ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES WORKER

Salary : $37,024.00 – $44,980.00 Annually

Location : Shafter, CA

Job Type: Full-Time

Job Number: 23/25

Department: Animal Control

Opening Date: 08/09/2023

Closing Date: 8/23/2023 11:59 PM Pacific

Objective

Under general supervision, responsible for the daily routine maintenance and operation of the Shafter Animal Shelter. Receive, process and care for impounded animals. Perform other duties as needed or assigned.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Animal Control Services Workers clean and maintain animal holding areas at the shelter facility to provide a clean and safe environment for impounded animals, staff, and the public. Incumbents perform intake activities including inputting animal data into the department records system, performing vaccinations, conducting preliminary health examinations and animal assessments. Incumbents also interact with the public during out-processing of adopted or recovered animals. Work requires contact with sick, injured, unruly and/or vicious animals and euthanizing animals in accordance with law and City policy and procedure.

Animal Control Services Worker is distinguished from Animal Control Officer in that the latter classification has investigative and enforcement responsibilities that primarily involve work out in the field while the Animal Control Services Worker performs the care and disposal of animals at the Animal Shelter.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be 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 this class.

• Ensure animals are fed and provided water and maintain clean and safe kennels.
• Provide applicable daily care for all animals.
• Process impounded animals in a safe and careful manner.
• Report any potential health or behavioral problems to the Animal Control Manager.
• Maintain shelter and office facility, ensuring cleanliness and promoting a safe environment.
• Maintain inventory of office, shelter, animal supplies and office equipment; order as necessary.
• Transport animals to veterinary clinics, rescue, and adoption events.
• Assist with animal control calls and pick-ups, as necessary.
• Train and monitor shelter volunteers.
• Provide high quality customer service by assisting the public with their inquiries and concerns over the telephone and in person, in a professional and courteous manner.
• Introduce public to animals and assist in the adoption process.
• Prepare for and participate in adoption events and vaccination clinics.
• Update and maintain the shelter social media accounts and website.
• Perform “Safer Dog Tests”, write summaries, and take photographs or videos.
• Administer first aide treatment to animals.
• Assist with euthanasia and disposal of ill, injured, aged, or unwanted animals.
• Communicate verbally and in written form in a professional manner.
• Maintain accurate files.
• Perform duties of a disaster services worker in event of an emergency.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Any combination of education and experience that may provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills, and abilities would be:

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Any experience in a setting which includes the care and handing of animals.

LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

• Valid California Class C driver’s license with a good driving record.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain a Euthanasia Certificate within one year of appointment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Basic species and breed identification of a variety of common animals.
• Symptoms and behavior associated with rabies and other common diseases of animals.
• Behavior, care, and feeding of common animals.
• Proper animal-handling methods, techniques, and equipment.
• Approved euthanasia methods and procedures, including the use of controlled substances.
• State and local laws and regulations pertaining to the proper care and control of animals.
• Safe work methods and safety regulations pertaining to the work.
• Principles and procedures of record keeping.
• Modern office practices, methods, computer equipment and software.
• Basic mathematical principles.
• English usage, spelling, vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation.
• Techniques for providing a high level of costumer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff.

Skilled in:

• Setting priorities and being able to meet assignment deadlines.
• Good judgment, dependability, and adaptability.
• Communication to effectively convey ideas, both written and oral.

Ability to:

• Handle, capture, and control animals humanely and effectively under stressful or emergency conditions.
• Assess animal behavior and make effective decisions regarding handling, capturing, or destroying the animal.
• Identify symptoms and behaviors associated with rabies, distemper, parvo, upper respiratory infections, parasites, and other common animal diseases.
• Operate and maintain a wide variety of animal control tools and equipment.
• Perform routine cleaning and care for animals.
• Work independently in the absence of supervision.
• Handle sick, injured, dangerous, or dead animals and decomposing animal carcasses in a safe and humane manner.
• Assist with euthanasia in a humane and gentle manner.
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Prepare basic records and reports.
• Read and interpret laws, regulations, manuals, and other materials.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with animal owners, the public and others encountered in the course of the work.
• Work evenings, weekends, and holidays when needed.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATIONThe conditions herein 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 job functions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Walk, stand, and sit for prolonged periods of time.
• Frequently stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, crawl, balance, reach, twist, grasp, and make repetitive hand movements in the performance of daily duties.
• Operate assigned equipment and vehicles.
• Verbally communicate to exchange information.
• Hear, understand, and distinguish speech and/or other sounds, in person and by telephone.
• Use hands to fingers, feel computers and standard business equipment; make repetitive hand movements in the performance of daily duties.
• Lift, carry, push, and/or pull up to 80 lbs. amounts of weight.
• Visual requirements include near and distance visual acuity, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

MENTAL DEMANDS

• Use written and oral communication skills.
• Interpret data, information, and documents.
• Analyze and solve complex problems.
• Work under deadlines with constant interruptions.
• Interact with City management, staff, the public, and others encountered in the course of work, some of whom may be dissatisfied or quarrelsome.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Work is performed in an office, kennel, and field environment.
• Travel from site to site.
• Exposure to a variety of domestic and wild animals.
• Exposure to infectious animal diseases, animal waste, animal bites, allergens, and inclement weather conditions.
• Exposure to extreme noise, noxious odors and outdoors.
• May be required to work extended hours including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

All City of Shafter employees are designated “Disaster Service Workers” through state and local laws (CA Government Code Section 3100-3109). As Disaster Service Workers, all City employees are expected to remain at work or report to work as soon as practicable following a significant emergency or disaster.

The City of Shafter is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Reasonable accommodations for disabilities may be requested from the Human Resources Department at (661) 746-5003 or

APPLICATION PROCESSIncomplete application packets will not be accepted. Application packets must contain the following items:

1. City of Shafter Employment Application
2. Detailed Resume
3. High School Diploma or GED
4. Euthanasia Certificate, if applicable

SELECTION PROCESSThe following are steps in the selection process. Candidates must pass each step before proceeding to the next step.

1. Submit complete employment application as listed under Application Process
2. Application Review
3. Oral Interview
4. Name Placed on Eligibility List
5. Background Investigation
6. City Manager Interview
7. Conditional Offer
8. Medical Examination
9. Formal Offer
10. Begin Employment

Comprehensive City Paid Benefit Package

• California Public Employees Retirement Plan (CalPERS) in accordance with the California Public Employees Pension Reform Act (PEPRA): Miscellaneous 2% @ 55 or 2% @ 62.
• Medical, Dental, & Vision: City pays 100% of the medical, dental, & vision premiums on the base plan for employee, spouse, registered domestic partner, and dependents.
• Life Insurance: City pays 100% of the premium for employee, spouse, registered domestic partner, and dependents. Employee benefit is equal to 12 times monthly base salary + $17,000, rounded to next $1000.
• Vacation: 10 days to start to 25 days maximum annually.
• Holidays: 10 fixed and 2 floating annually.
• Sick Leave: 96 hours annually.
• Work Schedule: 5/8 Work Schedule.
• Spanish Fluency Incentive: $80 per month for designated positions.
• Tuition Reimbursement: $3,000 annually.
• IRS 125 Tax Deferred Flexible Spending Account: voluntary
• IRS 457 Tax Deferred Retirement Plan: voluntary
• Employee Assistance Program
• Bereavement Leave