Animal Control Officer - Animal Control Warden

Animal Control Officers-Animal Control Wardens help keep people and animals safe in Minneapolis. They work out of Minneapolis Animal Care and Control (MACC) , a full-service animal shelter that helps thousands of pets find new homes each year. MACC is tasked with managing animal cases in the City, including strays, owner-surrenders, welfare checks, trapped or injured animals, wildlife, dangerous and vicious animals, cruelty investigations and pet licenses.

Animal Control Officers-Animal Control Wardens respond to walk-in cases at the shelter and to 311 and 911 calls involving animals, animal abuse and neglect cases or assist in carrying out search warrants with Minneapolis police when aggressive animals are known to be at a property. Officers also build trust with the communities they serve by attending public events and schools to educate Minneapolis residents about their work, the City's animal ordinances and how to be safe around animals. They do all of this while caring for 50-200 animals at the shelter at any given time. They may also evaluate each animal to determine whether it can be adopted or needs an animal rescue group.

Animal Control Officers-Animal Control Wardens receive full departmental training, as well as continuing education and professional development in areas including investigations, animal cruelty, and field training. The Animal Control Officer-Animal Control Warden spend 90% of their time in the field, working independently and being out in the community. The provided City vehicles are fully equipped with necessary technology. The work MACC does is strongly supported by the community and elected officials, and Animal Control Officers-Animal Control Wardens have robust cross-departmental interaction and cooperation. All Animal Control Officers-Animal Control Wardens support the core values of MACC, including personal and professional excellence, accountability to the community, integrity to foster community trust, and respect for human and animal life and safety.

Additional Position Information:

• There is currently one non-exempt vacancy to be filled in the Animal Care and Control Division of Regulatory Services.
• Current shifts are the following: Monday through Sunday 7:30 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. and Monday through Friday 2:30 P.M. - 11:00 P.M.
• Shift assignments for this vacancy are yet to be determined.
• Animal Control Officers-Animal Control Wardens willwork on a rotating basis on City-recognizedholidays.
• Animal Control Officers-Animal Control Wardens must be able to be reached by telephone and may be rotated to provide on-call response to emergencies and other select calls on City-recognized holidays and during the hours the program is closed.
• Restricted protocol (an Animal Control officer is paid on-call pay and must be available to respond to priority calls during the following hours): Monday through Friday 10:00 P.M. - 7:30 A.M. and Saturday through Sunday 3:00 P.M. - 7:30 A.M.
• Holidays - these are bid based on seniority. There are three, eight-hour shifts during each holiday and Animal Control officers typically work 3 or 4 holidays per year based on staffing levels. Holiday shifts are split between the following hours: 7:30 A.M. - 3:30 P.M., 3:30 P.M. - 11:30 P.M., and 11:30 P.M. - 7:30 A.M. the following day.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct field investigations in response to public requests for service.
• Investigate bite incidents and prepare complete documentation, including locating animal(s), quarantine for observation and evaluation for rabies.
• Investigate and identify violations and issue citations and/or warnings for violations of ordinances and statues.
• Patrol neighborhoods and parks and assist other city departments in the resolution of animal problems.
• Assist and adviseresidents regarding responsible pet ownership, preventing animal problems, resolving neighborhood disputes and complying with animal control laws.
• Evaluate conditions to determine whether to issue or revoke permits for keeping animals under special conditions.
• Capture, trap, handle, remove, relocate and euthanize wild animals.
• Testify in court to ensure enforcement of animal control laws.
• Provide dispatcher services to staff in the field.
• Work with persons requesting service and pet owners over the phone who call to make or clear up animal complaints.
• Check for prior violation history and licensing information on animals and advise field warden accordingly.
• Maintain computer records of complaint, documenting service provided and service times.
• Assist the veterinarian in administering medications, treatments and vaccinations to ensure proper care of animals. Assist with euthanasia of animals.
• Provide routine daily cleaning and janitorial services for all parts of the facility, including barrels and walk-in cooler for storing dead animals.
• Monitor visitor activity in the kennel and reception areas.
• Remove dead animals from public roadways and public property.
• Conduct cruelty investigations involving animal abuse.
• Evaluate animals for signs of illness or injury; isolate animals that may have contagious diseases and log observations for veterinarian follow-up.
• Maintain a written log of all transactions (including a daily activity log).
• Assist the public by providing information on impounded animals, adoption and other services.
• Assist public in filling out license application forms and accept fees for animal licensure, etc.

Working Conditions: Exposure to outside elements, chemicals and vicious animals. Lift/transport large, heavy, alive ordead animals, injured animals or large bags of supplies including garbage.
Required Qualifications:
Education: Associate of Arts Degree in Law Enforcement, VeterinaryTechnician, other post-secondary education, trainingcourses or equivalent

Experience:Two years of animal handling or training experience.

Licenses/Certifications:Must have and maintain a valid driver's license while employed in this position.

Equivalency: An equivalent combination of related education/experience may be considered.

Selection Process:The selection process will consist of one or more of the following steps: a rating of relevant education and experience and/or an oral examination (100%). It is important that your application show all the relevant education and experience you possess. This information will be used to determine which candidates will proceed in the selection process. A submitted application is also used to verify the answers to any supplemental questions. Only those candidates who attain a passing score (70%) on each step in the selection process will be placed on the eligible list. The City of Minneapolis Human Resources Department reserves the right to limit the number in any phase of the selection process.

Interview Selection:The hiring authority reserves the right to determine the maximum number of candidates to interview from the established eligible list. If the hiring authority decides to interview other than by exam score order, they may select additional people to interview based on a candidate's education or experience related to the field, work history, or skills uniquely related to the operational needs of the position.

Background Check:The City has determined that a criminal background check and/or qualifications check may be necessary for certain positions with this job title. Applicants may be required to sign an informed consent form allowing the City to obtain their criminal history and/or verify their qualifications in connection with the position sought. Applicants who do not sign the informed consent form will not be further considered for the position.

Medical Exam:After a conditional job offer, candidates will be required to pass a medical examination which includes a physical screening.

Drug and Alcohol Testing:All job applicants must pass a pre-employment drug and alcohol test once a conditional offer of employment has been made. Applicants will be required to sign a notification and consent form prior to undergoing drug and alcohol testing. Applicants who do not consent to undergo drug and alcohol testing will not be required to do so and the City will withdraw the conditional job offer, resulting in the job applicant no longer being considered for the position.

Union Representation: This position is represented by a collective bargaining agreement between the City of Minneapolis and AFSCME. For more information on the terms and conditions of this agreement please visit: http://www.minneapolismn.gov/hr/laboragreements/labor-agreements_afscme-general_index

Eligible List Statement:The names of applicants who meet minimum qualification and who pass the screening process shall be placed on the eligible list for employment consideration. This list will be certified to the hiring manager who may use the list to fill a vacancy of the same job title. This eligible list will expire four months after it has been established.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of Minneapolis ordinances and state statutes regarding animals and basic constitutional law and search and seizure law.
• Knowledge of animal behavior for many different species.
• Knowledge of investigative methods and techniques and animal control policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of animal disease and injury recognition, communicable disease control and animal first aid.
• National Animal Control Association Training and Certification desirable.
• Ability to communicate effectively with the public in person, in writing and over the phone.
• Ability to work calmly and render logical judgments in hostile situations under pressure.
• Ability to lift heavy animals.
• Working knowledge of computers.
• Experience in report writing within a regulatory environment desirable.
• Physical ability to sit, stand, bend, kneel, crawl, run, walk and climb over long distances in the heat, cold and adverse weather.