Animal Welfare Specialist

This recruitment is for three (3) full-time Animal Welfare Specialist positions: two at the Santa Maria Animal Shelter and one at the Santa Barbara Animal Shelter. Applicants must be willing to travel to and work at all three shelter locations (Santa Barbara, Lompoc, and Santa Maria) with minimal notice. This posting also establishes an employment list for current and future full-time, part-time, extra help, and leave-of-absence vacancies.

All County employees must reside in the State of California throughout the duration of employment. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship; applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Pay

$24.95–$29.64 hourly ($51,896.00–$61,653.28 annually).

Benefits

The County of Santa Barbara offers generous benefits. Applicants from other public sector employers may qualify for retirement reciprocity and time/service credit toward an advanced vacation accrual rate.

About the Role

The Animal Welfare Specialist (AWS) supports both animals and community members through compassionate animal care, responsive customer service, and clear communication. This position engages with the public in person, by phone, and in writing, while working with animals in the shelter and during community-based activities. Under general supervision, the AWS provides daily care for shelter animals, assists customers with lost-and-found reports, adoptions, pet reunification, and general inquiries, and performs related duties.

This class is distinguished from Animal Control Officer in that the major function of the Officer class involves patrolling an assigned area and enforcing animal control rules and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Provides daily care for shelter animals, including feeding, cleaning and disinfecting kennels, laundering bedding, and maintaining sanitary animal care spaces.
• Observes animals for signs of illness, injury, stress, or behavioral changes; documents and reports concerns; and isolates animals when necessary.
• Assists veterinary staff with examinations, vaccinations, diagnostic procedures, and treatments; administers medications as directed.
• Maintains accurate animal records, including population counts, medical/behavioral observations, medications administered, and outcomes.
• Participates in humane euthanasia procedures, including animal handling, preparation, documentation, and rabies specimen delivery for testing.
• Assists community members with adoptions, pet reunifications, lost-and-found reports, redemptions, surrenders, and general shelter inquiries.
• Provides information on animal care, licensing, vaccinations, spaying/neutering, responsible pet ownership, and shelter programs.
• Introduces animals to prospective adopters and assists in matching pets to households.
• Collects and processes fees for adoptions, redemptions, and licensing; completes financial and administrative records.
• Performs data entry and maintains written/electronic records, including kennel cards, medication logs, and daily activity reports.
• Maintains inventories of shelter supplies and notifies staff when restocking is needed.
• Maintains shelter facilities, grounds, equipment, and vehicles; performs cleaning, minor repairs, and safety checks.
• Prepares and issues citations for animal licensing violations when assigned, trained, and authorized.
• Handles animals of varying sizes, species, medical conditions, and behavioral needs using appropriate safety practices.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• A combination of training, education, and experience that provides the required knowledge and abilities.
• Ability to handle sick, injured, dangerous, or deceased animals safely and humanely.
• Ability to learn animal physical/behavioral characteristics, symptoms of common diseases (e.g., rabies), and basic first aid treatments.
• Ability to participate in humane euthanasia procedures in accordance with laws, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to learn methods and techniques for animal care and handling, including the use of chemicals and cleaning agents.
• Ability to analyze situations and adopt appropriate courses of action.
• Ability to develop and maintain working relationships with co-workers, volunteers, agencies, and organizations.
• Ability to perform simple arithmetic calculations and keep accurate records.
• Ability to learn applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances; follow instructions; and operate computers and tools.
• Ability to work independently.

Qualifications

• Experience caring for animals, preferably in an animal shelter, veterinary clinic, boarding facility, or similar setting.
• Minimum of one year of customer service experience.
• Empathy, patience, professionalism, and a problem-solving mindset when interacting with animals and community members.
• Effective communication with people from diverse backgrounds, including those in stressful or emotional situations.
• Comfort learning and using Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, databases, and animal-related software systems.
• Ability to safely handle animals with varying medical, behavioral, and emotional needs.
• Availability to work rotating shifts, including weekends and holidays.
• Ability to perform physically and emotionally demanding work in a busy shelter environment.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) skills are preferred but not required.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to lift, move, or carry animals or objects weighing up to 75 lbs.
• Ability to use strong chemicals for disinfecting kennels.
• Uniform is required.
• Must be available to work weekends and shifts; transfers to other schedules may be required.

About the Division

The Santa Barbara County Animal Services (SBCAS) Division operates three open-admission animal shelters serving nearly 6,000 pets annually across Santa Barbara County (excluding the City of Carpinteria). Services include field and shelter operations, adoption and lost-and-found programs, and a robust volunteer program. SBCAS also leads Project Pet Safe, promoting responsible pet ownership through vaccination, licensing, spay/neuter, and microchipping.

Shelter locations:

• Santa Maria Animal Shelter: 548 W Foster Rd, Santa Maria, CA 93455
• Santa Barbara Animal Shelter: 5473 Overpass Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93111
• Lompoc Animal Shelter: 1501 W Central Ave, Lompoc, CA 93436