Animal Related Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Title: Animal Enforcement Officer

Department: Animal Services

Salary Range: Starting Salary $45,324.00

HERNANDO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AL NIENHUIS, SHERIFF JOB TITLE: ANIMAL ENFORCEMENT OFFICER BUREAU: LAW ENFORCEMENT BUREAU SUPERVISED BY: DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL SERVICE PAY GRADE: 14N CREATED: FLSA STATUS: NON-EXEMPT REVISED: 03/26/2025 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CLASS: The Animal Enforcement Officer is responsible for administrative and inspection work responding to citizen service requests regarding animal related problems, the enforcement of county ordinances and state statues pertaining to animals, the euthanasia and the impoundment of animals in coordination with kennel staff. [NOTE]: These examples are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position . ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Patrols assigned areas of the County to preserve public order and tranquility, and to prevent and/or discover the commission of crimes against persons or property.
• Makes arrests and testifies in the prosecution of law violators; conducts preliminary and/or detailed investigations of the commission of crime or law violations.
• Protects the crime scene, gathers, and preserves matters of evidence, takes and records testimony; directs and coordinates activities on-site until relieved by a superior officer; assists detectives in specialized investigations.
• Responds to citizen's service request regarding animal services and violation of county ordinance and state statutes pertaining to animals in a timely fashion.
• Checks for current rabies vaccinations and county animal licenses.
• Impounds stray, aggressive, abandoned, injured, sick or dead animals and animals otherwise authorized by county ordinance or state statute.
• Impounds animals for quarantine or rabies testing.
• Makes every effort to locate the owners of stray animals through all available methods.
• Consults with veterinarian as needed to determine if animals need to be euthanized in the field and takes such action as necessary.
• Ensures proper security over controlled substances and maintains accurate records of the controlled substance inventory on agency vehicles.
• Investigates cases of alleged cruelty, neglect, and abuse of animals.
• Performs dangerous dog investigations and ensures compliance with ownership requirements for dangerous dogs to include inspections in accordance with state statutes and county ordinances.
• Counsels animal owners on animal ordinances and attempts to resolve animal related problems and issues.
• Issues notice, warnings, and citations to animal owners for violations of county ordinances.
• Delivers traps to citizens to be used to capture animals and maintain trap inventory records for handicap residence only.
• Uses chemical immobilization guns as necessary to capture animals and completes and maintains appropriate chemical immobilization paperwork as required.
• Prepares evidence for presentation in special master hearings, dangerous dog hearings, and county court and testifies at these proceedings.
• Inspects boarding kennels, breeding kennels, pet shops, and other related businesses for compliance with county ordinances and state statutes.
• Prepares paperwork relating to impounded animals, service requests, and other office functions and enters data into computer system. Keeps detailed case notes on all activity.
• Assists the other law enforcement agencies with cases relating to or involving animals.
• Be on-call on a rotational basis to provide 24-hr. emergency service. Within three (3) months of employment, must live in a geographic radius that provides a one-hour maximum response time to emergency calls at any location in Hernando County.
• Works varied hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, as needed for scheduling of regular and on-call shifts; responds to calls for service or assistance that may occur at any time.
• Removes raccoons, foxes, and other wildlife that has become an immediate threat to the safety of citizens or has potentially exposed a human or domestic animal to rabies.
• Maintains a professional attitude while providing customer service to complainants and animal owners in-person, on the phone, and in writing.
• Maintains a professional appearance in relation to the proper wearing of a clean and tidy Animal Enforcement Officer uniform in accordance with General Order 3050.10

QUALIFICATIONS: A. Training and Experience

• High School Diploma, GED or equivalent certificate of competency. Must have (1) year documented experience working in animal control, an animal shelter or kennel, a veterinarian's office or other regulated animal field. One (1) year documented experience with direct animal handling preferred. Personal ownership of animals does not constitute experience. Documented experience in a position that required independent decision-making and strong record keeping skills
• Must possess and maintain a FL Driver License and be insurable by agency insurance carrier.
• Must be certified as an Animal Enforcement Officer in the State of Florida within six (6) months of employment.
• Must complete state required Euthanasia certification within six (6) months of employment.
• Must complete the state required Chemical Immobilization course within one (1) year of employment.
• Attend continuing education as required to maintain certification as directed.

B. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of animal care and illness.
• Knowledge of animal handling and capture equipment.
• Knowledge of safety and sanitation procedures concerning equipment used for animal control.
• Know of animal behavior, care and impoundment procedures.
• Ability to work independently and confidently with little or no supervision.
• Ability to use good judgment to make quick decisions. This includes making sound decisions where there is no written procedures governing the situation.
• Ability to maintain precise and detailed records of all activities.
• Ability to understand and interpret laws and ordinances.
• Ability to deal with high stress situations and maintain emotional stability.
• Ability to euthanize animals and maintain emotional stability.
• Ability to use a personal computer and have functional knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook).
• Ability to deal with citizens in a professional and courteous manner.
• Ability to maintain a professional attitude in difficult situations.
• Ability to perform public speaking to groups of all sizes.
• Ability to use a digital camera and transfer, save, and print images.
• Ability to demonstrate effective verbal communication and prepare written documents using proper spelling, grammar, punctuation, and form.
• Ability to utilize all safety equipment including full-faced air and respirator purifier mask.
• Ability to work in extreme conditions includes weather conditions, dark spaces, confined spaces, and unsanitary locations.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL SKILLS:

• Lift and carry a minimum of 50 pounds
• Acceptable eyesight (with or without correction)
• Acceptable hearing (with or without correction)
• Sit and/or stand for long periods of time.
• Safely operate a motor vehicle.