Animal Control Officer Jobs in Kentucky (NOW HIRING)

Job Description: Important—Please Read ThoroughlyPlease read this job description carefully and in its entirety.Applicants must have previous work experience in an animal shelter, law-enforcement agency, or animal-control agency to be considered for this position. Applicants who do not meet at least one of these experience requirements will not be considered.A random code phrase that has nothing to do with the position has also been included somewhere in this description. Applicants will be asked to provide the code phrase during the application or interview process to confirm that they read the entire job description.Position SummaryThe Part-Time Animal Control Officer/Kennel Technician performs a combination of animal-control and kennel-care duties for Logan County Animal Care and Control.On Thursdays and Fridays, the employee will primarily perform kennel technician duties, including cleaning and disinfecting kennels, caring for dogs, evaluating canine behavior, conducting dog-to-dog introductions, and helping ensure the shelter’s established standards are consistently maintained.On Saturdays, the employee will primarily perform Animal Control Officer duties. The employee will also provide on-call Animal Control coverage on Sundays and after normal working hours from Thursday through Sunday.The employee must live in Logan County and maintain Logan County residency throughout employment. This requirement is necessary to ensure the employee can respond promptly to after-hours and on-call Animal Control calls.This is a part-time position scheduled for up to 30 hours per week. The position may have the opportunity to transition to full-time employment beginning in July 2027, depending on departmental needs, available funding, employee performance, and county approval. Future full-time employment is not guaranteed.This position works directly under and reports to the Lead Animal Control Officer and works closely with the LCACC Director and Assistant Director/Veterinary Technician.Work Schedule and PayThe regular schedule and primary responsibilities for this position are: Thursday: Kennel technician duties and after-hours Animal Control on-call coverage. Friday: Kennel technician duties and after-hours Animal Control on-call coverage. Saturday: Animal Control Officer duties and after-hours Animal Control on-call coverage. Sunday: On-call Animal Control Officer coverage. Hours: Up to 30 hours per week. Pay: $15.92 per hour. The schedule may be adjusted based on animal-care needs, staffing, emergencies, holidays, call volume, and departmental operations.The employee must live in Logan County and remain within a reasonable response distance while on call. Availability for after-hours and on-call coverage from Thursday through Sunday is an essential requirement of this position.Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesAnimal Control Responsibilities Serve as the scheduled Animal Control Officer on Saturdays and as the on-call Animal Control Officer on Sundays. Provide after-hours Animal Control on-call coverage from Thursday through Sunday. Respond to animal-control calls received through Logan County Dispatch, law enforcement, or the LCACC Director. Investigate complaints involving stray, roaming, aggressive, injured, neglected, or abandoned dogs. Safely capture, restrain, transport, and impound dogs when necessary. Educate members of the public regarding applicable state laws, county ordinances, responsible pet ownership, and available shelter resources. Provide verbal or written warnings when authorized and appropriate. Thoroughly document possible violations by completing all required reports, statements, notices, photographs, and other supporting documentation. Refer cases that may warrant a citation to the Lead Animal Control Officer for review. Provide the Lead Animal Control Officer with all documentation and evidence necessary to determine whether a citation should be issued. Understand that the Lead Animal Control Officer will make the final determination regarding citations and will prepare and issue any citation considered necessary. Complete all animal-control reports, case documentation, and animal-intake records accurately and promptly. Work cooperatively with law enforcement, Logan County Dispatch, the Health Department, veterinary providers, and other agencies. Assist with bite investigations, quarantines, welfare checks, and other animal-control matters as directed. Follow all applicable Kentucky laws, Logan County ordinances, departmental policies, and shelter procedures. Report significant animal-control incidents to the Lead Animal Control Officer and shelter leadership. After-Hours and Sunday On-Call Responsibilities Remain available for after-hours Animal Control calls from Thursday through Sunday. Remain available for Animal Control calls throughout the assigned Sunday on-call period. Live in Logan County and maintain Logan County residency