ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER

Major Functions
Regional Animal Control Officer is responsible for protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public and animals by providing comprehensive animal control services to the participating municipalities of Bridgewater, East Bridgewater and Raynham. This position enforces Massachusetts General Laws, local bylaws, and municipal regulations relating to animal control, investigates complaints, captures and impounds animals, conducts enforcement activities, and promotes responsible pet ownership through public education and outreach.
As a regional employee, the Animal Control Officer serves as the primary animal control resource for all participating communities and works collaboratively with each municipality to ensure consistent, effective, and equitable delivery of animal control services. This position will be responsible for supervision of a part-time Assistant Animal Control Officer.
Essential Functions
Note: These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is a logical assignment to the position.
Animal Control and Enforcement
Respond to the complaints involving stray, injured, dangerous, nuisance, neglected, abandoned, or deceased animals and take appropriate enforcement action.
Enforce Massachusetts General Laws, local bylaws, and regulations relating to animal control, licensing, dangerous dogs and animal welfare.
Provide on-call emergency service in the evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Investigates suspected cases of animal abuse and neglect, including review of the condition of the animals, interviewing the owner and witnesses, and determining whether to issue a citation or file criminal charges.
Capture, retain, transport, quarantine, and impound animals using humane practices and specialized equipment, including catch poles, traps, tranquilizer equipment, and transport cages.
Appear at administrative hearings, court proceedings, and municipal meetings as required.
Responsible for the inspection and documentation of kennels.
Participate in rabies clinics; and provide rabies control activities, as required.
Regional Coordination and Service Delivery
Provide animal control services to the Towns of Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, and Raynham in accordance with the regional service agreement.
Coordinate and prioritize calls for service across multiple municipalities to ensure timely, consistent, and equitable service delivery.
Collaborate with Police Departments, Boards of Health, Town Clerks, emergency responders, veterinarians, animal shelters, and other municipal, regional and state partners.
Maintain consistent enforcement, accurate record of complaints, investigations, citations, impoundments, licensing activities and related enforcement activities, throughout the regional program.
Public Education and Operations:
Educate residents on responsible pet ownership, licensing requirements, rabies prevention, and animal welfare through public outreach, community events, social media, and direct communication.
Operate and perform routine maintenance of assigned vehicle and animal control equipment.
Supervise, train, and provide direction to part-time Assistant Animal Control Officer as assigned.
Attend required trainings, maintain professional certifications, and remain current on applicable laws and best practices.
Performs other duties as assigned or as may be necessary.
Required Qualifications
Experience
Three (3) to five (5) years of experience in handling, trapping, ensnaring, transporting and caring for dogs; or any equivalent combination of experience, education, and/or training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Licenses or Certificates
Must possess and maintain a valid Massachusetts Driver’s License.
Must have or be willing to obtain a certification as an Animal Control Officer by the Animal Control Officers Association of Massachusetts with the first year of employment
Training or Education
High School Diploma, General Education Development Certificate (GED) or equivalent.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Knowledge of:
State and local laws and regulations as they pertain to animal control, and procedures for enforcement.
Knowledge of animal behavior, humane animal handling techniques, capture methods, and proper care of domestic and when applicable, wild animals.
Knowledge of rabies preventions, quarantine procedures, and public health principles.
Skilled in conflict resolution and de-escalation when interacting with residents.
Ability to exercise sound judgement and make independent decisions in emergency and high-pressure situations.
Ability to work independently and manage a regional workload.
Ability to obtain and maintain required certifications and successfully complete ongoing professional training.
Special Requirements
Must be available 24 hours per day to respond to emergencies.
Working Conditions
Frequent and extended periods of outside work, subject to all weather conditions and extremes.
Working around potentially vicious animals; work with abusive individuals in disputes over decisions; removing stray animals from streets and highways.
Exposure to dirt, air contaminants, animals, temperature extremes, noise and toxic materials
Continuous walking, standing, climbing; periods requiring uncomfortable physical positions. Incumbents in this classification must follow safety procedures carefully.
Tools and Equipment Used
Use of personal computer, printer, two-way radio, telephone, copying machine, traps, and other devices to capture and impound animals.
Operation of a motor vehicle.
Physical Demands
Regular periods of physical exertion, requiring ability to lift, carry and position heavy dogs utilizing proper mechanics and techniques. Typical positions require workers to walk or stand for long periods; lift and carry up to 100 pounds; push and pull up to 200 pounds; climb stairs, bend, kneel, crouch and crawl; reach, hold, grasp and turn objects. The work requires the ability to speak normally, to use normal or aided vision and hearing, and to detect odors.
Unusual Demands
Employee is subject to call 24 hours per day.
Probationary Period
The probationary period is 6 months

Skills
Documentation

Employment type
Full-Time

Work arrangement
No