Job Title:
Animal Control Officer
Company: Nash County, NC
Location: Nashville, NC
Created: 2026-03-10
Job Type: Full Time
Job Description:
Salary : $39,037.00 Annually Location : Nashville, NC Job Type: Full Time Job Number: 2025-00086 Department: Administration Opening Date: 09/04/2025 Closing Date: Continuous General Statement of Duties Are you passionate about animal welfare and public safety? Do you have the courage and compassion to make a real difference in your community? Nash County is seeking dedicated and motivated Animal Control Officers to join our Animal Control team. The primary purpose of this position is to assist in the Animal Control Program by performing protective, preventive, and investigative work in enforcing animal control laws and regulations within the jurisdictional boundaries. The Animal Control Officer also investigates any calls received pertaining to animal cruelty and/or neglect. Regular work schedule is 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Employee participates in an on-call rotation schedule. Additional hours may be required to meet the needs of the agency (i.e.: disasters, shelters, special vaccination/adoption clinics, etc.). Essential Duties and Tasks An employee in this role is subject to working in inside and outside environments and the risks involved in handling rabid or vicious animals. Independent judgment must be exercised in deciding what action to take if animals cannot be readily captured. Work is performed under general supervision and evaluated by observation, reports, and discussion for appropriate remediation results and satisfaction of the public. An employee in this role: Enforces the county animal control ordinance and NC law related to animals; educates citizens about animal issues and animal control. Patrols a designated area of Nash County; answers requests and complaints from citizens regarding dogs and other animals; investigates reports or complaints concerning dogs, cats, or other animals creating nuisances, running loose, or abandoned and takes appropriate action. Investigates complaints of cruelty to various animals; Investigates incidents of animal bites; enforces ordinances governing the keeping of animals; picks up stray animals reported as sick or injured; traps, snares or otherwise captures animals; takes animals to the County Animal Shelter. Locates dogs or other animals that have bitten humans; issues citations to owners for violation of animal regulations. Assists in arranging for or conducting rabies clinics. Keeps and maintains routine records and makes reports; appears in court on cases involving animal regulation violations. Monitors animals under rabies quarantine. Administers rabies vaccination to animals in kennels when necessary; assists in the euthanasia of animals when required. Assists citizens by showing animals available for adoption and helps owners reclaim their lost animals. Takes after-hours call on rotation with other officers in order to respond to emergency animal issues and cleans the shelter during weekends or holidays when on call. Provides courteous and expeditious customer service. Performs other duties as assigned by the supervisor or the Safety Officer. Knowledges, Skills and Abilities Working knowledge of public health rabies control laws; working knowledge of animal capture methods; working knowledge of laws and regulations relating to animal control; ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with the public; ability to reach, interpret, and explain rules, regulations and procedures; skill in the use of physical means to capture animals, knowledge of disease control cleaning methods, ability to use safe restraint methods for controlling animals. Desirable Education and Experience1. Required Minimum Qualifications: Graduation from High School or GED and one year of animal control experience or animal care experience (veterinary office or shelter experience) or equivalent combination of education and experience. Possession of a valid Class "C" North Carolina Driver's License is required. 2. Additional Training/Experience: Must obtain Rabies Vaccinator certification and Euthanasia Technician certification within six months from date of hire. 3. Equivalent Training and Experience: NACA Animal Control Officer I & II Certifications will each serve as six months of Animal Control Officer experience. Applicants who have graduated from High School or have GED will be considered for a Work Against status for one year to obtain required work experience or until completion of the NACA Animal Control Officer I & II Certifications. INSURANCE PROGRAMS Nash County offers cafeteria-style benefits including: - Health Insurance - Dental Insurance - Life Insurance - Vision Insurance - Supplemental Health Benefits (Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity Insurances) - Disability Insurance (Long-Term and Short-Term Disability) and more! FINANCIAL PROGRAMS Retirement Membership in the North Carolina Local Government Employees Retirement System is a requirement for all regular full-time and regular part-time employees. Employees contribute 6% of their annual compensation before it is taxed. If you leave County service before retirement, you may withdraw your retirement contributions or elect to freeze your contributions in anticipation of future local government employment. If you have 5 years of service, you are 100% vested in the NCLGERS. NC401(k) The NC401(k) supplemental retirement program is available to regular full-time and regular part-time employees. The County establishes this 401(k) account for each eligible employee and makes a 5% contribution based on monthly earnings. Employees may elect to make voluntary contributions through payroll deduction. 