throughout employment. Remain within Logan County and within a reasonable response distance while assigned to on-call duty unless otherwise approved by the LCACC Director. Maintain reliable telephone communication and remain able to respond while on call. Respond within the timeframe established by the LCACC Director. Coordinate with the LCACC Director or Lead Animal Control Officer after receiving a call from Logan County Dispatch to determine the appropriate response. Travel to the location of a qualifying call and respond in person when directed or required. Properly document all calls received and actions taken while on call. Notify the Lead Animal Control Officer or LCACC Director of serious incidents or situations requiring additional assistance or guidance. Understand that after-hours and on-call availability from Thursday through Sunday is an essential function of this position. Kennel Operations and Animal Care Clean, disinfect, and maintain assigned kennels and surrounding animal-care areas. Perform all cleaning and sanitation duties according to the shelter’s established Standard Operating Procedures, cleaning guidelines, and disease-prevention protocols. Consistently maintain the level of cleanliness and animal care required by shelter leadership. Ensure cleaning chemicals, disinfectants, and equipment are properly prepared, used, stored, and maintained. Ensure all dogs receive proper food, fresh water, clean bedding, exercise, enrichment, and daily observation. Monitor dogs for signs of illness, injury, stress, aggression, or changes in behavior and immediately report any concerns directly to the Assistant Director/Veterinary Technician or shelter leadership. Assist with administering vaccines, medications, preventatives, and other treatments as directed and permitted by the Assistant Director/Veterinary Technician. Safely move, handle, restrain, and evaluate dogs of varying sizes, breeds, temperaments, and medical conditions. Assist with laundry, dishes, waste removal, stocking supplies, and general facility maintenance as needed. Help maintain a safe, clean, professional, and welcoming environment for animals, employees, volunteers, and visitors. Dog Behavior Assessment and Safe HandlingA major responsibility of this position is evaluating dog behavior and safely introducing dogs to one another. The employee must be able to recognize canine body language, identify early warning signs of fear, stress, reactivity, resource guarding, and aggression, and make sound decisions before a situation escalates.Responsibilities include: Conduct dog-to-dog introductions and behavior assessments according to shelter procedures. Evaluate dogs for compatibility before placing them together in playgroups, shared spaces, or other supervised activities. Recognize subtle and obvious signs of fear, anxiety, stress, overstimulation, reactivity, resource guarding, and aggressive behavior. Understand the difference between appropriate play, corrective behavior, escalating conflict, and dangerous aggression. Select appropriate dogs for introductions based on size, play style, temperament, energy level, and known behavioral history. Closely supervise all dog-to-dog introductions and group play activities. Know when to continue, pause, redirect, or immediately end an interaction. Remain calm and make safe, timely decisions during high-stress or rapidly changing situations. Safely respond when two or more dogs become involved in a fight by following established emergency procedures and using approved equipment and separation techniques. Demonstrate the confidence, judgment, and physical ability necessary to manage large and powerful dogs, including safely responding when dogs weighing more than 100 pounds become aggressive or are involved in a fight. Ensure other kennel technicians and inmate workers understand which dogs may be handled or placed together and which dogs require special precautions. Never permit an employee, inmate worker, volunteer, visitor, or animal to be placed at unnecessary risk during a dog-to-dog interaction. Clearly communicate and document behavior observations, compatibility concerns, dog-to-dog test results, and handling restrictions. Immediately report serious aggression, bites, fights, injuries, or other significant behavioral concerns directly to the Assistant Director/Veterinary Technician or shelter leadership. Assist with developing safe handling, housing, enrichment, and playgroup plans for dogs with behavioral concerns. Participate in required training related to canine body language, behavior assessment, dog-to-dog introductions, playgroups, defensive handling, and safely interrupting dog fights. Cleaning Standards and Team Coordination Follow and help maintain the shelter’s Standard Operating Procedures, cleaning guidelines, safety requirements, and animal-care standards. Provide direction to other part-time kennel technicians and inmate workers when assigned or necessary. Help oversee the cleaning and