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Animal Rescue Jobs in Georgia (NOW HIRING)

Cobb County Animal Services Department, GA Job Type: Full-Time Job Number: 05017 Department: Operations Animal Control Opening Date: 06/29/2026 Closing Date: Continuous Grade Code: 101 Position ...

We work closely with our local shelter, Northeast Georgia Animal Shelter, as well as several local rescue groups and humane societies in our area which includes cats, dogs, and one pig rescue group.

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Animal Rescue information

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$8

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$23

How much do animal rescue jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for animal rescue in Georgia is $17.77, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.62 and $21.11 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How do you become an animal rescue worker?

To become an animal rescue worker, individuals typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and relevant experience volunteering or working with animals. Many organizations prefer candidates with knowledge of animal behavior, basic veterinary skills, and certifications such as pet first aid or animal handling courses.

Can you make a living running an animal rescue?

Animal rescue work is often volunteer-based or low-paid, with many rescuers relying on donations, grants, and personal funds. While some organizations offer salaries or stipends, making a full-time living typically requires additional income sources or running a larger, well-funded operation. Skills in fundraising, grant writing, and management can improve financial stability in this field.

What is animal rescue?

Animal rescue refers to the process of saving animals from dangerous, abusive, or neglectful situations and providing them with shelter, medical care, and rehabilitation. Animal rescue organizations work to protect stray, abandoned, or mistreated animals, often finding them foster or permanent homes. The main goal is to ensure the well-being and safety of animals, promoting responsible pet ownership and preventing cruelty. Rescued animals may include pets like dogs and cats, as well as wildlife in distress. Volunteers and professionals collaborate to give these animals a second chance at life.

What are some common challenges faced by animal rescue professionals, and how can they effectively address them?

Animal rescue professionals often encounter emotionally challenging situations, such as witnessing animal neglect or working with traumatized animals. They may also face physical demands, unpredictable schedules, and the need to make quick decisions in high-stress environments. Building emotional resilience, practicing self-care, and collaborating closely with veterinary staff, volunteers, and local authorities can help manage these challenges. Additionally, ongoing training and open communication within the team are essential for maintaining a supportive work environment and ensuring the best outcomes for rescued animals.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Animal Rescue Worker, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Animal Rescue Worker, you need knowledge of animal handling, first aid, and welfare, often supported by relevant certifications or experience with animals. Familiarity with animal control software, rescue equipment, and sometimes animal transport vehicles is typically required. Compassion, resilience, and strong communication skills are vital for building trust with animals and collaborating with the public and rescue organizations. These skills ensure the safety, effective care, and successful rehoming of animals in challenging and often urgent situations.

What is the difference between Animal Rescue vs Animal Shelter Worker?

AspectAnimal RescueAnimal Shelter Worker
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma; certifications in animal handling or rescue techniquesHigh school diploma; training in animal care and shelter operations
Work EnvironmentFieldwork, outdoor rescues, emergency situationsIndoor shelter facilities, animal care areas
Employer & Industry UsageRescue organizations, non-profits, government agenciesShelters, humane societies, animal control agencies
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

Animal Rescue involves actively seeking out and rescuing animals in distress, often in outdoor or emergency settings. Animal Shelter Workers primarily care for animals within shelter facilities, focusing on daily care and adoption processes. Both roles require animal handling skills and work within animal welfare organizations, but their work environments and specific duties differ significantly.

What is the highest paid job working with animals?

The highest paid jobs working with animals typically include veterinary surgeons and specialized animal researchers, with veterinarians earning a median annual salary of around $100,000 or more. Advanced roles often require a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree and specialized certifications, and they involve working in clinics, research facilities, or zoos.

Is rescuing animals a career?

Animal rescue can be a career involving roles such as animal shelter workers, rescue technicians, or wildlife rehabilitators. These positions often require knowledge of animal care, relevant certifications, and physical ability to handle animals in various environments.
What are the most commonly searched types of Animal Rescue jobs in Georgia? The most popular types of Animal Rescue jobs in Georgia are:
What cities in Georgia are hiring for Animal Rescue jobs? Cities in Georgia with the most Animal Rescue job openings:
Infographic showing various Animal Rescue job openings in Georgia as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 76% Full Time, 21% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $36,969 per year, or $17.8 per hour.
Animal Services Officer I

$3.0K/wk

Full-time

PTO

Posted 18 days ago


Cobb County rating

7.7

Company rating: 7.7 out of 10

Based on 26 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

384th of 693 rated public administrative organizations


Job description

Position Information If you are looking for a career opportunity where YOU can make a difference and be a part of your community's health and well-being, then submit an application for the immediate hiring of the full-time position of Animal Services Officer I. As a vital member of the Department of Public Safety, you are a critical connection with the public and ensuring a safe and healthy community for our pets and furry friends. The Animal Services Officer makes a difference in our community by performing the following (for a full list of assigned duties, please refer to the essential functions): Daily, thorough cleaning of all animal areas.

Feeding the animals, including providing special diets as needed. Doing laundry, dishes, stocking supplies, washing windows, cleaning and mopping public areas as needed. Assisting in the vaccination, microchipping, examination, performance of medical treatments and euthanasia as needed.

