Temporary Animal Control and License Officer I - Thousand Palms

For questions regarding this position, please contact the Recruiter listed in the Supplemental Information section.

About the role

This is a full-time, temporary position located in Thousand Palms, California, as part of the County of Riverside’s Human Resources Temporary Assignment Program (TAP). The Animal Control & License Officer I is the trainee-level classification in the Animal Control & License Officer series, reporting to the Lieutenant of Field Services. Incumbents work under supervision, performing routine assignments and receiving training in areas such as animal recognition, euthanasia, disease recognition, administrative hearings, disaster training, state and federal laws, penal codes, and airborne and bloodborne pathogen exposure. This position involves field work, requiring hours of standing and moving, including a rotating overnight work schedule. The department prefers candidates who live near the Thousand Palms shelter or surrounding cities.

About the team

The Riverside County Department of Animal Services promotes responsible pet ownership through progressive animal welfare initiatives, community outreach, and humane education in a culture of compassion, creativity, and integrity. The department operates four shelters located in Blythe, Jurupa Valley, San Jacinto, and Thousand Palms. Employees strive to meet the highest standards of performance and compassion on behalf of the animals and people they serve.

About TAP

The Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) recruits and hires temporary employees for all County departments. TAP assignments provide an opportunity to learn about working for the County on a temporary, at-will basis. Learn more about TAP.

TAP Benefits (Download PDF reader).

Responsibilities

• Drive a vehicle to patrol jurisdictions overseen by Riverside County; enforce animal regulations, laws, and ordinances.
• Answer questions from the public concerning animal care, treatment, and legal rights; explain and interpret animal control laws, regulations, procedures, and policies.
• Contact dog owners through house-to-house canvassing to locate unlicensed or unvaccinated dogs; verify rabies certificates, microchips, and signalment; collect and turn in license fees.
• Prepare reports, citations, or notices of violation; maintain records and complete forms concerning animal control and license violations using Department of Animal Services (DAS) software and databases.
• Work cooperatively with other law enforcement groups when joint action is required; issue violation notices and court citations; collect evidence and appear in court as a witness.
• Ensure County vehicles are adequately fueled and maintained; inspect vehicles daily for damage and alert supervisors when maintenance or repairs are needed.

Animal Control

• Receive and investigate complaints regarding stray, dangerous, unwanted, or improperly controlled animals; handle complaints tactfully to remedy problems.
• Under guidance, investigate and prepare minor animal cruelty cases.
• Learn to use tranquilizer guns or other means to control dangerous and/or injured animals as a last resort; respond to emergency calls concerning animal bites.
• Learn to quarantine potentially rabid animals; monitor quarantined animals and release them at the end of a safe period; issue citations for quarantine violations.
• Pick up and transport stray, confined, sick, injured, or dead animals; impound animals and release them to owners; segregate, isolate, perform euthanasia, and dispose of ill, injured, unwanted, or aged animals.
• May be assigned to any shift and required to be available on standby or on-call.

Animal Licensing

• Learn to photograph and gather facts pertaining to violations and citations; create follow-up activities in the Chameleon database for compliance issues related to animal welfare or physical environment.
• Post, file, and maintain citations daily; research County G.I.S. system for property owner information.
• Refer the public to veterinary clinics and/or low-cost or subsidized veterinary services.
• Maintain daily records of canvassing inspections and enforcement efforts; prepare documentation for legal actions; testify in court as needed.
• Perform property rechecks to verify compliance.
• Assist during vaccination clinics and/or offsite events as necessary.
• On rare occasions, pick up stray or dead animals using capture equipment (e.g., catch poles, snake tongs, skunk poles, muzzles, nets, and/or cages); scan for microchips and research owner information; transport to owner or impound if owner information is unavailable.

Requirements

Education: Graduation from high school or attainment of a satisfactory score on a G.E.D test.

Experience: Six months in an animal shelter, veterinary office, animal grooming, animal boarding and kennel facility, or similar setting involving the care and handling of animals.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Techniques and procedures for the safe, humane, and efficient handling of animals.
• Laws and ordinances governing the licensing, treatment, and impounding of animals.
• Symptoms of common animal diseases.
• Common breeds of domestic animals and appropriate practices for their care and feeding.
• Techniques of investigation, including interviewing and fact-finding.

Ability to:

• Establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with the public and other employees.
• Clearly explain animal control procedures and regulations to the public.
• Exercise tact and good judgment in dealings with the public.
• Handle animals humanely and safely.
• Discharge firearms safely and accurately.
• Read and comprehend laws and regulations pertaining to animal control and licensing.
• Present evidence and testify in court cases.
• Recognize symptoms of rabies and other animal diseases.
• Maintain statistical records; access centralized information systems to retrieve and enter data.
• Effectively communicate both orally and in writing.

Supplemental Information

License: Possession of a valid California Driver’s License.

A series of three Rabies vaccines is required within 30 days of employment.

Incumbents will be required to successfully complete the Penal Code 832 training within six months of hire.

For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Alma Torres at altorres@rivco.org. For general inquiries, please allow up to 2 business days to receive a response.