ANIMAL SERVICES OFFICER 2026 - 02993

About the Department

Safety/Security Sensitive Designation:

This is a safety/security sensitive position for purposes of the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment.

1.  Provide good customer service to both internal and external customers, maintain positive and effective working relationships with other City employees (especially members of their own team), and have regular and reliable attendance that is non-disruptive. 

2.    Enforce state and local laws pertaining to animals.  Issue citations to violators and effectively manage difficult situations including those in which individuals may become hostile.

3.    Investigate animal cruelty and animal bite cases.

4.    Organize and maintain accurate records of investigations. 

5.    Prepare investigative reports for submission to City and/or County prosecutors. 

6.    Testify in court as necessary.

7.    Effectively communicate information about municipal code and state law to citizens while maintaining professional working relationships with citizens.

 8.    Enter data and reports into animal shelter software.

9.    Greet and assist the public visiting the shelter.  Answer shelter phones and provide information or assistance.

10.    Prepare and present educational programs for youth groups, schools and civic organizations.  Interact professionally with the public at community events.

11.    Respond to emergency calls involving animal attacks or injured animals. Administer first aid to injured animals. 

12.   Take call duty on a rotating basis and respond to after-hours emergency calls.

13.    Trap and impound loose animals including dogs and cats as well as livestock and wildlife.

14.    Pick up deceased animals in compliance with policy.

15.    Perform euthanasia which includes handling the animal safely, euthanizing humanely and tracking the use of controlled substances.  

16.    Load and operate the incinerator.

17.    Perform chemical capture of animals utilizing dart rifle and other trapping devices.

18.    Prepare rabies specimens for shipment to the Health Department.

19.    Perform other duties as assigned

Position Duties

1. Acquire and pick up donations.
2. Train new officers on equipment, computer system and procedures as needed.
3. Secondary duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

1. High school diploma or GED required. 6-12 months of animal handling experience preferred.
2. Must successfully pass criminal background check, including but not limited to convictions, guilty pleas, or no contest pleas to violent offenses, theft offenses and any offense under A.C.A. § 21-15-103.
3. Valid Driver’s License.
4. Within two years of date of hire, must obtain training certificates from an accredited training institution in the following fields: Animal Cruelty Investigations, Euthanasia, Chemical Capture and Bite Stick.
5. Ability to be on call on a rotating basis as assigned.    
6. Effectively communicate with others orally and in writing.
7. Ability to diplomatically respond to common inquiries or complaints from citizens, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community.
8. Must be proficient in the use of a computer and related software programs. Must be able to effectively operate standard office equipment.
9. While performing the functions of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.  The employee regularly is required to stand, walk, and sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms; climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 75 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.
10. While performing the functions of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to wet/and or humid conditions, moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals and outside weather conditions.