Animal Services Officer I
Salary
$54,516.80 - $66,268.80 Annually
Location
Woodland, CA
Job Type
Regular / Full Time
Job Number
2026-00072
Department
Community Services
Opening Date
05/22/2026
Closing Date
6/14/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
DESCRIPTION
The County of Yolo is recruiting to fill one (1) regular, full-time position in the class of Animal Services Officer I (ASO I) in the Animal Services Division at the Department of Community Services (DCS). Visit the https://www.yoloshelter.org/ to learn more about the division.
The Position
Under supervision, the ASO I receives and cares for dogs, cats, and a variety of other animals housed at the Animal Shelter. Incumbents learn to enforce state laws and local ordinances related to animal licensing, impoundment, and public safety, and perform related duties as assigned. This is an entry-level training classification within Animal Services. Positions in this class are responsible for supporting daily shelter operations, including feeding, cleaning, and maintaining a safe, sanitary, and orderly environment. Incumbents are trained in field and enforcement activities, including animal control, rabies prevention, and licensing compliance. Animal Services in Yolo County provides animal control services by contract to the County's four incorporated cities, University of California, Davis, and unincorporated areas, offering a broad range of learning opportunities across both shelter and field operations.
The ideal candidate is a proactive, resilient professional with a strong commitment to animal welfare and public safety. They bring hands-on experience working with a variety of animals and demonstrate confidence handling, assessing, and caring for animals in both shelter and field environments. This candidate demonstrates sound judgment and composure in challenging situations, communicates effectively with diverse community members, and approaches enforcement responsibilities with professionalism and integrity. They show strong potential to develop skills in de-escalation, complaint resolution, and accurate, timely report writing. Highly adaptable and dependable, the ideal candidate thrives in physically demanding and unpredictable conditions, maintains a clean and organized workspace, and quickly learns and applies laws, procedures, and safety protocols. They consistently balance compassion for animals with accountability to the community, reflecting the service-driven values of Yolo County.
How to Apply
Interested applicants should review the full details of this job announcements then submit a County of Yolo online employment application and responses to the required supplemental questions, by the listed closing date. For additional important and detailed information, see the Application & Selection Process section of this job announcement.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Click on the job class specification link below to review the full description for this position.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
The minimum qualifications required for a candidate to proceed in the selection process are as follows:
Education: Equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade AND
Experience: Six months of full-time paid or volunteer experience working with domestic animals, livestock, and/or wildlife, animal husbandry, shelter operations, and/or interpreting and enforcing laws or codes to the public.
License: Positions in this classification require incumbents to possess and maintain a valid California drivers license, Class C or higher, to carry out job related duties. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a physical or mental disability may request a reasonable accommodation.
Special Requirements:
Persons employed in this class must pass a Department background investigation and Department of Justice LiveScan.
Persons employed in this class must possess of a driving record without moving violations for a period of at least two (2) years prior to time of appointment to the class.
Employees must successfully complete a 25 week Shelter and Field Training Program, which includes weekly progress evaluations.
Possession of a valid Penal Code 832 Certificate (Arrest and Firearms). Applicants who do not possess the Certificate may be appointed to the position, however, the required Certificate must be obtained within the first six months from the date of employment.
Persons employed in this class must be willing to work variable shifts and on standby involving nights, holidays, and weekends.
Persons employed in this class must be immunized against rabies and maintain immunity as long as risk of exposure continues.
APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS
Application Process
It is highly recommended that you print this job bulletin for future reference. Application information should be current, concise, and related to the requirements in this job announcement. Your application should highlight all relevant education, training, and experience as of the recruitment closing date, and clearly indicate how you meet the minimum qualifications for the position as outlined above in the Employment Standards section.
Incomplete applications will be disqualified. A resume may be included with your application; however, it WILL NOT substitute for the information requested on the application. Ensure that relevant information to be considered in the screening for minimum qualifications step is included within the online application system fields. Additionally, responses to the supplemental questions must be included with your submission, as detailed below.
Supplemental Questions: Supplemental questions are designed to elicit specific information regarding an candidate's experience, education, and training. Responses should be consistent with the information on your application and are subject to verification. If a job included responsibilities applicable to several questions, separate the different functions of the job to answer all the questions completely. Resumes or referral to the application or other supplemental question responses will not be accepted in lieu of completing each question. If you have no experience, write "no experience" for the appropriate question.
Attachments, if applicable, may be submitted through the following methods:
By uploading and attaching to the online application
By e-mail to jobs@yolocounty.gov
By fax to (530) 666-8049
By hand-delivery to 625 Court Street, Room 101, Woodland, CA 95695. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Selection Process
The following is a tentative schedule of steps that will occur as part of the selection process. The selection process steps, and any listed dates, may change with or without notice.
