JOB
The City of Elk Grove is now accepting applications for the position of
ANIMAL SERVICES OFFICER
The City of Elk Grove is seeking Animal Services Officers to join the Police Department at our state-of-the art Animal Shelter. The ideal candidate is a compassionate, self-motivated professional who thrives in a dynamic and community-oriented environment. They possess exceptional customer service skills, demonstrating patience, empathy, and professionalism while interacting with community members, coworkers, and partner agencies.
This individual has a strong sense of personal accountability and can work independently with minimal supervision while exercising sound judgment, integrity, and professionalism. They are proactive in resolving issues, adaptable and resilient, remaining calm under pressure and making thoughtful decisions in emotionally challenging or rapidly changing situations. The ideal candidate is comfortable working outdoors in a variety of conditions, safely handling animals of all sizes and temperaments, and responding to situations involving injured, stray, neglected, or aggressive animals.
We are looking for someone who values teamwork but is equally confident in taking initiative in the field. They can balance education with enforcement, communicate effectively during difficult conversations, and de-escalate conflict while maintaining a professional demeanor. They understand that the position requires flexibility to meet operational needs, including working irregular hours, weekends, holidays, overtime, split shifts, and on-call assignments, as needed. Strong report writing, attention to detail, and the ability to accurately interpret and apply animal control laws, ordinances, and policies are essential.
Above all, the ideal candidate is passionate about public service and animal welfare. They are committed to protecting the health and safety of both the community and its animals through compassionate care, education, enforcement, and collaborative problem-solving.
Successful candidates understand that this role requires equal parts compassion, enforcement, and problem-solving, and they are comfortable making difficult decisions while treating both people and animals with dignity and respect.
Learn more about the City of Elk Grove’s state-of-the-art Animal Shelter.
Tentative Recruitment Timeline (subject to change)
Filing Deadline: August 5, 2026, by 11:59 pm
Oral Board Interviews: August 20, 2026 (virtual)
Selection Interviews: August 25, 2026 (in person)
The City offers a competitive salary and generous benefit package including CalPERS retirement benefits, a deferred compensation match and more. Why work for the City of Elk Grove? Elk Grove Jobs
Community Profile
Elk Grove is a vibrant, family-friendly community of approximately 178,124 people in the Sacramento, California region, located 14 miles south of the State Capital and 60 miles east of the Bay Area. Elk Grove is a young, ethnically diverse, modern city that was incorporated in 2000. Elk Grove has low crime, excellent schools, over 100 community parks and 28 miles of trails, plentiful dining and shopping options, numerous annual events and festivals, and over 270 sunny days per year.
EXAMPLE OF DUTIES
The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.
DESCRIPTION:
The incumbent will perform a variety of duties involved in the enforcement of various City and state animal related ordinances, regulations, and laws governing the care and keeping of livestock and domestic animals in the City; investigate complaints regarding nuisance, stray, uncontrolled, dangerous or diseased animals and issue appropriate citations; transport animals to City designated shelter; prepare written reports for prosecution of local ordinances and state law; provide public information and education to citizens and community groups regarding animal services; and perform other duties related to humane animal protection and control.
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Operates an animal services vehicle patrolling streets and alleys to capture and confine stray and unlicensed animals; and impounds dead, sick, injured, stray, or trapped domestic and non-domestic animals.
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Investigates complaints from the public and other agencies regarding nuisance, stray, uncontrolled, dangerous, wild or diseased animals.
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Responds to and conducts initial investigation of complaints regarding animal cruelty and abuse.
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Investigates animal bites, arranging for appropriate identification and quarantine.
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Enforces applicable animal control codes and licensing ordinances; issues citations for violations of applicable regulations; files criminal complaints with City Attorney or District Attorney; testifies in court or administrative hearings regarding citations and disposition of complaints as necessary.
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Takes into custody animals turned in by the public including trapped animals; quarantines and disposes of animals as appropriate.
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Responds to and resolves difficult and sensitive citizen inquiries and complaints; provides public information and education to citizens and community groups regarding animal services policies and procedures; gives public presentations as necessary; educates the public on laws, codes, ordinances, and policies relating to the care and control of animals.
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Identifies symptoms of common animal diseases and recommends veterinary medical care, isolation or destruction; may perform and/or assist in the euthanasia of animals.
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Operates and maintains a variety of animal services tools and equipment including humane traps, mobile radios, and related animal services tools and equipment; keeps equipment and vehicle in clean and healthful condition to accept impounded animals.
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Examines licenses for validity and issues warning notices and citations to delinquent owners.
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Prepares and maintains a variety of records and reports detailing animal control work performed.
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Performs related duties as required.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.
Environment: Work is performed primarily in a field environment; exposure to a variety of domestic, livestock and wild animals; exposure to infectious animal diseases, animal wastes, animal bites, allergens, and inclement weather conditions; incumbents may be required to work extended hours including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to travel to various locations to pick up and dispose of animals; exert physical strength when handling animals and livestock; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull moderate to heavy amounts of weight; to operate office equipment including use of a computer keyboard; to operate assigned equipment and vehicle; and to verbally communicate to exchange information.
Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction.
Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.
The information listed above is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract. The City of Elk Grove is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and professionalism. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, should special accommodations be necessary at any stage of the selection process, please contact the Human Resources Department at (916) 478-2230. City of Elk Grove participates in E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires.