Animal Care Specialist I/II

Animal Care Specialist I/II

Salary

$41,995.20 - $59,134.40 Annually

Location

Animal Svcs - 3647 Cornucopia Way, CA

Job Type

Full-time

Job Number

5227-26

Department

Animal Services Agency

Opening Date

08/18/2026

Closing Date

8/26/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

Max Number of Applicants

50

• Description
• Benefits

About the Opportunity

THIS RECRUITMENT WILL CLOSE AFTER 50 APPLICATIONS ARE COLLECTED. PLEASE APPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO BE CONSIDERED.

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

The Animal Care Specialist role offers a meaningful opportunity to contribute to the health, safety, and overall well-being of animals in a professional care environment. This position allows you to apply hands-on skills in animal handling, sanitation, enrichment, and basic medical support while working closely with veterinarians, shelter staff, and the community. It provides room for growth through specialized training, certifications, and advancing into supervisory or veterinary support roles. For individuals passionate about animal welfare, the role offers a chance to make a direct and lasting impact by ensuring high standards of care, supporting adoption efforts, and improving daily operations within shelters.

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To learn more about Animal Services, https://www.stanislausanimalservices.com/.

THE POSITION

The Animal Care Specialist I is the trainee level in this series. Individuals in this classification are provided with on-the-job training and experience. This position performs a variety of skilled and unskilled duties in the general maintenance and care of animals including domestic pets, wildlife, and livestock. Incumbents have direct contact with the public, often in emotionally charged situations, providing information, explaining procedures and laws, and assisting with pet adoptions and reclaims. The incumbent is also responsible for enforcing spay/neuter contracts, licensing ordinances, and issuing notices of violations and citations. Animal Care Specialists I are assigned to work in a specific functional service area on a rotating basis providing oversight to volunteer and Alternative Work Program participants. They also perform related duties as assigned and work under the general direction of the Animal Services Operations Supervisor.

The Animal Care Specialist II is the journey level in this series. This position performs a variety of skilled and unskilled duties in the general maintenance, care and disposal of animals. Cleans, sanitize kennels and cages, and handles difficult animals including domestic pets, wildlife and livestock. This position has direct contact with the public, often in emotionally charged situations. Provides information, explains procedures and laws and also assists with adoptions and reclaims. This individual is also responsible for enforcing spay/neuter contracts, licensing ordinances and issuing notices of violations and citations. Animal Care Specialists are assigned to work in a specific functional service area on a rotating basis. They are responsible for all aspects of that part of the operation, including oversight of volunteer and Alternative Work Program participants. This individual is expected to function with minimum supervision and perform with more independence of action within established guidelines. This classification is required to perform routine daily humane euthanasia and related duties as assigned. Works under the general direction of the Animal Services Operations Supervisor.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE

Application Deadline: 50 Applications or August 26, 2026

Oral Examination: Tentatively scheduled for week of September 14, 2026

Questions? Were Here to Help!

If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, the recruitment process, or need assistance with your application, please contact (209) 342-1742.

Typical Tasks

Animal Care Specialist I

• Receive, unload, process and impound animals from the general public and Animal Service Officers;
• Perform general, continuous clean up and maintenance of the assigned service area and grounds;
• Provide supervision and guidance to Alternative Work Program participants and/or volunteers at the center;
• Operate small trucks and stock trailers used in transporting animals, equipment and supplies;
• Examine animals to determine age/sex, behavioral characteristics and overall condition;
• Maintain inventory of food, tools and other related supplies;
• Conduct informational tours, educational tours for interested groups visiting the facility;
• Conduct animal adoption interviews with potential adopters;
• Administer vaccines and other prescribed medications to animals in our care;
• Assist the Animal Services Operations Supervisor and/or Animal Care Specialist II in performing humane euthanasia;
• Exercise tact, compassion, courtesy and poise while discharging assigned duties;
• Prepare legible, clearly written reports;
• Operate computer software for tracking animals;
• Go door-to-door enforcing spay/neuter contracts, vaccination and licensing laws; and
• Issue notices of violations and citations.

Animal Care Specialist II

• Perform all the tasks required of an Animal Care Specialist I classification;
• Perform humane euthanasia;
• Conduct educational seminars and presentations;
• Respond to emergency calls after normal duty hours; and
• Coordinate and supervise the daily activities of the Alternative Work Program participants, Honor Farm inmates, and volunteers.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education/Experience)

KNOWLEDGE

• General maintenance equipment and techniques;
• Basic handling techniques and behavioral characteristics of domestic pets, common wildlife and livestock;
• Basic understanding of common domestic pet anatomy;
• Basic understanding of State and local ordinances relating to the care and maintenance of domestic pets, livestock, wildlife and quarantining of suspected rabid animals; and
• General computer systems and operations.

SKILLS/ABILITIES

• Demonstrate a genuine respect, compassion and humane concern for all animals;
• Identify common canine and feline breeds and other species of animals;
• Safely use animal handling equipment and common hand tools for repair of equipment;
• Follow written and oral instructions;
• Effectively read, understand, interpret and answer questions raised by fellow employees and the general public regarding policies and procedures;
• Prepare legible, clearly written records, logs and forms;
• Assist and work closely with authorized volunteers at the facility; and
• Coordinate and supervise the daily activities of the Alternative Work Program participants and volunteers.

