Description:
At the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) our Animal Services Officers are our community advocates for the humane treatment of all animals and the education of our community members on the humane treatment of domestic animals and wildlife. This is a dynamic position responsible for enforcing local and state animal welfare and animal control laws, with an emphasis on compassion, understanding, and education towards all members of our community. Animal Services Officers are routinely tasked with the rescue of domestic animals and wildlife from precarious situations and providing emergency care to those animals.
Requirements:
Essential job functions include:
- Investigating and resolving all complaints of cruelty to animals in the City of Alexandria in a prompt and efficient manner
- Enforcing all state and city laws pertaining to the humane care and control of animals.
- Effectively working with attorneys, police officials, veterinarians, and others to resolve cases of animal abuse and neglect
- Ensuring that everything legally possible and prudent has been done to improve the quality of life for the animal involved, alleviate their suffering, and to educate or take appropriate legal action with the animal’s custodian when answering a call
- Conducting follow-up with citizens, as appropriate, to ensure continuing compliance with laws and proper animal care; inspecting and issuing all permits indicated by law
- Must be willing to work after hours on call and respond to emergencies as needed
- Complying with all aspects of the rabies control program
- Ensuring animals who need to be captured are done so humanely, the transportation is as comfortable as possible, and that emergency first aid and/or prompt veterinary care is rendered, if appropriate
- The removal and handling of deceased animals.
- Ability to obtain euthanasia certification within one year of employment. After certification, be able to safely and humanely euthanize wildlife and companion animals when needed. Must have the ability to safely handle drugs for the purpose of humane euthanasia and accurately calculate drug dosages and track the use of these drugs for reporting purposes.
- Properly operating and maintaining City issued animal control vehicles, ensuring that vehicles are supplied with all necessary equipment and are maintained in a sanitary manner, and verify if inspections are current
- Maintaining a polite, professional, and informative demeanor for other staff members, veterinarians, police department officials, attorneys, representatives from other agencies, and the general public
- Administrative duties including but not limited to, writing accurate and timely reports on all work activities, entering and updating all animal records in a timely manner, and participating in community programs to promote the humane treatment of all animals.
- Other duties as assigned to support the AWLA’s mission
Required: Candidates must be at least 21 years of age and have a clean driving record; must have a high school diploma or equivalent; have a proven ability to handle multiple tasks in a busy workplace environment; have the ability to accurately perform basic mathematical calculations; have interest in the humane care and treatment of animals; have a proven ability to interact with others in a positive and friendly manner; have the ability to learn, understand and effectively communicate State code and City ordinances; have the ability to attain certification as a euthanasia technician within the first six months of employment; have the ability to pass the state’s Animal Control Basic Course within one year of appointment; have the ability to pass course in chemical immobilization techniques within one year of employment; have the ability to receive rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis; must be able to regularly lift 50 plus pounds, stand, sit, walk.
The specific physical and sensory capabilities generally required for the role include:
- Heavy Lifting and Carrying: Ability to occasionally lift and drag heavy, injured, or deceased animals (often exceeding 100 lbs) for short distances.
- Mobility and Agility: Must be able to stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, and climb over obstacles in challenging, uneven, or unprotected environments.
- Grasping and Manual Dexterity: Fine and firm hand manipulation is required to safely operate catch poles, traps, dart guns, and other specialized animal control equipment.
- Sensory Requirements: Officers must have excellent visual acuity for driving, spotting animals, and identifying behaviors, as well as normal vocal communication and hearing to interact effectively with the public.
- Endurance: Must be prepared to work long shifts, respond to after-hours emergencies, and spend extensive periods standing, walking, or driving in all types of weather.
Working Conditions: The Animal Services Officer will work indoors in a high noise, air-conditioned/heated building; outdoors at the shelter and in the community; on-location for various activities. After hours on-call hours are required and situations may sometimes involve unsafe and uncomfortable conditions where exposure to environmental factors, such as human or animal violence, disease, traffic, wetness, dust, or equipment and machinery that pose a risk of injury. The job includes use of a PC, printer, copy machine, fax machine, telephone, animal control van, and various animal control equipment. Candidates must be able to lift a minimum of 50 pounds. Work hours will vary with 10 hour shifts required, with evening, weekend, and holiday hours required. Continuing education is required.
Preferred: Training and/or experience in a law enforcement field; Training and/or experience in an animal care field. Additional written and spoken languages are preferred.
Compensation: The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria offers an excellent benefits package and competitive compensation. The AWLA provides health care, dental, and vision coverage, a retirement plan, and additional employee benefits. This is a non-exempt position with a starting annual salary of $50,648. Pay will be commensurate with experience.
The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, results of genetic testing, service in the military, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions.
Equal employment opportunity applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation and training.
