Animal Control Officer

County of Orange; Tustin (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

County of Orange’s OC Animal Care is seeking an Animal Care Officer to protect animals, safeguard the public, and enhance community welfare. You will investigate cruelty, rescue distressed animals, and collaborate with law enforcement to enforce laws and ensure humane care.

You’ll educate residents on responsible pet ownership, document findings in reports, and work in dynamic field conditions with rotating shifts across the county’s service area.

Qualifications

• Valid PC 832(a) Laws of Arrest certification, or completion of 40+ hours of training from recognized associations.
• Certified in Humane Euthanasia
• Experience in care/handling of domestic or wild animals; knowledge of criminal justice or animal control.

Responsibilities

• Patrol assigned areas in a vehicle, complete daily work assignments received during briefings or by other means.
• Safely and effectively secure a variety of domestic and wild animals in a variety of circumstances.
• Assess the condition of injured or sick animals, determine appropriate care, issue notices as needed, and coordinate next steps for wildlife rehabilitation when feasible.
• Communicate effectively and professionally in person and via two-way 800 MHZ radio utilizing codes/phonetic alphabet.
• Promote compliance with County and State laws that pertain to the field of animal care and control.
• Engage with the public safely and professionally, including in occasionally tense or challenging situations.
• Prepare written reports, patrol logs and other materials in a legible, concise and accurate manner.
• Interact safely and professionally with healthy, sick or injured domestic, wild and exotic animals.
• Investigate and document reports of animal cruelty or neglect, amongst emotional and sometimes disturbing situations.
• Protect the community from aggressive dogs by safely impounding them, documenting the scene, and taking appropriate follow-up actions.
• Investigate animal bites and reports of aggressive animals.
• Assist other officers by receiving and dispatching calls for service.
• Educate the public on County and State laws, animal care standards, and responsible pet ownership.
• Rescue animals from situations or circumstances that could endanger their health or well-being.
• Testify in court or administrative hearings as needed.
• Collect and transport deceased animals from public and private property.

Skills

Animal handling

Field patrol

Written reports

Public safety

Conflict de-escalation

Radio communications

Microsoft Word

Outlook

Chameleon software

800 MHz radio

Tools

Microsoft Word

Outlook

Chameleon software

800 MHz radio

Job description

OC COMMUNITY RESOURCES/OC ANIMAL CARE

OC Animal Care's mission is to provide refuge and care for animals, foster the human-animal bond and promote safety in our community to ensure a safe compassionate community for all. OC Animal Care promotes responsible pet ownership; health and safety of people and animals and spay/neuter programs. OC Animal Care provides temporary shelter and medical care for lost, owned, or stray animals and opportunities for adoption for these animals.

OC Animal Care (OCAC) was founded in 1941 in the City of Orange in Orange County, California as a rabies control center with only 25 dog kennels. Since then, OCAC has expanded to play an important role in Orange County's animal care community. OCAC serves 14 cities and the unincorporated areas of Orange County with its expanded programs and services, and in 2024, the agency accepted over 15,000 animals.

OCAC's goal is to deliver prompt, temporary care and refuge to homeless animals, reunite animals with their owners, facilitate adoption, ensure public safety, and enhance the human-animal bond in the community. The shelter is designed to provide a positive experience for animals and people alike, and is the backdrop for the adaptive animal programming continually developed by OC Animal Care to provide enrichment, engagement and adoption services for the animals in its care.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Animal Care Officer is the journey-level classification in the civilian Animal Care Officer occupational series.

As an Animal Care Officer, you’ll protect animals, safeguard the public, and directly improve the quality of life in your community. You’ll investigate cases of cruelty and neglect, rescue sick, injured, or abandoned animals, and work alongside law enforcement to investigate crimes against animals. You’ll also play a critical role in keeping neighborhoods safe by managing aggressive animals and addressing rabies risks.

Every day brings meaningful, rewarding work. Some days you’ll be out in the field making quick, critical decisions on your own, while other days you’ll collaborate with fellow officers to handle complex situations. You’ll educate residents on responsible pet ownership, build trust within the community, and help people help animals through compassion, fairness, and understanding.

If you’re compassionate, dependable, and motivated by service, this career offers the chance to be a voice for animals, a partner to the community, and a protector of public safety.

Responsibilities and duties for this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Patrol assigned areas in a vehicle, complete daily work assignments received during briefings or by other means
• Safely and effectively secure a variety of domestic and wild animals in a variety of circumstances
• Assess the condition of injured or sick animals, determine appropriate care, issue notices as needed, and coordinate next steps for wildlife rehabilitation when feasible
• Communicate effectively and professionally in person and via two-way 800 MHZ radio utilizing codes/phonetic alphabet
• Promote compliance with County and State laws that pertain to the field of animal care and control
• Engage with the public safely and professionally, including in occasionally tense or challenging situations
• Prepare written reports, patrol logs and other materials in a legible, concise and accurate manner
• Interact safely and professionally with healthy, sick or injured domestic, wild and exotic animals
• Investigate and document reports of animal cruelty or neglect, amongst emotional and sometimes disturbing situations
• Protect the community from aggressive dogs by safely impounding them, documenting the scene, and taking appropriate follow-up actions
• Investigate animal bites and reports of aggressive animals
• Assist other officers by receiving and dispatching calls for service
• Educate the public on County and State laws, animal care standards, and responsible pet ownership
• Rescue animals from situations or circumstances that could endanger their health or well-being
• Testify in court or administrative hearings as needed
• Collect and transport deceased animals from public and private property

