Animal Control Officer I

Salary: $37,229.00 Annually

Location : New Bern, NC

Job Type: Full-Time

Job Number: 10760

Department: Sheriff's Office

Division: Animal Control Services

Opening Date: 03/25/2024

Primary Purpose

Under general supervision, the purpose of the position is to investigate animal cruelty within Craven County. Employee investigates reports, complaints and incidents of animal cruelty. Position is responsible for interviewing complainants, issuing citations for violations of local and state laws, and coordinating with county and/or state agencies as needed in pursuing legal action and attendance of court hearings or trials.

Essential Functions

• Investigates allegations of animal cruelty, neglect, abuse, and abandonment in potentially hostile environments.

• Investigates, analyzes and evaluates cruelty scenes.

• Enforces state and local animal abuse laws.

• Investigates reports of nuisance animals and conducts dangerous dogs investigations in accordance with state statutes.

• Interviews and obtains written statements of suspects and witnesses to determine nature of violation and action to be taken.

• Prepares and issues civil citations; civil cases are heard in Small Claims Court as necessary enlist assistance of the Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement agencies to prepare and issue state (criminal) citations.

• Prepares reports and maintains case files of investigations to ensure availability for civil or criminal prosecution.

• Conducts legally authorized searches and seizures in conjunction with and executed by law enforcement personnel.

• Works with other sections within the department and with state and local authorities, as needed.

• Conducts surveillance as needed.

• Attends court hearings as needed and attends trials of criminal defendants in connection with investigations.

• Locates necessary witnesses and subpoenas them on behalf of the County.

• Issues citations, warning tickets, and enforcement documents; testifies in court against owners who have ignored warnings about alleged ordinance violations.

• Transports injured animals or animals in violation of County ordinances to the animal shelter; logs animals delivered.

• Maintains records of locations where animals were picked up.

• Responds to requests for services and capturing stray, diseased and bothersome animals; setting traps as necessary.

Minimum Education and Experience

Graduation from high school or GED or two years previous experience in animal control, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Possession of a valid North Carolina driver's license. Background check with law enforcement agency required. Must have or obtain NACA Certification Levels I, and II or equivalent. Must have or obtain Euthanasia Technician Certification; Chemical Immobilization Certification.

Additional Information

Other duties as assigned by management staff. In the event of a disaster, may be required to assist as needed.

Craven County offers regular full-time employees a wide variety of employee benefits including:

Health Insurance

Health Insurance is provided by ACS Benefits Services and covers a wide variety of healthcare services. Craven County pays 100% of Employee Only premium cost. Employees have the option to add child and spouse dependent coverage at their own cost.

Dental Insurance

Dental Insurance is provided through the Delta Dental PPO and Delta Dental Premier network administered by ACS Benefits Services. It covers a percentage of basic to major dental procedures, including orthodontia for children. Craven County pays 100% of Employee Only premium cost. Employees have the option to add child and spouse dependent coverage at their own expense.

Life Insurance and AD&D

Craven County provides eligible employees with $10,000 life insurance and accidental dealth and dismemberment coverage through OneAmerica AUL. Employees have the option to purchase additional coverage and/or dependent coverage at their own expense.

Disability Insurance

Craven County provides eligible employees with $50.00 per week in disability insurance through OneAmerica AUL. Employees have the option to purchase additional disability insurance at their own cost.

North Carolina Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System

Eligible employees are automatically enrolled in the retirement system and must contribute 6% of their gross salary each pay period. Once eligibility requirements are met, employees will be able to receive monthly payments for life based on their salary, age, and years of service credit.

NC401k

Craven County contributes 2% of eligible employees' gross salary into the 401(k) account regardless of the employee's deferral amount. In addition, the County matches employee deferrals up to an additional 3%.

Annual Leave

Regular full-time employees earn annual leave based upon years of service. Eligible employees begin to accrue annual leave as soon as they start but must complete a six month probationary period before they are eligible to use annual leave.

Less than two years of service earns 10 days per year.

Two but less than five years of service earns 12 days per year.

Five but less than 10 years of service earns 15 days per year.

10 but less than 20 years of service earns 18 days per year.

20 or more years of service earns 20 days per year.Sick Leave

Regular full-time employees earn 3.69 hours of sick leave per pay period. Craven County accepts eligible sick leave from the State of North Carolina, any of its political subdivisions, any local government entity or authority, or municipality in North Carolina.

Paid Holidays

County employees receive 11-14 paid holidays annually. The Board of County Commissioners may adjust the holiday schedule as deemed necessary.

Longevity

Eligible employees earn $200 in longevity after five years of service by October 31 of the qualifying year. Longevity benefits increase $25 per year up to a maximum of $1,000.

Merit Program

Craven County offers a merit program. Up to 56% of eligible employees may receive a performance-based merit increase each year.

Supplemental Benefits

County employees are also offered a variety of supplemental benefits to select at their own expense such as Life Insurance, Vision Insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Critical Care policies, Cancer policies, Long-term Care policies, Hospitalization policies, 457b Deferred Compensation Plan and Aflac.

Employee benefits are subject to change or may be contingent upon funding availability.