Animal Services Officer

Animal Services Officer

The City of Elk Grove is seeking Animal Services Officers to join the Police Department at our state-of-the-art Animal Shelter. The ideal candidate is a compassionate, self-motivated professional who thrives in a dynamic and community-oriented environment. They possess exceptional customer service skills, demonstrating patience, empathy, and professionalism while interacting with community members, coworkers, and partner agencies.

This individual has a strong sense of personal accountability and can work independently with minimal supervision while exercising sound judgment, integrity, and professionalism. They are proactive in resolving issues, adaptable and resilient, remaining calm under pressure and making thoughtful decisions in emotionally challenging or rapidly changing situations. The ideal candidate is comfortable working outdoors in a variety of conditions, safely handling animals of all sizes and temperaments, and responding to situations involving injured, stray, neglected, or aggressive animals.

We are looking for someone who values teamwork but is equally confident in taking initiative in the field. They can balance education with enforcement, communicate effectively during difficult conversations, and de-escalate conflict while maintaining a professional demeanor. They understand that the position requires flexibility to meet operational needs, including working irregular hours, weekends, holidays, overtime, split shifts, and on-call assignments, as needed. Strong report writing, attention to detail, and the ability to accurately interpret and apply animal control laws, ordinances, and policies are essential.

Above all, the ideal candidate is passionate about public service and animal welfare. They are committed to protecting the health and safety of both the community and its animals through compassionate care, education, enforcement, and collaborative problem-solving.

Successful candidates understand that this role requires equal parts compassion, enforcement, and problem-solving, and they are comfortable making difficult decisions while treating both people and animals with dignity and respect.

Representative Duties

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

1. Operates an animal services vehicle patrolling streets and alleys to capture and confine stray and unlicensed animals; and impounds dead, sick, injured, stray, or trapped domestic and non-domestic animals.
2. Investigates complaints from the public and other agencies regarding nuisance, stray, uncontrolled, dangerous, wild or diseased animals.
3. Responds to and conducts initial investigation of complaints regarding animal cruelty and abuse.
4. Investigates animal bites, arranging for appropriate identification and quarantine.
5. Enforces applicable animal control codes and licensing ordinances; issues citations for violations of applicable regulations; files criminal complaints with City Attorney or District Attorney; testifies in court or administrative hearings regarding citations and disposition of complaints as necessary.
6. Takes into custody animals turned in by the public including trapped animals; quarantines and disposes of animals as appropriate.
7. Responds to and resolves difficult and sensitive citizen inquiries and complaints; provides public information and education to citizens and community groups regarding animal services policies and procedures; gives public presentations as necessary; educates the public on laws, codes, ordinances, and policies relating to the care and control of animals.
8. Identifies symptoms of common animal diseases and recommends veterinary medical care, isolation or destruction; may perform and/or assist in the euthanasia of animals.
9. Operates and maintains a variety of animal services tools and equipment including humane traps, mobile radios, and related animal services tools and equipment; keeps equipment and vehicle in clean and healthful condition to accept impounded animals.
10. Examines licenses for validity and issues warning notices and citations to delinquent owners.
11. Prepares and maintains a variety of records and reports detailing animal control work performed.
12. Performs related duties as required.

Qualifications

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

• Knowledge of basic species and breed identification of a variety of domestic, livestock and common wild animals.
• Knowledge of symptoms and behavior associated with rabies and other common diseases of animals.
• Knowledge of behavior and handling of common domestic, livestock or wild animals.
• Knowledge of methods and techniques of animal collection and impoundment.
• Knowledge of methods and equipment used in the care and control of animals.
• Knowledge of state and local laws and ordinances pertaining to the proper care and control of animals.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of animal care and first aid.
• Knowledge of office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers.
• Knowledge of pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.

• Ability to perform a variety of animal control activities.
• Ability to assess animal behavior and make effective decisions regarding handling, capturing, or destroying the animal under stressful or emergency situations.
• Ability to identify symptoms and behavior associated with rabies and other common domestic animal diseases.
• Ability to enforce animal control rules and regulations.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and prepare reports.
• Ability to use of independent judgment and initiative in accomplishing work assignments.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to deal tactfully, courteously and effectively with the public when providing customer service.
• Ability to respond to requests and inquiries from the general public.
• Ability to operate a variety of animal control equipment in a safe and effective manner including instant release control poles, animal grasper, animal traps, raccoon/skunk boxes, animal gauntlets, snappy snares, snake tongs, dog leads, Oplus-XT Rifle/pistol projector tranquilizer equipment, injection equipment for humane euthanasia, and other equipment for control and capture purposes.
• Ability to operate office equipment including computers.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to work in a team environment and establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

• Education/Training: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade. College level course work in animal health technology, animal husbandry, animal science or closely related field is desirable.
• Graduation from an accredited animal control academy (such as the National Animal Control Association) is desirable.

• Experience: Experience working in an animal control agency or shelter with responsibilities including the handling of various animal species is preferred.
• (2) two years of the experience listed above is highly desirable.

• License or Certificate : Possession of an appropriate, valid driver's license.
• Possession of a certificate of completion of Euthanasia by Injection within six months of hire.
• Possession of a certificate of completion of Arrest, Search and Seizure (Penal Code 832) within six months of hire.
• Possession of a certificate of completion of Basic Humane Officer Training Academy prior to completion of the probationary period within six months of hire.
• Possession of a certificate of completion of Animal Chemical Capture within six months of hire.

Retired Annuitants: This is a regular full-time position. Retired Annuitants are not eligible for appointment to this position under Government Code Sections 7522.56, 21224, 21227, and 21229. Retired CalPERS members may apply only if they are planning to voluntarily reinstate from retirement.

Employment Sponsorship: This position is not eligible for H-1B visa sponsorship or any other type of employment-based visa sponsorship.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. Environment : Work is performed primarily in a field environment; exposure to a variety of domestic, livestock and wild animals; exposure to infectious animal diseases, animal wastes, animal bites, allergens, and inclement weather conditions; incumbents may be required to work extended hours including evenings, weekends, and holidays. Physical : Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to travel to various locations to pick up and dispose of animals; exert physical strength when handling animals and livestock; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or