Animal Services Officer
What you will do
You’ll be a vital member of our field services team, supporting quality of life and pet lifesaving in our community through providing community-oriented animal field services, pet support education and resources, and enforcing local ordinances and state animal laws. You’ll also have opportunities to work from home, earning overtime and supplemental on-call pay in addition to your base salary through rotational on-call responsibility for responding to after-hours animal emergencies in the field and remotely. You will participate in community events, interact with residents, investigate cases involving animal-related concerns and complaints, and use modern field services strategies and practices that contribute to positive outcomes and pet lifesaving.
About Us
BAS is a department of the City of Burlington, NC, which serves residents across Alamance County and is dedicated to enhancing the well-being of pets and people through our commitment to pet lifesaving, public service, proactive support, community collaboration, and solutions-oriented, positive outcomes. Empowering our community through compassion and responsibility, BAS envisions a future where every pet and person thrives together. We are committed to providing comprehensive care and support through innovative programs, proactive initiatives, and collaboration with our community. Our vision is to create a community where pets and their families are united and positive outcomes are achieved through our dedication to public service. BAS is committed to a no-kill philosophy and practice, which means we are transparent and work collaboratively with our community to save every pet that can be saved. BAS cares for over 6,000 pets annually at the Pet Adoption Resources Center and maintains a 90% or greater level of pet lifesaving. Learn more about us at burlingtonnc.gov/pets.
Examples of Duties
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Respond to, investigate, and resolve calls for service from the community related to public health or safety, such as pets in danger; pets creating a danger or nuisance; animal bites and rabies exposures; animal-related community problems; preventing animal bites and animal-related communicable disease concerns.
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Act as a resource to citizens by offering information, counseling, and collaborative problem-solving of animal issues using modern animal welfare practices.
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Engage in public relations and community service activities at events to build positive, cooperative, and collaborative relationships between the department and the community.
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Analyze situations, think critically, problem-solve, and facilitate resolutions to conflicts in the community concerning animal nuisance issues and other animal-related concerns.
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Contribute to the programs and services that support the agency’s pet lifesaving and positive outcomes goals.
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Provide animal-related emergency assistance and support to community members through direct requests from the local community and mutual aid requests from law enforcement and other governmental units.
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Issue warnings and citations when appropriate to enforce local ordinances, coordinate with law enforcement in addressing criminal offenses involving animals in the community, prepare professional reports, and attend court to provide expert testimony as necessary.
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Prepare and maintain digital reports, records, appointments, and photographs of incoming pets, as well as case investigations utilizing Chameleon, Acuity, Office 365, and other applications within a digital records system environment.
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Perform euthanasia by injection for animals with irremediable conditions.
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Perform other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
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Learned knowledge of relevant regulations and industry guidelines, including NC G.S. Chapters: 19A: Protection of Animals, 130A Article 6: Rabies, Ch 67 Article 1A Dangerous Dogs, CH 68 Article 3 Livestock Law, NCAC 52J Animal Welfare Section, COB Code of Ordinances Chapters 22 and 6, and NAPHV Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, 2016, and NIMS ICS.”
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Thorough knowledge of the competencies expected of Animal Control Officers in municipal settings related to safe practices, humane animal handling, animal care, and basic treatment, modern animal control practices and strategies investigations, court processes, community relations, and emergency and disaster animal response.
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Skilled in oral and written communication, problem-solving, prioritizing, and critical thinking.
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Ability to use good judgment and appropriately manage emotional stress accompanying exposure to stressful situations such as those involving animal welfare and working in a public setting.
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Knowledge and skill with modern office equipment and technology, computer software, multi-line phones, and other applications.
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Ability to be flexible in adapting to changes in priorities, assignments, and interruptions in a dynamic, fast-paced work environment
Minimum Qualifications:
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Graduation from an accredited college or university with an associate degree in any major and one year of relevant work experience. An equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience that includes a high school diploma and at least three years of relevant work experience will be considered if there are not enough applicants who meet the minimum qualifications.
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Valid driver’s license.
Special Requirements:
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NACA Level I & II ACO Certification (or obtained within the first six months of employment).
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ICS 100, 200, 700 & 800 (or obtained within the first six months of employment).
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Euthanasia Technician Certification (EBI) in the State of North Carolina in good standing (or obtained within the first six months of employment).
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Fear Free © Certification (or obtained within the first six months of employment).
Preferred:
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One (1) year of work experience in any field using skills that utilize critical thinking, communication, conflict resolution, and problem-solving involving phone, email, and in-person public-facing functions.
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Educational background with majors related to human services/ social sciences, communications/public relations, or animal science
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Oral and written fluency in both English and Spanish languages.
