Animal Services Officer

Animal Services Officer

Salary

$46,448.62 - $57,125.93 Annually

Location

Madera County, CA

Job Type

Full-Time

Department

Animal Services

Division

Animal Services Administration

Opening Date

07/02/2026

Closing Date

7/17/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

FLSA

Non-Exempt

Bargaining Unit

TCHNL

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Under general supervision, enforces County ordinances governing the licensing, impounding, and disposal of animals; collects and transports animals; ensures public safety by capturing and caring for wild, vicious, and/or injured animals; cares for and feeds animals in the shelter; cleans and maintains shelter facilities; and performs related work as required.

Supervision Exercised

May exercise technical and functional guidance over volunteer staff.

Examples of Duties

• Enforces state and local animal control related laws, codes, and ordinances; issues warnings and citations; conducts special investigations in response to public or law enforcement complaints of violations of animal regulatory ordinances; investigates reported inhumane treatment of animals, and animal bites; provides information on laws and regulations governing the treatment, licensing, care, and control of animals to the public; issues warnings and citations for violations of the law.
• Patrols assigned geographical areas; locates, captures, and impounds unlicensed, stray, and uncontrolled animals; picks-up deceased animals; rescues distressed, sick, or injured animals; responds to requests for service concerning injured, stray, sick or dangerous animals and violations of animal regulatory ordinances; administers minor first aid and emergency treatment for animals; may be required to be available for standby or on-call services.
• Monitors and observes animals for signs of illness or injury, and reports symptoms to the supervisor; provides input to supervisor related to behavioral assessment of shelter animals; supervises the feeding of animals as scheduled; assists in bathing animals and performs related animal grooming and care; administers medications as prescribed by the veterinarian at the direction of the supervisor; assists with euthanasia and disposal of unwanted, unclaimed, sick, injured or aged animals; maintains records and completes forms regarding care, feeding, and disposition of animals
• Maintains and prepares records and reports related to animal control activities; issues dog licenses; enters data regarding and keeps records of impounding and licensing of animals; assists with office and shelter operations, as necessary.
• Receives stray, unwanted, and other wild and domestic animals at the animal shelter from officers and the public; administers intake procedures including, scanning for microchip, vaccinating, treatment for parasites; places animals in appropriate shelter areas according to species and special requirements, such as court ordered quarantine or isolation pending diagnosis of diseases; keeps inventory of animals sheltered and their location; directs and assist shelter volunteers in handling of animals and performance of volunteer work.
• Prepares office correspondence; performs a wide variety of clerical work, including typing, proofreading, filing, checking, and recording information on records from rough drafts, notes, or general instructions; files materials; retains and purges documents in accordance with record retention policies and regulations; assists in opening and closing of facilities.
• Stays current with knowledge related to animal safety by attending professional conferences and in-service education programs, as well as by reviewing information obtained from Department memoranda, staff meetings and professional publications to attain and maintain animal services-related knowledge and skills and determine the impact of developments and change on providing service excellence.
• Demonstrates sensitivity to and understanding of historically minoritized groups and participates in professional development activities to increase cultural competency to enhance equity-minded practices within the county.

Other Related Duties

• Assists the public in claiming lost animals or selecting pets for adoption; releases impounded animals to owners and processes adoption to new owners; enters data regarding adoption information into automated system; schedules and cancels appointments; sets up, maintains, and posts department and staff calendars and room reservation calendars; schedules meetings and appointments following instructions and procedures; makes event arrangements including contacting customers.
• Scrapes, washes, disinfects, and dries kennel runs; cleans, changes, and disinfects cage linings; cleans and maintains building and grounds areas at the shelter, including janitorial work, grounds-keeping, painting, and limited repair duties; stocks food and shelter supplies and keeps inventory.
• May be assigned disaster service worker responsibilities as directed.
• Performs related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Employment Standards / Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Health and safety issues related to handling and caring for animals.
• Species and breed identification of a variety of domestic and common wild animals.
• Symptoms and behavior associated with rabies and other common diseases of animals.
• Methods and techniques of animal capture.
• Animal control protection laws and their application to adoption services.
• Current local, state, and federal laws, codes, and regulations particularly those related to apprehension, arrest, search and seizure, preliminary crime scene investigation, evidence and records maintenance, patrol, and traffic control.
• Current local, state, and federal laws, rules and regulations pertaining to the safety and protection of people, property and grounds associated with the County, and its surrounding areas.
• Current crime prevention and law enforcement methods and procedures including those used in investigation and identification, patrol, traffic control, records management, and care and custody of persons and property.
• Law enforcement theory, principles, methods, and practices of community policing and their application to a wide variety of services and programs.
• Operations, functions, services, and activities of an animal shelter.
• Emergency communication techniques including equipment and its use.
• Safe driving principles and practices.
• Safety policies and safe work practices applicable to the work being performed.
• Local geography, County streets, public buildings, and businesses.
• Customerservice practices and telephone and email etiquette.
• Principles and practices of sound business communication including proper English usage, grammar, spelling and punctuation.
• Record keeping and report preparations techniques to ensure department compliance.
• Standard office practices and procedures, and the operations of standard office equipment.

