Dog Control Officer/ Animal Welfare and Dog Control Officer

Join our team as a Dog Control Officer

Are you passionate about dogs and making a real difference in your community? Do you thrive in a role where no two days are the same? If you're curious about a career that blends animal welfare, public service and investigative work - this could be the perfect opportunity for you!

What you'll be doing: 

 As a Dog Control Officer, you'll be out and about across Dorset, promoting responsible dog ownership and tackling dog related issues that affect the community. Your work will focus on education first, with enforcement when needed.

• safely managing stray dogs and arranging secure accommodation before they are claimed or rehomed
• investigating complaints about aggressive dog behaviour, excessive barking or missing microchipping or owner details.
• patrolling hotspots to reduce dog fouling
• running awareness raising campaigns and engaging with the public
• gathering evidence for enforcement actions such as issuing fixed penalty notices or preparing court cases

Why this role is for you: 

Variety and Impact: Everyday brings new challenges and opportunities to help dogs, owners and others in the community. 

Supportive Team: You'll be backed by a small, friendly team of qualified officers.

Career Progression: We're looking for someone keen to grow into a licensing role for animal establishments (kennels, home boarders etc). If you already have the Ofqual Level 3 qualification required to carry out inspections we will look to upgrade the post straight away. If not, we'll support you to get it (6-12 months).

What we're looking for:

• a personable, dog-loving individual who can remain objective in enforcement situations
• strong organisational skills and attention to detail
• a calm, professional approach in challenging situations
• a team player with an investigative mindset
• willing to undertake further training and responsibilities

Work environment: Your primary base will be at County Hall in Dorchester. You'll work across the Dorset Council area. Regular office attendance for meetings, training, and equipment collection is required. We offer flexibility with office locations and some home working where appropriate.

Ready to make a difference? Apply now and start your journey as a Dog Control Officer.

We’re passionate about making Dorset a great place to live, work and visit. Working for us should be no exception. 

At Dorset Council we: 

• provide more than 450 services to over 300,000 residents 

• have ambitious aspirations  

• are excited about our future 

• care about Dorset and all the people who live here 

• know that all roles make a difference and that our employees are key to our success 

You will: 

• have access to a range of employee benefits  

• be part of an organisation that supports each other to grow and succeed 

• have access to range of training opportunities which will help with your personal development and career progression 

We are challenging ourselves to become a more diverse and inclusive organisation. We recognise that recruitment and inclusion of individuals with diverse skills, perspectives and backgrounds will bring real strength to the council and our communities. We have a commitment to equality and welcome applications from everyone. 

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. We offer an interview to everyone who declares a disability and meets the essential criteria for the role. We are keen to make our interviews accessible. Let us know on your job application if you have a disability and need any reasonable adjustments. 

We also look for applicants who share our commitment to our values. We will ask you to evidence when you have demonstrated them as part of the selection process. 

This role is UK based and we will need to establish your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. 

We use generic job descriptions and person specifications. This means the job title on any attachments may differ from the job title in the advert. We may provide specific information in a context statement if relevant. 

Find out more about how to apply.