457 Deferred Compensation The 457 Deferred Compensation program is available to regular full-time and regular part-time employees through payroll deduction. Deferred compensation is a voluntary investment plan to supplement retirement income and to defer taxable income. Special Separation Allowance The Separation Allowance is available to law enforcement officers between the ages of 55 and 62 years that are eligible and retire under the provisions of the NC Local Government Employees Retirement System. 125 Flexible Benefit Plan Flexible Spending Account options are available to regular full-time and regular part-time employees who wish to use pre-tax dollars for eligible medical, pharmacy, dental, vision, and daycare expenses. The Flex Convenience Card program gives you instant access to your account funds. Health Care Spending Account -- Section 125 of the IRS Code allows yearly voluntary enrollment to set aside pre-tax dollars for eligible health care expenses. Dependent Care Spending Account -- Section 125 of the IRS Code allows yearly voluntary enrollment to set aside pre-tax dollars for eligible dependent care expenses. Direct Deposit Direct Deposit is a condition of employment for all employees. Deposit of your paycheck will be made to checking or savings accounts in a bank of your choice. LEAVE PROGRAMS Vacation Leave For regular full-time County employees, vacation leave accrues based on length of service in the NC Local Government Employees Retirement System. Regular part-time employees accrue prorated vacation leave based on a percentage of the full-time benefit. Sick Leave For regular full-time County employees, sick leave accrues each pay-cycle. Regular part-time employees accrue prorated sick leave based on a percentage of the full-time benefit. Your unused sick leave balance can be applied as creditable service toward a service retirement under the guidelines of the NCLGERS. Holidays The policy of the County is to follow the holiday schedule as published by the State of North Carolina each year. The following holidays are observed: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day and the day after, and Three (3) days at Christmas. Military Leave Annual Training - Reserves and National Guard -Ten paid workdays per fiscal year. Active Duty - Reserves and National Guard - Ten paid workdays upon activation. Civil Leave Paid leave is provided to full-time or regular part-time County employees called for jury duty or as a witness of the court for the federal or state government, or a subdivision thereof. Family Medical Leave Act Federal law provides job protection and continuation of existing paid health insurance during 12 weeks of leave, paid or unpaid, to an eligible employee for qualifying events. These events can include birth or adoption, and serious illness of an immediate family member, or of the employee. OTHER PROGRAMS Employee Assistance Program (EAP) The Employee Assistance Program is open to all employees and their dependents. It is a confidential service provided at no cost to the employees of the County. EAP provides certified counselors who administer assessment and brief therapy to employees who want help with a variety of personal and work-related issues such as stress, parenting concerns, grief, alcohol/drug use, family problems, financial concerns, and work-related problems. Wellness Center and Telemedicine We believe that staying healthy is inclusive of exercising regularly and taking care of your physical body. Nash County has a Wellness Center, which consists of various exercise equipment and videos, open to all full and part-time employees. All full-time employees also have access to telemedicine through Teladoc. Teladoc treats conditions like allergies, sore throats, asthma, and more. Doctors are available by phone or video 24/7 from wherever you are. They are available to diagnose symptoms and send a prescription if needed. NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES The benefits offered by Nash County are subject to change. In the event there is a conflict between the above contents and Nash County policies and/or a State or Federal statute, the policy/statute shall control. Plan documents will govern benefits plans should there be a conflict with this information. They are not held out to any employee as part of any contractual agreement. Benefits, policies, and procedures are subject to change or termination at any time. Information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. Actual provisions of each plan will be provided on the certificate of coverage as part of the Summary Plan description. Nash County is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Provider In accordance with Federal civil rights law and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA's Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at filing cust.html and any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: 1. mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; 2. fax: (202) 690-7442; or 3. email: USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.