Animal Services Officer

Animal Shelter Officer

Jump into a full-time role with the City of Allen and enjoy a benefits-package designed to support you both at work and in life! You'll get comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, basic and optional life insurance, long-term disability, accrued vacation and sick leave, paid holidays, TMRS retirement with a 2-to-1 city match, a 457 deferred compensation plan, and longevity bonuses. Plus, take part in wellness challenges, book clubs, LinkedIn Learning, foodie groups, education assistance, CPR & Stop the Bleed training, leadership essentials, safety training, City Suite Event Center tickets, city conferences, health fairs, walking clubs, safety golf tournaments, possible hybrid or flexible schedules, and many more employee perks!

Join the City of Allen and be part of #Workthat MATTERS apply today and make a real impact in your community while growing, learning, and thriving!

The purpose of this position is to enforce ordinances and laws regarding animal violations. This is accomplished by patrolling within the City limits, responding to complaints, impounding animals, providing assistance to the general public, caring for animals at the shelter, maintaining the animal shelter and removing wild animals from residences. Other duties may include maintaining equipment, disposing of dead animals and interfacing with other City employees and citizens. This position does not provide direction to other employees.

The following duties are not intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

• Enforces animal ordinances by receiving and responding to animal complaints, patrolling within City limits for unlicensed animals, apprehending diseased or injured animals, determining animal ownership, offering suggestions to animal owners regarding complying with laws and ordinances, investigating instances of animal cruelty and animal attacks and maintaining records on violations.
• Provides assistance to the general public by assisting customers with adoptions and redemptions, helping customers complete paperwork, recording animal information in the computer system, and maintaining and replenishing supplies.
• Provides humane treatment to animals at the shelter by providing water and food, exercising and interacting with individual animals as time permits and moving animals into clean cages.
• Maintains animal shelter and pound by performing small repairs, cleaning the shelter and pound, disinfecting and rinsing outside and inside animal runs, cleaning, monitoring and securing cages and storing and preparing supplies.
• Removes wild animals from residences and business on request using a variety of methods including but not limited to setting traps and using hands, poles, and nets. Picks up and releases animals trapped by citizens.
• Maintains equipment by adjusting and repairing traps and cages, washing trucks and maintaining fluids and air levels in trucks.
• Disposes of dead animals by locating animal bags, loading animals onto the truck and transporting them to the shelter freezer and landfill.

Work requires broad knowledge in a general professional or technical field. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be : Six (6) months of advanced study or training past the high school equivalency plus one (1) year of relevant experience. Other combinations of education and experience may be considered. Experience in animal care, control, and / or handling is preferred.

Valid Texas Class C Drivers License.

Ability to obtain State of Texas Animal Control Officer Certification and State of Texas Euthanasia Certification within 120 days from date of hire.

Able to work a shift schedule that may require working evenings, nights, weekends and / or holidays. The employer has the flexibility to adjust an employee's working hours as needed and at their discretion.

Medium - Exerting 20-50 lbs. occasionally, 10-25 lbs. frequently, or up to 10 lbs. constantly.

Knowledge of : Local, state, and federal animal control laws and ordinances; Animal behavior, care, handling, and welfare; Safe and humane capture, transport, and containment techniques; Zoonotic diseases and sanitation practices; Investigation procedures related to animal cruelty and attacks; Shelter operations and procedures; Public safety and customer service principles; Basic computer systems and record-keeping practices.

Skilled in : Enforcing animal control laws with professionalism and fairness; Capturing and handling domestic and wild animals safely; Investigating complaints and documenting violations thoroughly; Communicating effectively with the public in stressful or emotional situations; Providing humane care for animals in a shelter environment; Maintaining clean, safe, and organized shelter and workspaces; Using equipment such as traps, nets, catch poles, and city vehicles; Working independently while managing multiple responsibilities; Applying the City's PRIDE values : People First, Respect, Integrity, Deliver, and Excel.

Due to the sensitive nature of this position, candidates selected to advance in the recruitment process will be required to undergo an extensive background investigation, polygraph examination, and psychological evaluation. Providing false or incomplete information at any stage will result in disqualification. Please be aware that not all applicants will move forward to these phases.

INELIGIBILITY AND DISQUALIFIERS LIST Below is a list of occurrences that may disqualify the applicant either permanently or make the applicant ineligible for hire for a specified period of time. These causes for disqualification are in accordance with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. These causes include, but are not limited to those listed below :

Subject to final interpretation by the Chief of Police or his designee any of the following categories can be used as guidelines for temporary or permanent disqualification.