Animal Services Officer

Safety/Security Status: Security Sensitive

SUMMARY Animal Service Officers enforce local ordinances and state laws concerning the care and treatment of animals. They work directly with citizens concerning animal control, animal welfare issues, investigations, and public education making the community safer for residents and animals.  They are responsible for a significant portion of the 850k annual budget maintaining equipment, facilities and resources that support the function of the department.   

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following: reporting, relationships, work assignments, and work schedules may be subject to change to meet City needs or operational requirements.  Attendance at work and the ability to get along with the public, supervisors, and co-workers are essential elements of this position. Other duties may be assigned.

1. Enforce state laws and City of Bentonville ordinances pertaining to animals.


2. Investigate animal cruelty and animal bite cases; organize and maintain accurate records of investigations; prepares and submits investigative reports; and testifies in court.


3. Professionally communicates information about municipal code and state law to citizens and other city employees.


4. Enters animal services data and reports into the police department software.


5. Prepares & presents educational programs for youth groups, schools & civic organizations and interacts professionally with the public at community events.


6. Responds to emergency calls involving animal attacks or injured animals and administer first aid to injured animals until veterinary care can be obtained.


7. Humanely trap “at large” animals including dogs, cats and wildlife as needed.


8. Safely pick up and humanely dispose of deceased wildlife and domesticated animals.


9. Perform humane chemical euthanasia of deathly sick or injured wildlife and domesticated animals.


10. Practices safe handling the animals and the tracking the use of controlled substances.


11. Performs chemical capture of dangerous animals utilizing dart rifle and other trapping devices.


12. Assist in animal shelter operations and staffing with welcoming visitors and answering calls and citizen inquiries about city animal services.


13. Assists with daily cleaning and disinfecting of cages, walls, floors, and equipment, as well as cleaning and disinfecting assigned vehicles, cages, traps, and equipment.


14. Play a vital role with the shelter in adoption programs including community events and community education on responsible pet ownership.


15. Feed, water and care for all animals in the shelter and perform other duties as assigned by the Shelter Manager and Animal Services Supervisor.


16. Performs other duties as required.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES None.

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 and/or EXPERIENCE High school diploma or equivalent and 6 to 12 months of animal handling experience preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

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 add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent.

REASONING ABILITY Able to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Pass a criminal background check. 

Must possess a valid Driver’s License.

Attend and graduate from the National Animal Care & Control Academy (N.A.C.A) within (5) five years of employment and attain a certified Level I or II. (preferred)

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 regularly required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and climb or balance. The employee is occasionally required to sit and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

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 is frequently exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

The City of Bentonville is committed to providing equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, veteran status, political status, disability status, or genetic information, as required by all federal and state laws.  The City’s commitment extends to all employment related decisions, terms, and conditions of employment (including job opportunities), promotions, pay and benefits.