within six (6) months of hire
• Preferred – Experience handling animals

Level II:

• Education – High school diploma or GED equivalent
• Experience – Two (2) years related experience

*Or any equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the required competencies to perform the job.

• Valid Driver License
• Certifications:
  • o   Animal Control Officer Certification
  • o   Florida Euthanasia Certification
  • o   Must receive Inmate Work Program Training within six (6) months of hire

Essential Job Functions

This list of functions, duties, responsibilities, skills, and physical abilities is not intended to be all-inclusive, and the employer reserves the right to assign additional functions and responsibilities as deemed necessary.

• Responds to complaints concerning animals at large, cruelty to animals, injured animals, animals creating a nuisance, and animal attacks on humans and other animals. Responds to complaints that involve livestock, exotic animals and domestic animals.
• Investigates alleged animal bites to humans or domestic animals, including checking for current rabies vaccinations, quarantining animals, ascertaining rabies symptoms or potential symptoms and releasing animals from quarantine.
• Assumes on-call emergency responsibilities and responds to injured/sick animal or bite complaints.
• Handles animals that are in violation of County ordinances, which are often dangerous, vicious and/or wild, and impounds them as necessary.
• Issues warnings and citations to owners of animals in violation of County ordinances and testifies to those citations in County Court. Additionally, may be required to testify in criminal proceedings.
• Handles, transports and cares for injured and healthy reptiles, including, poisonous snakes, alligators and exotic reptiles. Handles, transports and cares for injured and healthy mammals, including felines and mustelids (e.g.: badgers, ferrets, skunks, otters, weasels).
• Provides emergency first aid to animals prior to veterinary examination.
• Performs euthanization of animals, as required, and performs decapitations for rabies examination.
• Picks up and transports injured wildlife to rehabilitation centers.
• Prepares investigative reports that may be introduced as legal evidence.
• Sets and services animal traps in the field and removes captured animals for relocation or transport to holding facilities.
• Drives animal transport vehicles, trucks and pickup trucks while patrolling assigned areas of the County.
• Interacts routinely with citizens concerning animal problems, often under stressful conditions.
• Maintains County animal transport vehicles, ensuring cleanliness and adequate supplies.
• Determines what order calls will be responded to and when a call should be referred to a supervisor.
• Performs related work as required.
• Assist with kennel duties as needed.
• Dependable and punctual attendance is an essential function of this job.

Required Skills

• Ability to handle or restrain large and often dangerous animals.
• Ability to comprehend and follow both oral and written instructions.
• Ability to use a computer to maintain and extract information.
• Ability to learn to use radiotelephone communication devices and follow FCC regulations.
• Ability to herd livestock and load livestock onto stock trailers.
• Strong written communication skills including knowledge of correct grammar, accurate spelling skills, and good composition skills.
• Strong verbal communication skills needed to accurately convey information to others.

Key Competencies

• Knowledge of the custodial care of animals.
• Knowledge of the laws and regulations governing domestic animals.
• Knowledge of domestic animal breeds and behaviors.
• Knowledge of behavior and care of wild reptiles, birds and mammals.
• Ability to learn and recognize symptoms of rabies and distemper.
• Ability to perform animal euthanasia.
• Ability to decapitate animals for rabies investigations
• Ability to enforce animal control ordinances tactfully, firmly, and impartially.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to fill out citations and keep records; prepare and present reports of activities.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to physically control highly active/aggressive animals, potentially weighing in excess of 80 pounds, using available equipment.
• Ability to walk, stand, bend, stretch, kneel, stoop, reach and climb frequently.
• Much of the work is driving a County Vehicle or outside with exposure to all types of weather, water, odors, carrion, and dangerous animals.
• This job risks exposure to bright/dim light, dusts and pollen, extreme heat and/or cold, wet or humid conditions, extreme noise levels, fumes and/or noxious odors, electrical shock, toxic/caustic chemicals, and explosives.
• Possibility of exposure to animal/human waste and/or bodily fluids.
• Regular exposure to animal hair and dander.
• This job requires normal visual acuity and field of vision, hearing and speaking.

The Walton County Sheriff's Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Walton County Sheriff's Office will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

Veterans are encouraged to apply. Pursuant to applicable state and federal law, preference and priority shall be given to certain service members and veterans (including spouses and family members of such service members and veterans), and certain service members may be eligible for a waiver of post-secondary educational requirements as provided in Chapter 295, Florida Statutes.