Work Assignments:

Assignments in this classification may involve a variety of placements such as field work, office work, coverage in our dispatch unit/call center, or assisting other sections of OC Animal Care such as the kennel, veterinary, or clerical units, as determined by the business needs of the department.

Work Schedule:

The standard work schedule of this assignment will consist of rotating assignments that may consist of four-to-five-day work weeks, depending on business needs. Shift schedules generally rotate every four months. OC Animal Care provides service 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, including weekends and holidays.

Field Services currently has four primary shifts providing continuous staff coverage throughout the day and overnight, although other assignments may be assigned or available. Incumbents should be prepared to work rotating shifts, including days, nights, weekends and holidays. Incumbents may be drafted for mandatory overtime in the event of an emergency, disaster, or during periods of unexpected staffing shortages.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS AND CORE COMPETENCIES

The possession of the following certifications and/or training is highly desirable but not required:Valid PC 832(a) Laws of Arrest certification, or completion of 40 or more hours of training from the National Animal Care and Control Association, Code 3 Associates, the National Animal Cruelty Investigations School, or a comparable program
Certified in Humane Euthanasia

In addition, the ideal candidate will also have extensive experience in the following core competencies:

Technical KnowledgeTraining, knowledge, or experience in the care and safe handling of domestic or wild animals.
Proficient in computer applications, including Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Chameleon software, with the ability to read, understand, and apply academic material.
Ability to read, comprehend, and accurately apply written materials and instructions.
Skilled in managing conflict and effectively de-escalating tense or hostile situations.
Knowledge of legal procedures, the criminal justice system, or the animal control industry.
Experience in a professional enforcement setting.

CommunicationEffectively able to accurately and concisely exchange information with others both verbally and in writing.
Communicate information with confidence and clarity, and prepare accurate, concise written documents.
Ability to interpret, apply, and effectively follow verbal and written instructions.
Actively listen to others for a full understanding of what is being communicated.
Effectively communicate with the public in diverse situations while demonstrating professionalism, social awareness, and tact.
Ability to document, recall, and recreate detailed conversations or events.
Knowledge or experience in conflict resolution or tactical communication.

Customer ServiceProvide courteous and professional customer service to all clients and members of the public.
Apply knowledge of customer service principles and problem-solving strategies to effectively manage stressful or complex situations.
Anticipate and respond to the needs of both internal and external customers in all situations.

Problem Solving/ Results OrientedAct or decide on alternative courses of action under routine, highly stressful, or environmentally difficult conditions.
Perform complex problem solving and effectively deals with stressful situations.
Effectively apply organization and planning skills to ensure high productivity and efficiency.
Work independently and manage time wisely to effectively prioritize multiple and competing tasks.
Meet departmental and project goals and deadlines by prioritizing workload and projects.
Investigate and adopt best practices.
Accountable for personal performance and goal achievement.
Maintain sufficient content and knowledge to perform all aspects of the job effectively.
Remain alert and coherent to take action or to decide alternative courses of action under routine, highly stressful, or environmentally difficult conditions.
Demonstrate mental resilience and critical thinking skills to solve complex problems and manage stressful situations effectively.

Special Requirements
Must pass a background investigation to the satisfaction of the County of Orange. Incumbents must maintain the ability to legally possess, utilize, and transport controlled substances for humane euthanasia. Note: Some criminal convictions may preclude applicants from legally possessing, utilizing and transporting controlled substances. In compliance with California Code of Regulations, Title 8, §5144, Respirator Protection, incumbents will be required to utilize a respirator for certain aspects of their job duties to protect against odors, harmful respiratory contaminants and/or particulates. Incumbents will need to work in a moderate to heavy physical capacity while wearing the respirator. Incumbents will need to pass a respiratory equipment fit test with Orange County Employee Health Services to ensure proper sizing and protection.

License/Certification

Must possess and maintain a current, valid California Driver’s License (Class C).

Incumbents must be able to obtain a certificate of successful completion for a California Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) Course, Penal Code §832 Laws of Arrest, within six (6) months of employment.

Some assignments may be required to successfully complete training in compliance with California Business and Professions Code §4827(d) in order to obtain a certificate to perform humane euthanasia in the state of California.

Some assignments may be required to successfully complete training in compliance with the California Code of Regulations §2039.5 in order to legally possess, utilize, and transport controlled substances for humane euthanasia in the state of California.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

NOTE: Foreign degrees require an evaluation of U.S. equivalency by an agency that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (N.A.C.E.S.).