Screen for Minimum Qualifications
Screen for Best Qualified, if applicable
Department Selection Interviews
Reference Checks
Conditional Job Offer, pending Pre-Employment Exams
Drug & Alcohol Screen
Department of Justice LiveScan
Department Background Investigation
Confirmed Job Offer
Screening for Best Qualified: If applicable, an applicant's education, training, experience, and responses to the supplemental questions will be evaluated to determine applicant ranking and those that are best qualified to be place on an eligible list for the job class. The active eligible list that is established from this recruitment will be used to fill this open position and future vacancies.
Contact Information
For questions about the position or about employment with the County, please contact Human Resources by e-mail at jobs@yolocounty.gov or by phone at (530) 666-8055.
Equal Employment Opportunity
It is the policy of the County of Yolo to provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons, regardless of sex, sexual orientation, race, color, ancestry, religious creed, national origin, physical disability (Including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over), marital status, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, or any other classification protected by federal, state or local laws or ordinance. The County will comply with all of its obligations under State and Federal laws regarding the provision of reasonable accommodations to applicants. Reasonable testing arrangements may be made to accommodate applicants with disabilities or who are unable to attend a scheduled test due to religious reasons in accordance with the Fair Employment and Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Please call the County of Yolo Human Resources Office at (530) 666-8055 at least five (5) business days prior to the scheduled test date to request accommodation. Documentation from a medical doctor, rehabilitation counselor, or other qualified professional will be required.
Yolo County, a place where YOU belong!
The average person spends one third of their life at work. Why not spend that time in an environment where you are seen for who you are, celebrated for the diversity you bring, and valued for your potential to contribute to an innovative and dynamic workforce? Yolo County is committed to creating and sustaining an inclusive and equitable workplace which supports and values our diverse community.
Come join us! This is where YOU belong.
RETIREMENT
Were you hired into a CalPERS or other public agency reciprocal system for the first time on or before January 1, 2013? If so, you most likely have "Classic" member status. Classic members of CalPERS (or CalPERS reciprocal) agencies who come to work for Yolo County will remain Classic members!
"Classic" member CalPERS retirement formulas are:
Misc: 2.5% at 55
Safety: 3.0% at 55
Deputy Sheriff Safety: 3.0% at 50
"New" member CalPERS retirement formulas (for employees hired into a CalPERS agency for the first time after January 1, 2013) are:
Misc: 2% @ 62
Safety: 2.7% @ 57
BENEFITS
The County of Yolo offers a generous benefits package including:
Benefits for County positions are specific to the bargaining unit of the position. The Salary Resolution (accessible here) identifies the bargaining unit for each County classification.
Once youve identified the bargaining unit, you can look up the benefits for a particular position by going to our Benefits Summaries by Bargaining Unit page on our website, by clicking here.
01
The job bulletin for this class outlines the steps in the application and selection process, and contains all necessary information that an applicant will need to complete and submit a complete application packet. Complete application packets MUST be submitted prior to the final filing date. Candidates will not be given additional time to submit additional information. I have read and certify that I understand the application instructions for this position. I understand that all required documents must be submitted by the final filing date, and I have reviewed the job bulletin to ensure I understand what is required to submit a complete application packet.
02
I have read the above instructions and understand that my responses to the supplemental questions are required, and my responses will be used to determine the best qualified candidates for this job. I certify that my responses are accurate to the best of my knowledge. I understand that should my name be placed on an eligible list and it is later found that my responses are inaccurate, my name will be immediately removed from the eligible list and I will be deemed ineligible for consideration for employment in this class with Yolo County.
03
Do you possess a high school diploma or a GED?
04
Do you possess a valid California drivers license?
05
Describe your hands-on experience working with animals (e.g., companion animals, livestock, wildlife, etc.). Include in your response the type(s) of animals, the setting (shelter, veterinary clinic, field, etc.), and specific duties you performed.
06
Provide an example of a time you handled a stressful or potentially dangerous situation involving an animal or member of the public. What actions did you take and what was the outcome?
07
Describe your experience maintaining records or reports (paper or electronic systems). What steps do you take to ensure accuracy and completeness?
08
This position requires working outdoors in varying weather conditions and performing physically demanding tasks. Describe your experience performing physically demanding work. Include the following in your response, 1) the types of activities you performed, 2) the setting, environment, and/or conditions, 3) the tools or equipment you used, if applicable, 4) the average length of time you spent doing this work, and 5) your strategy for maintaining readiness to perform physically demanding work in varying weather conditions.
Required Question
Employer County of Yolo
Address 625 Court Street, Room 101
Woodland, California, 95695
Phone (530) 666-8055
Website http://www.yolocounty.org