Temporary International Animal Rescue Jobs in California

Salary : $46,779.20 Annually
Location : San Jacinto
Job Type: Temporary
Job Number: 26-62380-01TCP
Department: Animal Services
Division: CVAC - Shelter Care
Opening Date: 08/28/2026
Closing Date: 9/1/2026 12:00 AM Pacific
For questions regarding this position, please contact the Recruiter listed in the Supplemental Information section.
ABOUT THE POSITION
The County of Riverside's Human Resources Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) is seeking a Temporary Animal Care Technician to support the Department of Animal Services facilities in San Jacinto, Thousand Palms, Jurupa Valley and Blythe. Applicants with previous experience working with animals are preferred. Under general supervision, this entry-level role performs daily tasks to maintain sanitary conditions at animal shelters and off-site events, feeds and cares for impounded animals, assists with adoptions and reunifications, and counsels the public on responsible pet ownership and animal retention. Animal Care Technicians also receive training and certification in animal care, customer service, animal handling, humane euthanasia and animal disposal, and facility and equipment maintenance. This classification differs from the Animal Control and Licensing Officer series, which may assist in shelters but also performs fieldwork and enforces animal control regulations.
Some duties may include:
• Maintain clean, sanitary conditions at the shelter and all off-site event locations.
• Provide daily feeding, monitoring, and general care for all impounded animals.
• Support animal adoptions and assist with reunifying lost pets with their owners.
• Educate and counsel community members on responsible pet ownership and animal retention.
• Perform routine maintenance of shelter facilities, grounds, and equipment.
Meet the team:
Meet the Team!
The Riverside County Services has a vision for promoting an environment of responsible pet ownership through progressive animal welfare initiatives, community outreach, and humane education in a culture of compassion, creativity, and integrity. The Department of Animal Services believes the character of their organization is best reflected in the strong dedication of each one of their employees who strive to meet the highest standards of performance and compassion on behalf of the animals and people that they serve. The Department of Animal Services operates four shelters located in Blythe, Jurupa Valley, San Jacinto and Thousand Palms.
About TAP
The Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) recruits and hires temporary employees for all County departments. TAP assignments are a great way to learn about working for the County while working on a temporary, at-will basis.
Click here to learn more about TAP:
TAP Benefits:
EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES
• Daily cleaning and disinfecting of kennels, equipment and work areas to prevent spread of zoonotic diseases.
• Feed and water animals daily.
• Assist with humane euthanasia and disposal of animals.
• Utilize computer to enter and update animal records in Chameleon Database.
• Daily review of animal inventory; may move animals as needed within the shelter.
• Unload and impound incoming animals received from Animal Control and Licensing Officers and the public.
• Counsel owners who are relinquishing their pets by providing them information on adoptability of their animal or information regarding alternative options.
• Provide customer service to all shelter visitors and staff.
• Educate the public on age, breed, characteristics, and care/treatment of shelter animals; may respond to inquiries from the public regarding retention and disposal of animals.
• May be specifically assigned and act as point of contact for rescue groups (i.e., adoption partners), coordinating the adoption of shelter animals and developing/maintaining relationships with adoption partners, and other related activities as assigned.
• May be required to assist in maintaining records and/or reports of inventories for food, supplies and equipment.
• Operate County vehicles to transport supplies, equipment or deceased/live animals; perform minor repair and maintenance of facilities and surrounding areas.
• May assist trained personnel in performing minor repairs and maintenance of facilities and surrounding areas.
• May assist with training new staff and/or volunteers.
• Participate in adoption events on and off-site, in and outside of County jurisdiction.
• Understand and support department policies, local city and county municipal codes/ordinances, and state laws related to animal welfare.
• Receive, load and unload supplies, materials and equipment from vendor trucks; operate forklift to move pallets; inspect for damage and quantity received against requisitions, invoices or freight bills.
• May be assigned to the care and treatment of equine, livestock and/or exotic animals.
• May assist in office by answering telephones, collecting fees and issuing receipts; may write incident reports.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Graduation from high school or attainment of a satisfactory score on a G.E.D. test.
Experience: None required.
Ability to: Read, understand and follow oral and written instructions in English; utilize computer to enter clear, concise and accurate information into Chameleon database; maintain records; perform basic mathematical calculations using addition and subtraction; work courteously and effectively to maintain effective working relationships with staff, rescue groups and the public; carry out routine and repetitive duties without immediate supervision; learn cleaning and disinfecting methods; learn care and feeding of animals; learn breeds and behaviors of animals; learn safe and proper handling of animals; learn, understand, interpret, and apply basic laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations governing the impounding, release and disposal of animals.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
License: Possession of a valid California Driver's License may be required.
Physical Requirements: Lift, carry, push, and pull heavy objects that may weigh more than 50 pounds.
A series of three Rabies vaccines is required prior to employment.
This recruitment is open to all applicants.
This recruitment is open to all applicants.
For questions regarding this requirement:
