Animal Services Officer (Contract)

• Patrols assigned areas, in Vaughan or any other municipality, in an animal control vehicle to search for stray, sick, injured, or deceased animals and provide services as required. Picks up and transports animals to the shelter for impounding, disposal, quarantine, or rabies investigation, or to the veterinarian or external adoption kiosks as required; completes records accordingly in departmental software (i.e. Chameleon).

• Patrols assigned area, in Vaughan or any other municipality, to monitor compliance with local Animal Control By-laws and any other pertinent legislation as it relates to animals, and to take appropriate remediation action, both proactive and reactive.

• Responds to inquiries from the public and other agencies, and conducts where necessary investigations concerning injured, stray, sick, or dangerous animals and violations of the Animal Control and Noise By-laws, or any other pertinent animal control legislation, regulations, policies, and procedures.

• Conducts inspections of animal-related businesses, in accordance with the Consolidated Licensing By-law, or its successor.

• Creates, opens, and updates investigation files in departmental database (i.e. Chameleon); updates departmental databases with Provincial Offences Notices, Animal Control Orders, etc.; prepares reports, completes records and various forms such as daily activity sheets, receipts for fees received, quarantine and investigative reports, and prosecution briefs; maintains detailed notes in issued notebooks.

• Provides information to the public regarding licensing, vaccinations, rabies control, pet owner responsibilities, spaying/neutering, and adoptions, and other animal-related topics; attends educational events as necessary to provide same. Promotes and enforces pet licensing at every opportunity, including issuance in field.

• Attends court and appeal hearings to testify and present evidence regarding violations of the Animal Control and Noise by-laws, or other animal-related legislation (i.e. provincial Dog Owners' Liability Act, or its successor); attends as witness where required to support evidence of other officers. Files all correspondence and related materials which may be required in a legal proceeding as evidence, or request under Municipal Freedom of Information and Privacy Act (MFIPPA).

• Handles sick, injured, dangerous, or deceased animals in a safe and humane manner. Assesses and determines when euthanasia of wildlife is necessary; operates a CO2 gas euthanasia system; assists veterinarians or Registered Veterinary Technicians in the tranquilization and euthanasia of shelter animals, as required. Utilizes departmentally-issued equipment, as directed.

• Performs animal care duties as assigned such as feeding animals, monitoring sick and dangerous animals, segregating and isolating animals when necessary.

• Cleans and disinfects fleet vehicles and equipment; ensures that maintenance and service records are kept up to date with respect to assigned vehicles; recommends/requests maintenance and service when deficiencies are noticed.

• Assists with front office duties such as receiving animals brought to the shelter by the public and releasing impounded animals to the public, as required.

• Participates in the training of new staff.

• Performs other related tasks, as assigned, that are in accordance with job responsibilities or necessary department and corporate objectives

• Responsible for ensuring compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations and the corporate Occupational Health and Safety Policy and related procedures.

• Successful completion of a two (2) year College Diploma in Veterinary Technology or equivalent combination of education and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities; Veterinary Technology or combination of animal-related experience with law enforcement diploma.

• Minimum two (2) years related animal control experience and experience within enforcement processes as it relates to animal control, municipal, and provincial legislation.

• Valid non-probationary Ontario Class 'G' driver's license, in good standing; clear VSC.

• Good organizational and report writing skills, accompanied with computer literacy.

• Strong problem solving and conflict resolution skills.

• Ability to work independently as well as within a team.

• Sound judgment and service excellence in dealing with the public and animals.

• Ability to deal effectively and courteously with the public and staff.

• Ability to develop and maintain working relationships with co-workers, agencies and organizations.

• Knowledge of, and demonstrated ability in, the City's core competencies and relevant functional competencies.

• Successful candidates(s) will be required to submit a clear Vulnerable Screening Criminal Record Check, prior to commencing employment.

• Eligible to become a member of the Municipal Law Enforcement Officers Association.

• Ability to work rotating shifts, including evenings and weekends, late evenings, early mornings
• Expected to work independently in the field a majority of the time, wear a uniform and protective personal equipment (PPE)
• Ability to be on standby and respond to a company-issued cell phone during standby hours outside of the office
• Availability to work outside normal business hours, as required and in accordance with the Collective Agreement
• Ability to lift and move animals or objects weighing up to 100 lbs.
• Exposure to people who may be impatient, angry or unpredictable; dealing with complaints
• Moderate physical activity/output required for the apprehension of animals
• Exposure to changing and potentially adverse weather conditions throughout year due to inside/outside work environment, mainly in the field
• May be required to report directly to other municipalities as directed to provide contract animal control services

City of Vaughan