Department: Animal Control Reports to: Assigned Deputy Chief

Summary: Under general supervision, maintains the health and welfare of all animals in the City of Odessa Animal Shelter; manages a diverse array of animals by providing professional veterinary care.

Essential Functions: Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Establishes and implements written medical treatment protocols for the shelter environment. Responsible for staff training, evaluating, and performance of proper euthanasia of animals by injection.
• Evaluates facilities and monitors sanitation procedures of the shelter to prevent spread of disease and comply with state regulations. Performs daily rounds and evaluates the health and welfare of the animals in the Animal Shelter and to discuss animal health issues and preventive health measures.
• Provides timely preventative care, diagnostic procedures, triage, and general medical and basic surgical treatment of all animals in the shelter.
• Develops, coordinates, and implements preventive health surveillance, analysis, and nutrition programs.
• Performs spay and neuter surgeries on shelter animals.
• Manages the veterinary clinic; manages inventory of equipment and supplies.
• Supervises, prioritizes, assigns tasks and projects; trains and evaluates staff; develops staff skills and conducts performance evaluations and meets regularly with staff to discuss and resolve workload and technical issues.
• Coordinates operations with external partners and other public and private agencies.
• Responsible for developing budget and presenting to the Police Chief and participates in the citywide budget process.
• Monitors and reviews trends in Shelter operations and health management issues; recommends operational, procedural and policy improvements.
• Supports developing effective relationships between the City of Odessa and the general public by demonstrating courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with citizens, visitors, and City staff.
• Responsible for the rabies control program including vaccination of all animals not currently vaccinated against rabies prior to their release when vaccination is appropriate and certifies all animals released from quarantine observation as being free from rabies.
• Provides staff training relevant to animal husbandry, humane animal handling, sanitation and disease control, basic animal behavior, medical care, surgical support and first aid for animals.
• Examines all impounded animals and prescribes euthanasia for sick or injured animals.
• Provides high quality sterilization surgery for shelter animal population. Ability to take radiographs and possesses skills to interpret.
• Provides emergency medical care, stabilization, diagnosis, and treatment of ill and injured animals, brought to the shelter.
• Inputs animal records into computer to requisition and control euthanasia drugs in accordance with all applicable state and federal regulations and laws.
• Supports departmental operations with regular and timely attendance at work. Attend advisory board meetings, staff meetings and other meetings as required.
• Performs other duties as necessary which are related to or logically associated with this position.

Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class; employees may be assigned duties which are not listed; reasonable accommodations will be made as required. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement and is subject to change at any time by the employer.

Minimum Qualifications

Education, Training and Experience Guidelines:

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from an accredited university on or before the date of hire. If licensed in another state, must obtain Texas License within 30 days of appointment.
• A valid license to practice veterinary medicine issued by the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners on or before the date of hire.
• Must obtain a valid Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) registration certificate (Schedule 2, 2N, 3, 3N, 4, 5) within six months of hire date.

License and certification requirements: A valid Texas State Driver's License with acceptable driving record.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two (2) years of clinical experience.
• One (1) year previous shelter medicine experience.
• USDA Accreditation.
• Six (6) months of surgical experience in spaying and neutering of dogs and cats with proven ability to perform 30 per day.
• Managerial/supervisory experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of drug classifications, rules, and regulations of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
• Interpersonal / Human Relations Skills: Ability to interact with others requiring participative interpersonal skills that support team and operational strategies for effective processes and outcomes.
• Ability to read and understand complex items such as literature, proposals, legal documents, financial documents, contracts, technical items, and detailed reports.
• Ability to write editorials, journals, speeches, manuals, or critiques.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment within broad policy guidelines; interpret concerns, define desired results, and determine scope and priorities of veterinary programs and special projects.
• Ability to manage and monitor work performance by directing subordinates, evaluating program/work objectives and effectiveness, and realigning work and staffing assignments, as needed.
• Ability to interpret local ordinances, statutes, rules, regulations, and city policies pertaining to animal care and control.
• Ability to stay abreast of new trends and innovations in animal sheltering.

Physical demands and working environments: Physical requirements include lifting to 70 pounds rarely (with assistance). Subject to vision, hearing and talking frequently; standing, sitting, walking, lifting, carrying, pushing/pulling, reaching, handling, fine dexterity, balancing and foot controls occasionally; kneeling, crouching, crawling, bending, and twisting rarely. Working conditions involves exposure to variable and/or extreme weather conditions, dangerous animals, zoonotic diseases, hazardous chemicals, potentially irate members of the public and possible rabies exposure (Pre-exposure vaccines & booster offered at city's expense).

May be required to respond after hours, including holidays and weekends, in the event of a departmental events or City-wide emergency.