Providing excellent customer service while assisting with adoptions. Patrolling the County and enforcing animal related laws and ordinances. Responding to reports concerning various animal issues, such as animal bites, potential animal cruelty and abuse, animals in distress, stray and nuisance animals, barking dogs, wild and dangerous animals, sick and injured animals, animal behavior problems, or animal control laws.

Handles, lifts, and carries animals. This includes animals that may be frightened, fractious, or injured. Receiving and responding to questions concerning responsibility of pet ownership, laws and ordinances, pet adoption, and other department issues.

Animal Services Officers are required to work rotating 12-hour shifts that may include weekends, holidays, and overtime as needed. You will be required to submit the following with your application: Driver's License Proof of High School Diploma or GED Employee Sponsored Benefits To view current employee benefits, please visit https://www.cobbcounty.org/human-resources/benefits Paid Vacation Leave 13 days per year / 1 year of service 15 days per year / 5 years of service 20 days per year / 10 years of service 22 days per year / 15 years of service 25 days per year / 20 years of service Holidays 12 paid holidays per year Paid Sick Leave Accumulates at 4.0 hours per biweekly Paid Military Leave Up to 18 days per year Parental Leave Policy Eligible full-time employees will receive six weeks paid time off to care for and bond with their newborn or newly adopted child. Bereavement Leave Policy Full-time employees will receive up to 3 days of bereavement leave with pay for up to 24 hours

Free Wellness Clinic A free health clinic is available for all Cobb County Employees and their dependents who have insurance with Cobb County. The clinic offers sick and well checks and many prescription medications at no cost to the employee. Fitness Centers Multiple fitness centers with both strength and aerobic training equipment available at no-cost to employees.

Education Incentive Pay: $1000 Associate Degree $2000 Bachelor's Degree $3000 Master's Degree Tuition Assistance Tuition assistance is available for you while you complete a college degree or certification. Reimbursable amounts are dependent upon available funding and will be proportionately distributed to all pre-approved applicants on a quarterly basis. This posting may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Essential Functions Daily, thorough cleaning of all animal areas, including inside/outside runs, cat areas, floors, dishes, and bedding. Spot cleaning of animal and public areas throughout the day. Feeding the animals, including providing special diets as needed.

Monitoring the health of the animals on an ongoing basis and flag any health problems or conditions (medical or behavioral) and immediately reporting it to the animal care specialist, supervisor or veterinary technician. Medicating animals as needed and directed. Doing laundry, dishes, washing windows, cleaning and mopping public areas as needed.

Providing a healthy, safe, clean and pleasant environment and facilities for the animals and the public. Treating all animals humanely, properly, and with compassion at all times, regardless of the situation or circumstance. Assisting in the vaccination, microchipping, examination, performance of medical treatments and euthanasia as needed.

Perform weekly inventory of animals housed at the facility. Maintaining a friendly demeanor and providing good customer service while assisting with adoptions. Working courteously and cooperatively with other staff members.

Stocking supplies. Filling in for other areas and performing other tasks/functions as needed, including helping out at special events. Patrols County to locate and pick up stray animals and to look for animal control violations: enforces animal related laws and ordinances; assists animals in problem situations; captures domestic, wild, dangerous, or aggressive animals; sets animal traps; loads animals into cages; transports animals to animal shelter, veterinarian offices, or other locations; relocates displaced wildlife; removes dead animals from roads; and assists law enforcement by removing animals from accident scenes or crime scenes.

Responds to reports concerning various animal issues, such as animal bites, potential animal cruelty and abuse, animals in distress, stray and nuisance animals, barking dogs, wild and dangerous animals, sick and injured animals, animal behavior problems, or animal control laws; provides information and assistance; mediates and resolves citizen disputes; conducts investigations and interviews; issues citations and violations; and performs follow-up as appropriate. Processes captured animals and animals removed from homes or dangerous situations: handles, lifts, and carries animals, restraining as appropriate; handles frightened, fractious, and injured animals; checks animals for signs of rabies, disease, or other illnesses; quarantines exposed animals; assigns and transports animals to shelter; and prepares and maintains all related documentation. Interprets and enforces applicable animal control laws and ordinances, and all other applicable laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures: ensures staff adherence to established safety procedures; monitors work environment and use of safety equipment to ensure safety of employees and other individuals; initiates any actions necessary to correct deviations or violations; and issues citations to violators of animal control ordinances.

Receives and responds to questions concerning responsibility of pet ownership, laws and ordinances, pet adoption, and other department issues: provides information and answers questions; and resolves routine customer service and animal care and control issues. Maintains a comprehensive, current knowledge and awareness of applicable laws and regulations: attends in-service training. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications High School Diploma or GED required. Licenses and Certifications Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License. Physical Abilities Tasks require the ability to exert moderate, though not constant physical effort, typically involving some combination of climbing and balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and prolonged standing, and which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of heavy weight (up to 100 pounds).

Sensory Requirements Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors, sounds, taste, odor, depth, texture, and visual cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally. Environmental Factors Performance of essential functions may require exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as dirt, dust, pollen, odors, wetness, humidity, rain, heights, confined spaces, animal/wildlife attacks, animal/human bites, disease,, or rude/irate customers.

EEO Statement Cobb County Government is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, or any other legally protected status.


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