Skill to:

• Use sound judgment and make appropriate decisions in stressful situations and analyze and adapt to new situations quickly.
• Plan and organize work to meet established timelines and department schedules.
• Utilize word processing, spreadsheets, email, online calendaring, presentation software, industry specific programs, and data entry/retrieval from database programs.
• Perform mathematical calculations.
• Exercise tact, diplomacy, and confidentiality in dealing with sensitive and complex issues and situations.
• Rapidly learn and acquire skills in areas and technologies not previously assigned.
• Accurately type at a sufficient speed to maintain workflow.
• Operate a motor vehicle safely.

Ability to:

• Communicate tactfully, respectfully, and effectively with board members, administrators, staff, and the public, both orally and in writing, in a manner consistent with the departments policing and customer service policies.
• Represent the County effectively in dealings with other agencies, community and business organizations, the media, and the public.
• Effectively engage and support historically minoritized groups by addressing issues of equity and improving culturally responsive service-oriented practices.
• Develop and maintain an inclusive work environment that fosters diversity, respect, and engagement.
• Recognize signs of danger to people, property and grounds associated with the County, and its surrounding areas.
• Interview and advise suspects, witnesses, victims, reporting parties, and staff.
• Recall names, faces, and details of occurrences.
• Act quickly and calmly in emergencies.
• Exercise good judgment, flexibility, creativity, and sensitivity in response to changing situations and needs.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Effectively communicate with individuals for whom English is not a primary language.
• Use tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive and complex issues, situations and concerned people.
• Operate a computer and use standard business software.

Training and Experience

Any combination equivalent to experience and training that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills, and abilities would be:

Education/Training

• High School diploma or GED.

Experience

• One (1) year of experience working in an animal shelter, animal hospital, boarding facility, animal training facility, rescue facility, refuge facility, or closely related facility handling, caring for, and treating a large number of animals. (Private ownership of animals is not considered qualifying experience.

Licenses, Certificates and Special Conditions

• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California drivers license and the ability to maintain insurability under the Countys vehicle insurance program.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, California Peace Officers Standards and Training (P.O.S.T) Certified P.C. 832 within six (6) months of hire.
• Euthanasia by Injection Certification must be obtained during the probationary period.

Physical and Psychological Demands

The physical and psychological demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this class, employees are regularly required to sit; talk or hear, in person and by telephone; use hands repetitively to finger, handle, feel or operate standard office equipment; and reach with hands and arms. Employees are frequently required to walk and stand; and lift up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Psychological Demands

While performing the duties of this class, employees are regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret data, information and documents; analyze and solve problems; observe and interpret situations; learn and apply new information or skills; perform highly detailed work; work on multiple, concurrent tasks; work with frequent interruptions; work under intensive deadlines; and interact with county administrators, managers, staff, the public and others encountered in the course of work, some of whom are dissatisfied, angry or abusive.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential duties of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Employees work primarily under typical office conditions and as needed in an outdoor environment with exposure to noise and outside weather conditions, biological hazards, and disease/infestations. Work involves potentially dangerous situations and exposure to disturbing or traumatic events. Work involves situations that may require the supervision or control of persons who may become physically violent or combative. The employee may be required to travel to locations other than assigned work site and to adjust to work schedule changes and requirements to work extended hours.

Application Process

The application review process will include screening to ensure applications are complete and meet all minimum qualifications. In addition to the application, the applicant is required to complete the Supplemental Questions to further evaluate their education, training and experience relative to the required knowledge, skills and abilities for the position. Applicants must submit answers that are as complete as possible.

Only qualified applicants who pass the minimum qualifications review, will be invited to the examination process which may be administered by a written examination, oral interview, or any combination of qualifications appraisal determined by the Department of Human Resources to be appropriate. The Department of Human Resources will make reasonable accommodation in the examination process for disabled applicants. If you have an accommodation request, please indicate such on your application.