Contact Carolina Pichardo at 951-955-3138 or at For General inquiries, please allow up to two business days to receive a response.
Based on the number of applications received this posting may close early with or without notice.
APPLICATION INFORMATION
Veteran's Preference
The County has a Veterans Preference Policy applicable to new hires. To qualify, attach the required documents to your job application. Documents include a copy of your (or your spouse's) Member-4 Form DD-214 indicating dates of service. For spousal preference, and as applicable, the following documents: a copy of your marriage certificate, spouse's death certificate, a letter of spouse's disability and/or letter of service-related death (if available) from the U.S. Veteran's Administration. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans' preference. For complete details and documentation requirements, please review the Veterans Preference Policy, C-3 here:
Reasonable Accommodations
The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter for the position noted above. For additional information and/or to obtain the appropriate form for requesting a reasonable accommodation, please visit the Disability Access Office web page located at:
Work Location and Telework
In-person attendance is the standard work expectation for County of Riverside assignments. Certain assignments may be eligible for a hybrid telework schedule; however, telework arrangements are subject to management approval, operational needs, and/or may be modified or discontinued at any time. Employees who telework are expected to be able to report to their assigned worksite on short notice or as operational needs require. Unless otherwise specified for a particular position, employees are expected to reside in California following appointment. Limited exceptions may apply. Applicants should contact the assigned recruiter for additional information regarding work location expectations, telework eligibility, and residency requirements.
Proof of Education
If using education to qualify or when requested by the recruiter, upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account at the time of application and before the closing date. Official or unofficial transcripts will be accepted.
If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services () or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. ().
Work Authorization Requirement
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. The County of Riverside does not participate in visa sponsorship programs, including H1-B visas, and will not provide sponsorship for any employment-based visas.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The County of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the County of Riverside to provide equal employment opportunities for all qualified persons. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, or denial of medical and family care leave, or any other non-job-related factors.
Pre-Employment
All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment requirements including a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from County employment). A pre-employment physical examination and background check may be required.
Probationary Period
As an Approved Local Merit System, all County of Riverside employees, except those serving "At Will," are subject to the probationary period provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, County Resolution, or Salary Ordinance. Temporary and Per Diem employees serve at the pleasure of the agency/department head.
General Information
Current County of Riverside and/or current employees of the hiring department may receive priority consideration. Qualified candidates may be considered for future County vacancies.
Job postings may close without notice based on application volume. Submit your complete application by the recruitment close date; no late applications are accepted. Ensure all relevant experience/education is reflected on your application/resume, as a failure to demonstrate position requirements may disqualify applicants. A description of job duties directly copied from the job classification or job posting will not be considered.
Please read and follow any special application instructions on this posting. Click the 'Apply' link located on this page to submit your application. For additional instructions on the application process, examinations, Veteran's preference, pre-employment accommodation or other employment questions, please refer to our web site,
If you are experiencing technical problems, you may contact the governmentjobs.com applicant support desk Monday through Friday, 6 am to 5 pm Pacific Time at support@governmentjobs.com or toll-free 1-855-524-5627.
BENEFIT PROGRAM: UPE
MEDICAL/DENTAL/VISION INSURANCE: A choice of different medical, dental and visions plan are available to elect. The County provides a Flexible Benefit Credit contribution as governed by the applicable LIUNA Memorandum of Understanding to contribute towards the cost of these plans.
Note: Employees on assignment through the Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) receive different benefits. See the list
MISCELLANEOUS RETIREMENT: County of Riverside has three retirement Tiers through the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS).

• Tier I (Classic Member - Formula 3% @ 60): Applicable to current and former County of Riverside local miscellaneous employees hired prior to 08/24/2012 and did not withdraw CalPERS contributions. The employee contribution is eight (8%) percent.
• Tier II (Classic Member - Formula 2% @ 60): Applicable to local miscellaneous employees 1) hired after 08/23/2012 through 12/31/2012; 2) Previously employed with another CalPERS contracting public agency or a reciprocal retirement system, with a break in service of less than six months between the separation date with the previous employer and the appointment date with the County of Riverside. The employee contribution is seven (7%) percent.
• Tier III (PEPRA New Member - Formula 2% @ 62): Applicable to CalPERS local miscellaneous new members hired on or after the implementation of the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) which took effect January 1, 2013. Effective July 1, 2023 employee contributions are 7.25% and will increase to 7.75% effective July 1, 2024.

A new member is defined as any of the following:

1. A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or afte