The rate of pay starts at $20.65 per hour contingent on experience and budget considerations.
In this position you will be providing a valued service, by assuring public health and safety by limiting public exposure to stray, diseased or aggressive animals by patrolling the community, assisting veterinarian with treatments, and providing technical expertise in related areas. This role is a vital part of our shelter operations, with a strong emphasis on hands-on kennel care. As an ACO (Kennel Staff), your primary focus will be on ensuring the cleanliness, safety, and well-being of all animals housed within our facility. While this position is kennel-centered, the individual may occasionally be called upon to support general field or shelter-based Animal Control Officer duties.
The animal shelter operates 7 days a week, 24 hours a day including weekends and holidays. The positions could work any of the following shifts or any new shift created: 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., 3:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. – 7:30 a.m. (on call, routing shift weekly)
Shifts do include working in the kennel, cleaning and care for the animals.
As an employer, St. Louis County cares about the health and well-being of our employees. In an effort to provide for the best possible work-life balance, the County offers a generous benefit package which includes affordable health insurance, dental and vision coverage, 4 weeks of Paid Time Off the first year, 11 paid holidays, deferred benefit retirement plan, paid life insurance as well as short and long term disability. A full listing of benefits is available here: Saint Louis County Employee Benefits
Please note, this position is open continuously. We will keep applications active for six months.
Provide safety to the community and animals by patrolling neighborhoods for stray, diseased or aggressive animals, giving technical expertise to animal owners and providing general welfare for animals in kennels.
Assure public health by promoting vaccination of animals in accordance with County Ordinances.
Investigating animal related complaints, bite case, and animal abuse or neglect.
Kennel duties such as cleaning cages and caring for the animals needs.
Feeding and watering animals.
Educating residents on County ordinances and issuing notices for non-compliance.
Assist the veterinarian in administering medications, microchips, immunizations and preparing specimen for rabies testing.
Perform such additional duties, with the required abilities and under the indicated working conditions and environment, as may properly be required of a position in this job class.
Additional Duties to This Role Include:
Complete and maintain hourly kennel checklists to ensure animals have proper food, water, and clean living spaces.
Perform daily cleaning and disinfecting of kennels, holding areas, and general animal care facilities.
Conduct routine wellness checks and immediately report health or behavioral concerns to the veterinary or population management team.
Provide enrichment, exercise, and care through dog walking, playtime, and safe socialization practices.
Assist in feeding, grooming, and basic handling of animals in accordance with shelter protocols.
Support intake processes by assisting with proper kennel placement, labeling, and animal documentation.
Participate in shelter inventory, restocking supplies, and monitoring cleaning materials for safety compliance.
Serve as a support resource for volunteers and guide them on appropriate kennel handling procedures.
Support broader ACO responsibilities including assisting with transports, animal retrievals, and other shelter support tasks as needed.
One year of experience working with a variety of predominantly domestic animals; or any equivalent training and experience.
Possession of a valid driver's license
WORKING CONDITIONS: Balance, bend/twist at waist, climb or work on ladders and stairs; kneel, lift, push/pull, reach above shoulders, squat, stand/walk for long periods; work out of doors in extreme temperatures. Ability to lift 100 lbs.
SELECTION AND APPOINTMENT: A selection committee will evaluate the qualifications of each applicant which will include recentness and appropriateness of the applicant's education and experience, answers to the supplemental questions, results of employment references investigated and any other appropriate information available. The selection committee will admit to the interview only those persons who possess the most job-related qualifications and may establish admittance criteria beyond the minimum qualifications stated above. The interview will comprise 100% of the applicant's earned grade. A candidate must earn a qualifying grade of 70 or more on the interview to be eligible for appointment. After initial interviews with the selected candidates are conducted, an email will be sent to the address on file with instructions on how to complete and submit a Conviction Questionnaire. Candidates have 3 days to complete the required questionnaire. The five top ranking candidates, based on the final grade, will be certified to the Department Director/Appointing Authority who will make the final decision.
All applicants conditionally offered a merit position will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Screening will be performed by a reputable clinical laboratory. The cost of screening will be covered by the County.
In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.
COVID-19 VACCINATION POLICY: In support of commitment to the health, safety, and wellness of all staff and to be compliant with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination Rule (Download PDF reader) it is the policy of the Department of Public Health that all newly hired employees are required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Acceptable forms of proof include CDC COVID-19 vaccination cards (or legible photo), documentation from a health care provider, electronic health record, or state immunization information system record. New employees must be fully vaccinated prior to starting service for the Department, and adherence to this policy is a condition of employment. Full vaccination means having received a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) approved vaccine or vaccine series, consisting of two doses of either of the two-dose vaccines or one dose of the single-dose vaccine. For moderately or severely immunocompromised individuals, a primary series consists of a 3-dose series of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine or a single dose of Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine. Individuals are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after the second dose in a two-dose series, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine. At this time, full vaccination does not require a booster shot. The meaning of “fully vaccinated” is subject to change in accordance with the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. For applicants with a CMS clinical contraindication (Download PDF reader) to the vaccine or sincerely held religious beliefs, which prohibit them from receiving a vaccine, you may contact the Department of Public Health Office of Human Resources (DPH HR) during the hiring phase to request an exemption or reasonable accommodation. Employees granted exemption for medical or religious reasons will be required to wear facial coverings to reduce the risk of transmission to at-risk individuals in DPH facilities and submit to weekly COVID-19 testing. All prospective employees must read and acknowledge the Policy during the application process.
