Animal Control Assistant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $52,696.52 - $74,149.29 Annually
Location : Sacramento, CA
Job Type: Full-Time Career
Job Number: 003600-26-CDD
Department: Community Development
Division: Animal Care Administration
Opening Date: 01/01/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
THE POSITION
THIS POSTING WILL BE OPEN UNTIL FILLED
Application cut-off dates will be the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month.
Please Note: a candidate must successfully pass a thorough background investigation, including a criminal history check for job-related convictions, fingerprinting, polygraph test, credit check, and a drug use history to be considered for this position.
Under immediate supervision, the Animal Control Officer I learns to coordinate and perform a variety of animal control and compliance functions, including patrolling assigned areas; monitoring and enforcing animal control regulations; responding to animal control inquiries and complaints from the public; issuing citations and warnings; and performing all animal related public safety and health duties.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
This is an entry and training level classification in the Animal Control Officer series. Incumbents are expected to perform a limited scope of duties and responsibilities under immediate or close supervision while learning the more complex tasks in the enforcement of laws and ordinances related to animal control and compliance. At the discretion of the appointing authority, positions in this classification may be flexibly-staffed to the next higher level of Animal Control Officer II classification. Appointment to the II level requires that the employee performs the full range of duties of the class and meets the qualification standards for the class.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
This classification may receive lead direction and training from the Animal Control Officer II. This classification is directly supervised by a Senior Animal Control Officer.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Depending upon assignment, duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Learn to investigate reports of animal cruelty, nuisances, and potentially dangerous animals; learn to communicate with and advise owners of loose animals.
• Learn to patrol City streets, neighborhoods, and/or other designated areas in order to monitor, remove, transport, and locate stray, vicious, trapped, injured, and/or dead animals.
• Learn to rescue and impound stray animals; Learn to use remote chemical immobilization equipment; Learn to vaccinate, photograph, and process impounded animals prior to kenneling; Learn to transport injured animals to veterinary hospitals for treatment.
• Learn to assist law enforcement personnel and other agencies by taking animals into custody due to death, emergencies, arrests, and/or police investigations. May be required to forcibly enter a residence to obtain an animal.
• Learn to enforce City and State laws, regulations, and ordinances related to animal control.
• Learn to compile case evidence and prepare animal control cases for court.
• Learn to safely operate rifles, shotguns, and tranquilizer equipment to capture, humanely euthanize animals, or defend the public from vicious or uncontrollable animals as necessary.
• Learn to educate and provide the public with information regarding animal control laws, licensing requirements, owner responsibilities, and appropriate animal care.
• Learn to maintain and safeguard assigned equipment and supplies such as citation books, computers, controlled substances, and animal control vehicles.
• Learn to operate a computer and a two-way radio to maintain close communication with dispatching personnel.
• Learn to prepare and maintain a variety of animal control records, documentation, and reports.
• Provide courteous and professional customer service to those contacted in the course of work.
• Other related duties may also be performed; not all duties listed may necessarily be performed by each individual holding this classification.

QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge of:

• Occupational hazards and safety precautions of work around animals.
• Habits and characteristics of domestic animals and wildlife.
• Symptoms of common animal diseases.
• Principles and practices of customer service, including conflict resolution.
• Basic computer operations and applications.
• Basic State laws and regulations related to animal control functions (such as rabies and search and seizures); current local animal control codes and regulations.
• Record keeping principles and practices.
• Basic laboratory analysis principles and practices.

Skill in:

• Answering inquiries and providing factual and technical information.
• Handling criticism and hostility from citizens with tact and good judgment.
• Communicating clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Collecting, compiling, and analyzing basic information and data.
• Making field contact with various animals, some of which may be hostile and/or injured.
• Using common office computer software.
• Safe and proficient use of specialized law enforcement weapons and equipment.
• Providing courteous and professional customer service.

Ability to:

• Read, write, speak, and understand the English language at a level necessary for efficient job performance.
• Learn, understand, retain, interpret, and enforce basic animal control codes, laws, case law, and regulations.
• Identify and report animal control problems encountered in the course of work.
• Safely care for and physically control live, sick, or injured domestic and exotic animals and reptiles.
• Humanely euthanize animals by the end of probationary period.
• Gather specimens for laboratory analysis and observe contamination protocol.
• Properly operate animal control equipment by end of probationary period.
• Learn, understand, and comply with basic departmental policies, rules, and instructions.
• Establish and maintain positive working relationships with the public, community volunteers, and City personnel.
• Prioritize work; coordinate several activities, and follow-up as required.
• Timely prepare well-written, clear, concise, and well-substantiated reports.
• Learn how to train volunteers as needed.
• Learn to efficiently and effectively perform assigned duties with considerable independence within legal and procedural guidelines.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION
Experience:
Six months of experience in animal care or control.
AND
Education:
Possession of a High School diploma or G.E.D. equivalent.
SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS
Driver License:
Possession of a valid California Class C Driver License at the time of appointment. Loss of the Class C License is cause for discipline. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to physical disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Certifications:

• Must possess or obtain the State of California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Penal Code 832 (Arrest and Firearms) Certificate during probationary period and throughout the course of employment. Failure to maintain the certificate could be cause for discipline.

