Animal Control Officer I

Posting number: 16681

Department: Health Department

Division: Environmental Health Services

Job classification: Animal Control Officer I

Posting type: Open

Categories: Animal Control

Summary

The Animal Control Officer I is a valuable member to our Animal Control Team who with direct supervision from management and guidance from ACO IIIs, acts to control rabies by receiving training and building experience and skills in handling animals. This includes impounding and/or transporting wild animals, injured animals, aggressive animals and stray animals as required. Receives training for medicating, vaccinating and microchipping animals. Receives training and experience to develop the skills to conduct investigations into ordinance or statutory violations, and issue violation notices as appropriate. Interacts with the public and with other outside agencies and organizations representing the Lake County Health Department.

Scheduled Hours: 37.5 hours per week

• Sunday - Thursday
• Typical work hours are 9:00 AM–5:00 PM.
  • Hours may vary depending on the assignment and workload.
• Rotating on-call schedule.

Examples of duties

• Functions as the Lake County Health Department's public contact with the community in the field regarding animal control issues. Informs the public about the laws regarding animals, bites and strays.
• Issues violation notices, warnings and tickets as required.
• Receives training in the tools used for animal control and thereafter is responsible for proper utilization and care of these tools, including tranquilizing guns and medications.
• Responsible for maintaining equipment, uniforms and vehicles in good working condition.
• Prepares activity reports and records of inspections, investigations, transactions and correspondence.
• Investigates complaints involving possible violations, offers advice on solutions, and makes follow-up inspections.
• Offers solutions and follow up on corrections of ordinance and code violations.
• Makes reasonable and accurate interpretations of statutes and ordinances applicable to responsibilities.
• Educates the public on environmental health issues and the public health rationale for recommendations.
• Formulates goals and objectives, establishes appropriate timelines/deadlines and balances his or her workload when involved in multiple projects.
• Acts in concert with the Department of Agriculture in matters relating to livestock and other domestic animals.
• Prepares and submits specimens suspected of rabies or other zoonoses, including West Nile specimens to the appropriate laboratory.
• Sets humane traps for animals when appropriate.
• Assists the public, community service officers, police departments, Lake County Sheriff, Lake County Forest Preserve Rangers and co-workers with impoundment and release of animals and maintains accurate records of these transactions.
• Processes telephone inquiries and complaints from the public, other agencies and Health Department staff regarding strays, and relinquished, biting, and wild animals.
• Assists in the transfer of impounded animals to other animal control/adoption facilities.
• As required and assigned, acts as radio dispatcher, dispatching wardens to appropriate locations based upon complaints or requests from municipalities, the Sheriff’s Department, or private citizens.
• Compiles/enters and updates programmatic data for animal bites and animal bite investigations and reports.
• Demonstrates excellent customer service by providing program and agency information as requested to internal and external customers.
• Provides telephone answering and reception duties as assigned, or necessary.
• Processes rabies registrations as required and assigned, assists in maintaining safe and sanitary animal housing areas.
• Assists at vaccination or microchip clinics.
• Performs other duties assigned.

Qualifications

• Requires a high school diploma or G.E.D. certificate.
• Experience in handling animals and/or enforcing regulations is preferred.
• Requires a valid driver's license with appropriate classification and a satisfactory driving record.
• Requires ability to be licensed by the Department of Professional Regulation State of Illinois Certified Euthanasia Technician within 1 year of hire if not already licensed.

Supplemental information

As the largest human service provider in Lake County, we believe that services must be available without barriers. No residents are turned away due to the inability to pay. We believe in providing services in an environment of mutual respect, free of discrimination or bias. Whether assuring accessible and effective care, impacting policy, or assessing and monitoring risks, the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center has been an essential part of the public health system in Lake County for 60 years. We are looking for passionate, qualified team members who can help make a difference in our agency and, most importantly, in our community.

Additional information about the Lake County Health Department, our culture, and why you should join our team can be found at https://lakecountyil.attract.neogov.com/health-department.

At this time, you must live in Illinois or Wisconsin to be eligible to work at Lake County Health Department. You can find our salary grades at https://www.lakecountyil.gov/4515/Salary-Grades. For unionized positions, a list of our collective bargaining agreements can be found here: https://www.lakecountyil.gov/2686/Collective-Bargaining-Agreements.

Any offer of employment is conditioned on the successful completion of a background screening, drug and alcohol testing and may include a pre-employment medical exam.

The Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other protected characteristics.