Depending upon the number of applicants meeting the minimum qualifications, applicants may be scheduled for one or more of the assessments listed below. Of those passing the initial assessment, only the top 15 will move forward to the appraisal panel. Passing score is 70% out of 100% on each assessment section. If only one assessment is conducted, the weight for that assessment will be 100%.

THE APPRAISAL PANEL (100%) IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2026

To move forward in the application process, you must complete an online application through our website https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/maderacountyca. All job postings are also included via the TDD phone at 559-675-8970 and the 24-hour job line at 559-675-8685. Please attach a copy of your unofficial transcripts (indicating when degree was awarded), licenses, and certificates to your application or your application may be considered incomplete. Resumes may be uploaded but cannot be used in place of a completed application.

For an open recruitment, applicants claiming veterans preference must submit a copy of their DD-214 form along with the application. Candidates who attain ranking on an eligible list and are involuntarily called to active duty may be considered for eligibility reinstatement upon their return.

PLACEMENT ON THE ELIGIBLE LIST:

The Civil Service Commission may limit the number of qualified applicants eligible to participate in the examination process. If two or more candidates have the same total final score on an examination, they shall be ranked in order of their scores in that portion of the examination which has the greatest weight. The names of two or more eligibles having final ratings which are identical shall be grouped on the eligible list as tie names with equal rank for certification and appointment purposes.

Candidates who are successful in all phases of the examination process will be placed on an eligible list, in rank order based on a calculation of their total score from the examination process. The eligible list established by this recruitment will be active for a minimum of six (6) months or one (1) year, unless otherwise determined by the Director pursuant to section 6-4 (b) and may be extended for up to an additional year by the Commission.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS:

As a condition of employment with the County of Madera, a candidate must submit to a Tuberculosis (TB) screening, and related follow up testing as necessary. Designated classifications* are also subject to a medical examination, which includes a review of medical history. TB screenings and medical exams are administered by the Madera County Public Health Department and/or health care professional designated by the County.

Designated classifications required to submit to an employment medical examination generally include those that are physical in nature or as may be required by law. If you have any questions about the pre-employment requirements, please contact the Department of Human Resources at (559) 675-7705 or hr@maderacounty.com.

ELIGIBILITY FOR EMPLOYMENT:

You will be required to submit verification of your identity and citizenship or legal right to work in the United States at the time of and as a condition of an offer of employment.

As a condition of employment, all prospective employees shall be required to be fingerprinted.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Madera County does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, national origin, age, disability (physical or mental), medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, political affiliation, or any other basis protected by Federal or State law.

Benefits of employment with the County of Madera include:

• 14 paid holidays per year;
• 1 sick leave day per month (unlimited accrual);
• 2 weeks paid vacation after 1 year, vacation accrual increasing thereafter with years of service (45 days maximum accrual);
• Membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS), with an enhanced 2.7% @ 55 retirement benefit formula (based on the highest 12 months with the employee paying 8% toward the retirement cost) for those individuals with current or prior qualifying public sector service that establishes eligibility as a "classic member" pursuant to the provisions of Californias 2013 Pension Reform Act (Act) and CalPERS Regulations. Individuals with no current or prior qualifying public sector service, and who are defined as new members or new employees under the Act, will be eligible for the 2% @ 62 retirement benefit formula (based on the average compensation over 36 consecutive months with the employee paying 7.75% toward the retirement cost);
• County participates in the Public Employees Retirement System Health Benefit Program and for certain selected health plans, the County pays 95% of health insurance premium for employee and 50% for either two-party or dependent coverage;
• Additional salary increases after 10, 15, and 20 years of service.

01

I understand that I must indicate the specific time period and distinct job title in the applications work experience section. I understand that I am required to describe, in detail, my qualifying experience on my application.

• Yes, I understand.

02

Please select the level of education you possess which includes major coursework in animal care, animal welfare, veterinary administration, or a closely related field:

• Formal or informal education equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade.
• Associates degree or higher.

03

Please select the years of experience you possess working in an animal shelter, animal hospital, boarding facility, animal training facility, rescue facility, refuge facility, or closely related facility handling, caring for, and treating a large number of animals. Private ownership of animals is not considered qualifying experience.

• Less than one year experience.
• One (1) or more years experience.

04

I understand that Euthanasia by Injection Certification must be obtained during the probationary period.

• Yes, I understand.

Required Question

Employer County of Madera

Address 200 W. 4th Street

Madera, California, 93637

Phone 559.675.7705

Website http://www.maderacounty.com