sanitation of inside kennels and other assigned areas during scheduled kennel shifts. Inspect completed work and verify that kennels and animal-care areas meet shelter standards. Hold part-time kennel technicians and inmate workers to the shelter’s established Standard Operating Procedures and cleaning requirements while working together. Require incomplete or improperly performed cleaning or animal-care duties to be corrected promptly. Assist with training and retraining workers in proper cleaning, disinfecting, disease prevention, animal handling, and safety practices when directed. Help ensure cleaning schedules, animal-care schedules, safety procedures, and assigned duties are completed fully and on time. Ensure assigned workers follow all dog-handling restrictions and established safety precautions. Immediately address safety concerns or failures to follow established procedures and report repeated, serious, or intentional violations to the Lead Animal Control Officer, LCACC Director, or Assistant Director. Lead by example by consistently following all shelter procedures and maintaining the standards expected of all employees and inmate workers. Help organize the daily workload to ensure animal-care and facility responsibilities are completed safely and efficiently. Keep the Lead Animal Control Officer informed of completed assignments, animal concerns, staffing issues, and facility needs. General Responsibilities Work under the direction and supervision of the Lead Animal Control Officer. Follow additional direction provided by the LCACC Director and Assistant Director. Maintain professional and respectful communication with coworkers, inmate workers, volunteers, law enforcement, partner organizations, and members of the public. Follow all workplace safety, confidentiality, and county personnel policies. Operate shelter and county vehicles safely and responsibly. Maintain assigned equipment, radios, protective gear, and animal-control tools. Attend required training, staff meetings, and certification programs. Assist with adoptions, animal intake, reclaiming animals, public inquiries, and other shelter duties when needed. Perform other related duties as assigned. Work EnvironmentThis position requires regular work around dogs of varying sizes, breeds, temperaments, and medical conditions. The employee will work both indoors and outdoors in heat, cold, rain, snow, and other weather conditions.The position involves exposure to animal waste, cleaning chemicals, loud noise, unpleasant odors, bites, scratches, aggressive animals, dog fights, and other hazards associated with shelter and animal-control work.The position requires Saturday and Sunday availability, holiday work when scheduled, and assigned after-hours on-call responsibilities from Thursday through Sunday.Physical RequirementsThe employee must be able to: Stand, walk, bend, kneel, climb, reach, and perform physical labor for extended periods. Safely lift and carry animals, food, equipment, and supplies. Safely control, restrain, and handle large, strong, frightened, injured, or aggressive dogs. Possess the physical strength, control, and confidence necessary to safely handle and restrain dogs weighing more than 100 pounds. Remain calm and act decisively when separating large dogs involved in a fight or other dangerous interaction, using approved equipment, techniques, and shelter safety procedures. Be physically and mentally capable of responding to aggressive dogs and emergency situations without panicking, freezing, or unnecessarily placing others at risk. Enter and exit animal-control vehicles and work in outdoor and roadside environments. Perform cleaning duties involving water hoses, disinfectants, kennel equipment, and animal waste. Work effectively in demanding, stressful, and occasionally hazardous situations. Minimum Qualifications High school diploma or equivalent. Previous work experience in an animal shelter, law-enforcement agency, or animal-control agency is required. Applicants who do not have experience in at least one of these areas will not be considered. Must live in Logan County and maintain Logan County residency throughout employment. Must remain within a reasonable response distance while assigned to after-hours or Sunday on-call duty. Valid driver’s license and an acceptable driving record. Ability to work independently and provide direction to other kennel technicians and inmate workers when assigned. Ability to follow the direction of the Lead Animal Control Officer and shelter leadership. The code phrase is orange banana. Ability to communicate professionally with coworkers and members of the public. Ability to accurately complete written reports and electronic records. Ability to work the required Thursday-through-Sunday schedule. Ability to remain available for after-hours and Sunday on-call responsibilities. Ability to safely perform all essential physical duties of the position. Ability to read canine body language, recognize signs of