We recognize your time is valuable, please only apply if you meet the following required qualifications.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

ANIMAL CARE SPECIALIST I

PATTERN I

• High School Diploma or GED Certificate; AND
• Fifteen (15) units of college course work in Animal Science or a closely related field.

PATTERN II

• High School Diploma or GED Certificate; AND
• Minimum of six (6) months experience in a veterinary or pet adoption setting.

This is a Veterans' Preference Program eligible job classification. For more information please click here.

The following education/experience requirements apply to both pattern I and II

• Possess and maintain valid First Aid/CPR/AED Certificates within one (1) year from date of appointment; AND
• Successfully complete and pass the departments Small Animal Euthanasia Certification Program within one (1) year of employment; AND
• Successfully complete and pass the Animal Behavior/Temperament class within one (1) year of employment; AND
• Successfully complete and pass the child and elder abuse and neglect reporting class within one (1) year of employment; AND
• Successfully complete and pass the Penal Code §832 class within one (1) year of employment.

ANIMAL CARE SPECIALIST II

PATTERN I

• High School Diploma or GED Certificate; AND
• Fifteen (15) units of college course work in Animal Science or a closely related field; AND
• One (1) year minimum experience as an Animal Care Specialist I or its approved equivalency, in another private/public animal care facility; AND
• Possess and maintain a current valid departmental Small Animal Euthanasia Certificate, or another equivalent type certificate, authorized by the Director

PATTERN II

• High School Diploma or GED Certificate; AND
• Minimum of six (6) months experience in a veterinary or pet adoption setting; AND
• One (1) year minimum experience as an Animal Care Specialist I or its approved equivalency, in another private/public animal care facility; AND
• Possess and maintain a current valid departmental Small Animal Euthanasia Certificate, or another equivalent type certificate, authorized by the Director.

Proof of education is required for verification purposes at the time of application. Applicants who are unable to submit proof must call (209) 342-1742 to make other arrangements before 5 pm on the final filing date. Failure to submit proof or make other arrangements before the final filing deadline may result in disqualification.

Application and Selection Procedures

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCEDURES

Applications cannot be submitted later than 5:00 p.m. on the final filing date. Make your online application as complete as possible so a full and realistic appraisal may be made of your qualifications.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application.

Attaching your resume and cover letter are an optional feature for those who wish to do so in addition to completing the required application. Information on your resume and cover letter will not substitute for the education, work experience and required fields on the County application. The online County application is the primary tool used to evaluate your job qualifications.

EXAMINATION PROCESS

Most County recruitments consist of the steps detailed below and are governed by Merit Principles. The examination process ensures that all applicants are given the same opportunity to gain employment within Stanislaus County.

• Application Review and Screening. Applications are carefully screened based on information provided. Those who submit incomplete applications that lack relevant qualifications or do not submit all required documents will not be invited to move on.
• Written Examination. Applicants will be invited to participate in a written exam that tests knowledge for the position.
• Oral Examination. Applicants are invited to a panel interview in which they will be evaluated by County subject matter experts.
• Eligible Lists. Candidates who pass the examination will be placed on an eligible list for that classification. Eligible lists are effective for six months, but may be extended up to eighteen months.

Unless otherwise provided, this position is part of the Classified Service of the County and is assigned to the Community & Health Services bargaining unit for labor relations purposes.

The Job Task Analysis provides information detailing the physical and functional demands of the classification. For the complete job task analysis, visit the Risk Management website at http://www.stancounty.com/riskmgmt/ under the "Disability" tab.

Note: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, part-time and full-time vacancies throughout Stanislaus County.

Individuals who are in a full-time classification position are required to serve a twelve-month probationary period, which may be extended an additional six months, for a total of eighteen months.

Incumbents may also be subject to overtime, standby, callback, weekend, holiday, and shift assignments as identified in their MOU (Memorandum of Understanding).

RECRUITMENT ACCOMMODATIONS

Arrangements may be made to accommodate disabilities and religious convictions. Applicants requiring testing accommodations are required to complete and submit the Testing Accommodations Request Form prior to the test administration date. Special arrangements for religious convictions should be included in the "Additional Information" section of the application form.

GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Pass County-paid pre-employment job-related background investigation.
• Perform job duties in a manner assuring a safe working environment for oneself and others.
• Maintain confidential information according to the legal standards and/or County regulations as required.
• Some positions may be required to possess and maintain a valid California Driver's License and meet County insurability requirements.

APPLICATION AND/OR EXAMINATION APPEAL RIGHTS

Application and/or examination results may be appealed by applicants presenting facts alleging irregularity, fraud and/or error in application screening or in exam scoring. Appeals must be in writing and submitted to the Chief Executive Officer within seven (7) days after the examination results are emailed.

DISCLAIMER

Stanislaus County reserves the right to revise the examination plan described in this flyer to better meet the needs of County service. The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an express or implied contract. Any provision contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice. The information contained in the bulletin is information which sets forth a general summary of benefits for this respective position. This information is not legally binding. The benefits and other information regarding this position may be found in the Stanislaus County Code, the Stanislaus County Personnel Policies manual, or in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding(s), and such information prevails over information contained in this flyer. Questions regarding this bulletin may be directed to the Stanislaus County Chief Executive Office/Human Relations.

Benefits associated with this position can be found at Benefits Summary.

Employer Stanislaus County

Address 1010 10th Street, Ste 1400

Modesto, California, 95354

Phone 209-525-6341

Website http://www.stancounty.com