• Must possess or obtain the American Red Cross Standard First Aid Certificate during probationary period and throughout the course of employment. Failure to maintain the certificate could be cause for discipline.

Background:
Must pass a background investigation, which includes a criminal history check for job related convictions, fingerprinting, drug use history, and polygraph.
Felony Convictions:
Free of felony convictions under California Penal Code Sections 29900 and 29905.
Medical/Drug Test:
Must pass a medical and/or drug test.
Work Conditions:
Must perform shift work as assigned, including days, evenings, weekends, and holidays. Standby duty is also required.
Environmental Conditions:
Work outside in various types of weather and unsanitary environments. Incumbents must be able to work in or around dead people, human excrement, animal fur, dander, disorganized and/or substandard houses; deal with infectious, emotionally distressed and confrontational people and aggressive animals. Additionally, incumbents are exposed to and/or in contact with chemicals used to perform euthanasia and people who may be under influence of drugs and/or alcohol. Must be willing to obtain a pre-exposure rabies vaccination, and when medically required, revaccination shots.
Physical Conditions:
Must be able to regularly lift, carry, restrain, and capture animals between 60-70 pounds; occasionally up to 100 pounds. Incumbents may be required to walk, run, stand, or climb on slippery, even or uneven, and paved or unpaved surfaces as well as bend, stoop, squat, and crawl in small, low and/or confined areas.
PROBATIONARY PERIOD
Employees must complete twelve (12) months of probation at a satisfactory performance level prior to gaining permanent status.
THE SELECTION PROCEDURE
Please note, the City of Sacramento's preferred method of communication with applicants is via e-mail. As such, please ensure you verify the e-mail address on your application, and check your e-mail frequently, including your spam and junk folders. All e-mail notifications can also be accessed through the governmentjobs.com applicant inbox.
1. Application: (Pass/Fail) - All applicants must complete and submit online a City of Sacramento employment application by the next posted cut-off date;

• Employment applications must be submitted online; paper applications will not be accepted.

• Employment applications will be considered incomplete and will be disqualified:

• If applicants do not list current and/or past job-related experience in the duties area of the "Work Experience" section. Note: Qualifying experience is based on full-time experience (40 hours per week). Qualifying experience is calculated to the full-time equivalent (pro-rated if less than 40 hours/week).
• If "see resume" is noted in the "Work Experience" section; a resume will not substitute for the information required in the "Work Experience" section.

• Position/job titles will not be considered in determining eligibility for meeting the minimum qualifications for this position.
• If you're requesting Veteran's credit, a copy of your DD214 must be submitted online with your application or emailed to the Employment Office by the next posted cut-off date. Information regarding the use of Veteran's credit can be found in the Civil Service Board rules under rule 4.9C.
• Applicants are responsible for attaching a copy of their DD214 to each position for which they apply.

2. Training and Experience Exam: (Weighted 100%) - The questions located at the end of the application are the Training and Experience (T&E) Exam. Responses to the T&E questions will be rated and scored. This exam will evaluate the relevance, level, and progression of a candidate's education, training and experience. The exam score will determine your ranking on the eligible list for this job. When completing the T&E questions, please note:

• Responses to the T&E questions must be submitted online; paper questionnaires will not be accepted.

• A resume will not substitute for the information required in the T&E questions.

3. Eligibility: Candidates who pass the Training and Experience Test will be placed on the eligible list. The hiring department may contact candidates for interview at any time during the life of the one-year list. Candidate's eligibility expires one year from the date of notification of a passing score for the Animal Control Officer I examination.
4. Screening Committee: (Pass/Fail)- All candidates that pass the examination and are in one of the top three ranks will have their application forwarded to the hiring department for review. The hiring department will select the most competitive applications for further consideration. Human Resources will only evaluate employment applications for the minimum qualifications, as stated on the job announcement, for applications selected by the hiring department.
5. Background Process: If considered for appointment, candidates must pass a background investigation, which includes a criminal history check, fingerprinting, polygraph test, credit check, and drug use history.
QUESTIONS:
For questions concerning this job announcement and the application process:

• Please visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/Home/ApplicationGuide for a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to the application process.
• For technical support between 6 AM - 5 PM PT, contact Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627.
• Visit the City of Sacramento Human Resources Department website athttps://www.cityofsacramento.gov/HR/employment;

• Send an email to employment@cityofsacramento.org; or
• Call the Human Resources Department at (916) 808-5726

Bilingual Pay
Did you know that the City offers bilingual pay? That's right, most labor agreements offer the option of providing employees with bilingual pay if the department deems it to be operationally necessary.
Pension Reform Act
The City of Sacramento is covered by the California Public Employees' Retirement System, and as such, must adhere to the California Public Employee's Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) of 2013. Please note that the provisions within this act may affect or impact an applicant's eligibility and/or selection for open vacancies at the City of Sacramento.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The City of Sacramento is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical l...