Animal Control Officer Trainee

ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER TRAINEE
(ANIMAL CARE OFFICER TRAINEE)

SALARY INFORMATION
Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above based on position requirements and successful candidates qualifications subject to appropriate authorization.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
This recruitment is being held to establish an open eligible list to fill current and future Animal Care Officer Trainee vacancies within OC Community Resources/OC Animal Care. This recruitment may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower-level classifications throughout the County of Orange.

DEADLINE TO APPLY
Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately as this recruitment will close on
Monday October 06 2025 at 11:59 PM PT.

OC ANIMAL CARE
OC Animal Cares mission is to provide refuge and care for animals foster the human-animal bond and promote safety in our community to ensure a safe compassionate community for all. OC Animal Care promotes responsible pet ownership; health and safety of people and animals and spay/neuter programs. OC Animal Care provides temporary shelter and medical care for lost owned or stray animals and opportunities for adoption for these animals.

OC Animal Care (OCAC) was founded in 1941 in the City of Orange in Orange County California as a rabies control center with only 25 dog kennels. Since then OCAC has expanded to play an important role in Orange Countys animal care community. OCAC serves 14 cities and the unincorporated areas of Orange County with its expanded programs and services and in 2024 the agency accepted over 15000 animals.

OCACs goal is to deliver prompt temporary care and refuge to homeless animals reunite animals with their owners facilitate adoption ensure public safety and enhance the human-animal bond in the community. The shelter is designed to provide a positive experience for animals and people alike and is the backdrop for the adaptive animal programming continually developed by OC Animal Care to provide enrichment engagement and adoption services for the animals in its care.

For more information onOC Community Resources click on the link.
For more information on the County of Orange click on the link.

THE OPPORTUNITY
Animal Care Officer Trainee under close supervision in a training capacity learns County and State laws and policies concerning the care treatment impoundment and quarantines of animals; how to enforce the licensing vaccination and animal regulation program of the county in the field; and to do other work as required.

This is the entry/trainee level classification in the civilian Animal Care Officer occupational series. Trainees are required to learn animal care regulations and procedures using classroom study and practical guidance. During this training period the Animal Care Officer Trainee is expected to learn how to deal with situations independently in the field. Animal Care Officer Trainees follow established policies procedures and standard instructions seeking assistance from lead or supervisory staff when the situation warrants. Work produced by the incumbent is reviewed regularly.

Trainees will perform a broader range of duties with increasing responsibility and independence as experience is gained. The Animal Care Officer Trainee classification is distinguished from the Animal Care Officer classification by the performance of less than the full range of duties assigned to the Animal Care Officer classification.

There is no permanent status in this classification. Incumbents who do not promote to Animal Care Officer by the completion of the probationary period will be subject to termination.

Additional duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Promote compliance with County and State laws that pertain to the field of animal care and control
• Interact safely and professionally with the public during in occasionally hostile or tense situations
• Prepare written reports and other materials in a legible concise and accurate manner for potential court cases
• Interact safely and professionally with healthy sick or injured domestic wild and exotic animals
• Investigate and document reports of animal cruelty or neglect amongst emotional and sometimes disturbing situations.
• Investigate animal bites and reports of aggressive animals
• Safely and effectively secure a variety of domestic and wild animals in a variety of circumstances
• Assist other officers by receiving and dispatching calls for service
• Educate the public on County and State laws animal care standards and responsible pet ownership
• Rescue animals from situations or circumstances which could endanger their health or well-being
• Testify in court or administrative hearings as needed
• Pick up and remove deceased animals from public and private properties

Work Assignments:Assignments in this classification may involve a variety of placements such as field work office work coverage in our dispatch unit/call center or assisting other sections of OC Animal Care such as the kennel veterinary or clerical units as determined by the business needs of the department.

Work Schedule:The standard work schedule of this assignment will consist of rotating assignments five days per week eight hours per day. There are some assignments which work a four day per week 10 hour per day schedule. Shift schedules generally rotate every four months. OC Animal Care provides service 24 hours per day 365 days per year. Field Services currently has four primary shifts providing continuous staff coverage throughout the day and overnight although other assignments may be assigned or available. Incumbents should be prepared to work rotating shifts including days nights weekends and holidays on a five day per week eight hour per day schedule or other schedule as assigned. Incumbents may be drafted for mandatory overtime in the event of an emergency disaster or during periods of unexpected staffing shortages.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
In addition to the minimum qualifications a successful candidate will also possess one or more of the following desired qualifications:

• A bachelors degree or higher in criminal justice animal science zoology or closely related field.
• Possession of valid PC 832(a) Laws of Arrest certification.
• At least six months of work or volunteer experience as a veterinary assistant or a veterinary technician.
• At least six months of work or volunteer experience in an animal shelter humane society or animal control environment.
• At least six months of work or volunteer experience handling exotic animals or livestock
• At least one year of work or volunteer experience in the care and maintenance of domestic or wild animal species
• At least six months of work or volunteer experience in animal behavioral evaluation or assessment.

CORE COMPETENCIES
The ideal candidate will demonstrate knowledge and/or experience in the following core competencies:

Technical Expertise

• Training knowledge or experience in the care and maintenance of domestic or wild animals.
• Knowledgeable and skilled in working with computers and computer programs such as Microsoft Word and Outlook and is able to read understand and implement academic material.
• Strong writing skills and the ability to deal with conflict.
• Knowledge of legal procedures the criminal justice system or the animal control industry.
• Experience in a professional enforcement setting.

Communication

• Effectively able to accurately and concisely exchange information with others both orally and in writing.
• Relay confidence when communicating information; clearly and concisely composes written documents to convey information with accuracy.
• Ability to interpret apply and effectively follow oral and written instruction.
• Actively listens to others for full understanding of what is being communicated.
• Comfortable communicating with members of the public in a variety of situations displaying social skill awareness and tact.
• Ability to recall and recreate detailed conversation or events.
• Knowledge or experience in conflict resolution or tactical communication.

Customer Service

• Providing courteous and professional customer service to all clients and members of the public.
• Applying knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services including complex problem solving to manage stressful situations effectively
• Anticipating and meeting customer (internal/external) needs in all situations

Problem Solving / Results Orientated

• Acts or decides on alternative courses of action under routine highly stressful or environmentally difficult conditions
• Performs complex problem solving and effectively deals with stressful situations.
• Effective organizing and planning skills to ensure high productivity and efficiency.
• Works independently and manages time wisely to effectively prioritize multiple and competing tasks.
• Meets departmental and project goals and deadlines by prioritizing workload and projects.
• Investigates and adopts best practices.
• Accountable for personal performance and goal achievement.
• Maintains sufficient content and knowledge to perform all aspects of the job effectively.
• Remain alert and coherent to take action or to decide alternative courses of action under routine highly stressful or environmentally difficult conditions.
• Mental stamina for complex problem solving and dealing with stressful situations

EMAIL NOTIFICATION:
Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account.

NOTE:User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply.

Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the site. Please check your email folders including spam/junk folders and/or accept emails ending with and . If your email address should change please update your profile at.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Clickhere for additional Frequently Asked Questions.

For specific information pertaining to this recruitment contact Jenny Kimat or .

Orange County as an equal employment opportunity employer encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.