Animal Care Specialist
Clackamas County
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Clackamas County is seeking an Animal Care Specialist for the Dog Services Division to provide humane care and control of dogs at the shelter. You will perform behavioral observations, maintain records, and assist with adoption, rescue, and surrender processes, while upholding established procedures.
The role requires strong communication and interpersonal skills in a team-oriented environment, with a focus on community outreach and public service values.
Qualifications
- Six months of work experience handling dogs and understanding canine behavior.
- Experience handling scared or injured animals humanely.
- Experience preparing and maintaining accurate written and electronic records.
- Experience providing customer service and answering questions/complaints.
Responsibilities
- Provide humane and routine care and control of dogs at the Dog Shelter.
- Focus on maintenance and cleaning at the shelter and grounds.
- Perform behavioral observations and assessments of dogs.
- Recordkeeping, community outreach, and counseling related to adoption, rescue, and surrender.
Skills
Job description
Clackamas County employees work to serve the public and enrich our community. Clackamas County is committed to building a community where people thrive, have a sense of safety, connection, and belonging, so that everyone is honored and celebrated for the richness in diversity they bring. We encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds and lived experience to apply.
Clackamas County employees work to serve the public and enrich our community. Clackamas County is committed to building a community where people thrive, have a sense of safety, connection, and belonging, so that everyone is honored and celebrated for the richness in diversity they bring. We encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds and lived experience to apply.
Clackamas County is in a prime location in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area and is recognized nationally as one of the most livable areas in the United States. Located on the southern edge of the City of Portland and extending to the top of Mt. Hood, Clackamas County is part of a thriving region in the Northwest. It has a population of about 420,000 residents.
Explore Clackamas County
This Job Posting closes at 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Time) on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. Please Note: The application deadline may be extended to expand the pool of qualified candidates. Any recruitment timeline changes will be communicated to all who have initiated an application process or have submitted an application.
Annual Pay Range: $52,035.77 - $65,337.29
Hourly Pay Range: $25.017197 - $31.412158
Salary offers will be made within the posted pay range and will be based on candidate's experience (paid or unpaid) that is directly relevant to the position.
- Do you want to enhance the lives of shelter dogs and our community?
- Are you committed to providing best practices related to care of animals and want to contribute to supporting our existing programs, practices, and protocols?
- Do you have work experience handling dogs?
- Are you enthusiastic and positive with a "can-do" attitude?
- Are you a team player who can communicate well and work collaboratively with department staff and external customers?
We are searching for a motivated and team-oriented individual with strong communication and interpersonal skills to join our Dog Services team as an Animal Care Specialist. This position is designed to support and uphold existing systems and procedures. The most competitive candidates will demonstrate strengths that align with maintaining and reinforcing our established practices.
If selected for this position, you will be responsible for providing humane and routine care and control of dogs, impounded in the Clackamas County Dog Shelter. In this role, you will focus on the general maintenance and cleaning activities at the shelter and the surrounding grounds. You will also be involved in performing behavioral observations and assessments of dogs, recordkeeping, community outreach, customer service and counseling duties related to the adoption, rescue, placement, reclaim and surrender of dogs.
The Dog Services Division administers the County’s dog control program to enforce State and County laws and regulations governing the care, control, impounding, protection, licensing and disposal of animals. The Division also operates and maintains the County’s animal shelter, which houses stray and abandoned dogs.
We are committed to being an exemplary team with best practices related to animal care, protection, licensing, impounding and control. To that end, we are searching for an individual, who is motivated to be a positive and collaborative contributor to a highly functional team with strong interpersonal and communication skills.- A minimum of six (6) months of work experience handling dogs, which required an understanding of canine behavior and basic animal health as well as working knowledge of safe and efficient animal handling techniques
- Experience in handling, controlling, and/or caring for scared or injured animals in a safe and humane manner
- Experience in preparing and maintaining accurate written and electronic records
- Experience providing customer service and answering customer questions and/or complaints
- Experience in administering routine vaccinations and medications
- Experience handling, controlling, and caring for vicious, stray or diseased animals using fear-free techniques
- Experience with proper disinfecting procedures and disease control as it relates to cleaning cages, pens and runs
- Experience in a regulatory or compliance-driven environment with established protocols and parameters
- Experience operating light vehicles to transport animals and supplies
- Experience in assisting the public in selecting a dog for potential adoption
- Must pass post-offer, pre-employment drug test. Learn more about the County's drug testing policy
- Must pass a post-offer physical assessment; accommodation requests will be reviewed on an individual bases in compliance with State and Federal legislation.
- Driving is required for County business to accomplish work. Incumbents must possess a valid driver's license, and possess and maintain an acceptable driving record throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the County's driving policy
- For Veterans qualified for Veteran’s Preference: If you believe you have skills that would transfer well to this position and/or special qualifications that relate to this position, please list those skills and/or qualifications in the open-ended question at the end of the application and explain how those skills and/or qualifications relate to this position.
