Animal Control Officer
Classified Details
- Classified ID
- 2018
- Description
Job Description
Title: Animal Control Officer (ACO)
Department: Brattleboro Police Department
Nature of work:
The ACO is an unarmed officer who performs general duties that not everyone possesses the skill or mindset to perform. Duties include but are not limited to investigation and enforcement of the laws and ordinances governing animal control in the state of Vermont as well as the Town of Brattleboro. The ACO assists with the care, treatment, licensing, and impounding of animals; picking up sick, injured, stray, or vicious animals; and issuing citations for violations. The ACO also coordinates animal control efforts with the Windham County Humane Society (WCHS) consistent with existing laws, agreements, and policies.
Wages: FY’26 Step 1 $22.64 per hour.
Schedule: 40 hours per week; flexible schedule as coordinated with Police Chief or their designee. Schedule may include weekends, evening hours, and changing shifts.
RESIDENCY: Employees shall be required to have their place of abode in the Town, or a bordering town, and to be bona fide resident of the Town, or a bordering town. (A bordering town is defined as any town located within Windham County, Vermont, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, or Franklin County, Massachusetts)
Supervision received:
The ACO is directly supervised by the sergeant and/or lieutenant assigned to their shift
and is generally supervised by Officers In Charge (OIC). The ACO is expected to exercise compassion, limited individual judgement, initiative, and decision making within the framework of existing rules, regulations, and within their authority.
Supervision exercised:
None.
Essential Responsibilities:
- Maintain effective communication between police officers and the chief of police.
- Be accountable for timely, accurate, and complete reporting.
- Care for and ensure the proper maintenance of equipment and materials under their control.
- Offer guidance and build community relationships.
- Investigate violations of law and ordinance, issue tickets, and present tickets or cases to the judicial system as appropriate.
- Coordinate and conduct as appropriate the pickup of dead and stray animals.
- Investigate reports of abused or neglected animals utilizing fair and impartial acumen taking appropriate enforcement action when warranted and within their authority. Refer and assist more serious cases to supervisor.
- Effectively communicate verbally and in writing with police officers and supervisors.
- Coordinate animal care efforts with WCHS and properly document lodging, billing, and
other factors consistent with existing agreements and policies.
- Review all animal complaints handled by Brattleboro police officers and conduct follow up as appropriate.
- Serves as deputy town health officer.
- Communicates and works with emergency rooms, VT Health Department, and other
agencies to identify and work to resolve animal health problems such as rabies, flea
infestations, and other animal borne problems and diseases.
- Provide training on an as needed basis related to rabies and other disease awareness and prevention.
Non-Essential Duties and Tasks: The responsibilities and duties listed above are examples of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.
Competencies Needed:
We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying, unless specifically stated as required.
Successful completion of Level II training at the Vermont Police Academy within agreed upon timeframe.
No minimum level of education is required; however, a thorough knowledge of the Town Ordinances as well as applicable State statutes will be necessary.
Knowledge of animal behavior and skill in safely handling animals is highly preferred.
Basic computer skills and record keeping are preferred.
Must hold and maintain a valid Driver’s License.
Able to transport animals in cases of impoundment or re-homing.
- Operate town vehicles in a safe and controlled manner, including during emergency response, consistent with existing laws and regulations.
- Maintain a functional knowledge of existing laws, ordinances, relevant court decisions, and department rules and procedures.
- Ability to work independently on difficult or complex tasks while exercising independent judgement.
- Ability to exercise good judgment, courtesy, and tact when making proper disposition of problems that may arise.
- Flexibility to prioritize tasks and re-direct attention to meet immediate needs.
- Flexibility, excellent time management and high attention to detail and capacity to prioritize tasks. Ability to balance multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.
- A willingness to examine existing systems and refine or improve them as necessary. Must be forward-thinking and open to innovation and change.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees from the Town as well as from other agencies and the public.
- Must be able to establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
- Ability to communicate effectively with the public, elected officials and other government agencies.
- Must be able to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
- Able to think quickly under pressure, react to always changing situations, and able to communicate effectively.
- Must be able to learn, stay current in the field, retain instructions, policies and procedures, while continuing to learn new methods and skills.
- Must successfully complete a physical examination and drug screening prior to employment.
- Must be physically fit to perform the duties of the position, have good overall physical health.
- Ability to actively support in providing a welcoming workplace and respectful environment for all, including cultural competency, while working effectively across diverse cultures and constituencies.
Work Environment:
ACO work in a variety of environments including climate-controlled buildings and outdoors during inclement weather. They operate vehicles in inclement weather. ACO may have to stand or sit for long periods of time. ACO may work in environments that may increase physical or psychological stress due to the presence of danger, both environmentally and created by other people or animals.
Union Status: Non-Exempt – Member of United Federation of Police Officers Local #412 after probationary period. (1 year of probation)
The Town of Brattleboro is committed to being a leader in providing a welcoming workplace and respectful environment for all. We strongly encourage people of color, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ applicants, and people from other underrepresented groups to apply, recognizing and respecting those diverse perspectives and experiences are valuable to our team and essential to our high performance in public service.
- Title
- Animal Control Officer
- Application Deadline
- 11/27/2025
- Location
- Brattleboro, VT
- Application URL
- secure4.saashr.com/ta/6155296.careers?CareersSearch=&lang=en-US
Contact Information
- Name
- Cole, Millissa
- Phone Number
- (802) 251-8137
- mcole@brattleboro.gov
- Best Method of Contact