Please review the classification specification which includes the typical tasks of this position by clicking on the following link: Animal Care Specialist .
- Aligns with Clackamas County Core Values of Service, Professionalism, Integrity, Respect, Individual Accountability, and Trust “SPIRIT”.
- Builds and maintains professional relationships with internal and external customers, partners, and stakeholders by honoring commitments and delivering exceptional customer service.
- Commits to teamwork and collaboration by working effectively towards a shared goal, encouraging sharing of information, productive problem solving, and putting team success first.
- Demonstrates excellent customer service by anticipating, assessing, and responding effectively to the needs of those we serve.
- Communicates professionally, demonstrating self-awareness, respect for others, and adjusting to various levels of technical skills & understanding of subject matters.
- Embraces continual learning through commitment to self-improvement and willingness to grow within the job as technology and organizational changes demand it.
- Seeks to problem solve by using critical thinking and analytical skills, identifying alternative strategies & developing a solution-focused approach to address challenges or issues.
- Displays creativity and innovation by taking initiative in improving processes, programs, services, and products through new approaches or ideas and being open to others’ ideas.
- Promotes cross-cultural effectiveness by engaging in a culture of respect, inclusiveness, and appreciation of diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and values.
- Puts ethics into action by holding themselves to a high standard of professional, honest, and objective behavior in all dealings and interactions.
This position is within a County department (Dog Shelter) that is open 7-days a week, 365-days a year. Incumbent will work 40 hours during a five (5) day workweek that includes weekends and some holidays. Incumbents must be willing to work weekends and/or additional hours as needed. Specific hours of work will be discussed with the candidate selected for the position at the time an offer of employment is extended.
Note: Positions within Dog Shelter are designated as "essential", which means employees MUST report to work or remain at work as scheduled or as otherwise specifically directed during inclement weather, disaster, or other natural or human-caused incidents.This position is designated as on-site/in-person. It is expected that the selected candidate will perform duties at the specified on-site work location.
Duties require walking, prolonged standing, kneeling, bending, twisting, squatting, reaching forward/overhead, fine motor control and the ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds having awkward size and shape, and the ability to push/pull 75 pounds. Duties also involve frequent exposure to loud noises, wet and slippery surfaces, and sick, injured, agitated, frightened or aggressive dogs.
Clackamas County proudly offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, including competitive wages, cost-of-living adjustments, merit increases (for eligible employees), and a robust sick and vacation plan for regular status employees.
We encourage and support employee health and wellness by offering health and wellness classes and events, and alternative care benefits, so you can customize your wellness needs to fit your lifestyle.
Employee benefits become effective the first of the month following an employee’s date of hire.
- 12 hours of vacation accrued per month
- Eligible newly hired employees will have the one-time option to frontload their first year of vacation accruals! This means you have access to vacation time at time of hire.
- 8 hours of sick accrued per month
- 10 paid holidays and 1 personal day per year
- Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP):
- Employer paid 6% PERS retirement contribution (The county currently pays the employee’s share of the retirement contribution.)
- OPSRP members get vested after five years of contributions or when they reach age 65
- A Choice of Medical Plans that include chiropractic coverage, alternative care, vision, and prescription drug coverage
- A Choice of Dental Plans
- Employee Assistant Program (EAP)
- Longevity pay
- Other retirement Savings Options that allow for additional retirement funds savings, including an option to contribute a portion of employee earnings on a pre or post-tax basis to a 457b Deferred Compensation Plan
- A variety of additional optional benefits (see link below for additional information)
This is a full time County position represented by AFSCME.
The Department of Transportation & Development/Dog Services Division enforces all County laws governing the care, control, impounding, licensing, adoption and disposal of animals.
The purpose of the Dog Services program is to provide dog sheltering, education, complaint resolution, licensing, protection, and enforcement services to the public so they can reunite with lost dogs, benefit from the companionship of a well-matched adoption or placement and experience a healthy, safe, and livable community.
Learn more about Clackamas County Dog Services
If you have any questions or issues you may contact the Department of Human Resources by calling 503-655-8459 or emailing us at jobs@clackamas.us. Our office hours are Monday - Thursday 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time (closed on Fridays).
Requesting Veterans' Preference
Learn more about Oregon's Veterans' Preference
Clackamas County does not offer visa sponsorships. Once a job applicant has accepted a position, they will be required to complete an I-9 and confirm authorization to work in the United States prior to their first day.
Clackamas County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential elements that create and foster a welcoming workplace. All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, political affiliation, disability or any other factor unrelated to the essential functions of the job.
If you wish to identify yourself as a qualified person with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act and would like to request an accommodation, please address the request to the Department of Human Resources prior to the recruitment close date. You may request an accommodation during the online application process.
Emily Rhodes, Recruiter
Email: ERhodes@clackamas.us
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