Temporary Animal Control and License Officer I - Riverside - Riverside County, CA

Description

Salary : $50,398.40 Annually
Location : Coachella
Job Type: Temporary
Job Number: TCM
Department: Animal Services
Division: CVAC Field Services
Opening Date: 02/24/2026
Closing Date: 3/9/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

ABOUT THE POSITION
The County of Riverside's Human Resources Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) seeks to fill a Temporary Animal Control and License Officer I position. This is a full-time, temporary position located in Coachella, California.

The Animal Control & License Officer I is the trainee-level classification in the Animal Control & License Officer series and reports to the Lieutenant of Field Services. Incumbents work under supervision performing routine assignments, receiving training in areas such as animal recognition, euthanasia, disease recognition, administrative hearings, disaster training, state and federal laws, penal codes, and airborne and blood borne pathogen exposure.
This position is considered field work and requires hours of standing and moving. Including a rotating overnight work schedule.
The department desires candidates who live near the Coachella shelter or surrounding cities.
Meet the Team
The Riverside County Department of Animal Services has a vision for promoting an environment of responsible pet ownership through progressive animal welfare initiatives, community outreach, and humane education in a culture of compassion, creativity, and integrity. The Department of Animal Services believes the character of their organization is best reflected in the strong dedication of each one of their employees who strive to meet the highest standards of performance and compassion on behalf of the animals and people that they serve. The Department of Animal Servicesoperates four shelters locatedin Blythe, Jurupa Valley, San Jacinto and Thousand Palms.

About TAP
The Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) recruits and hires temporary employees for all County departments. TAP assignments are a great way to learn about working for the County while working on a temporary, at-will basis.
Click here to learn more about TAP:

TAP Benefits:
EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Drive a vehicle to patrol jurisdictions overseen by Riverside County; enforce animal regulations, laws and ordinances; answer questions from the public concerning age, breed, characteristics, care, and treatment of animals; advise the public of legal rights, explaining and interpreting animal control laws, regulations, procedures, and policies; contact dog owners by house-to-house canvassing to locate unlicensed or unvaccinated dogs; check for valid rabies certificates, microchips, and verify signalment; collect and turn in license fees.

• Learn to prepare reports, citations, or notices of violation; maintain records and complete forms concerning animal control and license violations and transactions, proficiently utilizing software and databases relating to Department of Animal Services (DAS).

• 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, as necessary.

• Ensure County vehicles are kept adequately fueled and maintained; inspect vehicles daily prior to use to identify any physical damage; alert supervisor when vehicles are due for maintenance and repair.

ANIMAL CONTROL:

• Receive and investigate complaints and reports from the public and other agencies regarding stray, dangerous, unwanted, or improperly controlled animals; tactfully handle complaints, trying to remedy problems; under guidance from an Animal Control and License Officer II, 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; answer emergency calls concerning persons bitten by animals.

• Learn to quarantine potentially rabid animals; check potentially rabid animals at intervals as directed and release animals from quarantine at the end of a safe time period, as directed; issue citations for violation of the quarantine.

• Pick up and transport stray, confined, sick, injured, or dead animals; impound animals and release impounded animals 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 basis.

ANIMAL LICENSING:

• Learn to photograph and gather all pertinent facts of any issues pertaining to violations and citations; create activities in Chameleon database for follow-up with ongoing compliance of issues with the animal's welfare or physical environment.

• Post, file, and maintain citations on a daily basis; research County G.I.S. system for property owner information

• Refer public to veterinary clinics and/or low-cost or subsidized veterinary services.

• Maintain daily records of canvassing inspections and enforcement efforts; learn to prepare required documentation for legal actions; testify in court proceedings as needed for violations; access centralized information systems or databases to retrieve and enter data.

• Perform property rechecks under certain circumstances to verify compliance.

• May assist during vaccination clinics and/or offsite events as necessary.

• May, on rare occasions, pick-up stray or dead animals with capture equipment (e.g., catch poles, snake tongs, skunk poles, muzzles, nets, and/or cages); scan for microchip and research owner information; if applicable, transport to owner; issue citation for leash law violations and any other animal related violations; may arrange for impound if owner/ animal information is not available or owner is not available at the time.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
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 board and kennel facility, or similar setting which included the care and handling of animals.

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; the 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

Other Requirements
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.

What's Next?
Open to All Applicants
This recruitment is open to all applicants.

For questions regarding this recruitmentPlease contact Cindy Mendez at or For general inquiries, please allow up to 2 business days to receive a response.
APPLICATION INFORMATION

Veteran's Preference
The County has a Veterans Preference Policy applicable to new hires. To qualify, upload a copy of your (or your spouse's) Member-4 Form DD-214 indicating dates of service, and a copy of your spouse's letter of disability (if applicable) with your application. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans' preference. The Veterans Preference Policy, C-3 is available here:
Reasonable Accommodations
The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter for the position noted above. For additional information and/or to obtain the appropriate form for requesting a reasonable accommodation, please visit the Disability Access Office web page located at:
Proof of Education
If using education to qualify or when requested by the recruiter, upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account at the time of application and before the closing date. Official or unofficial transcripts will be accepted.

If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services () or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. ().
Work Authorization Requirement
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. The County of Riverside does not participate in visa sponsorship programs, including H1-B visas, and will not provide sponsorship for any employment-based visas.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The County of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the County of Riverside to provide equal employment opportunities for all qualified persons. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, or denial of medical and family care leave, or any other non-job-related factors.
Pre-Employment
All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment requirements including a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from County employment). A pre-employment physical examination and background check may be required.
Probationary Period
As an Approved Local Merit System, all County of Riverside employees, except those serving "At Will," are subject to the probationary period provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, County Resolution, or Salary Ordinance. Temporary and Per Diem employees serve at the pleasure of the agency/department head.
General Information
Current County of Riverside and/or current employees of the hiring department may receive priority consideration. Qualified candidates may be considered for future County vacancies.
Job postings may close without notice based on application volume. Submit your complete application by the recruitment close date; no late applications are accepted. Ensure all relevant experience/education is reflected on your application/resume, as a failure to demonstrate position requirements may disqualify applicants. A description of job duties directly copied from the job classification or job posting will not be considered.
Please read and follow any special application instructions on this posting. Click the 'Apply' link located on this page to submit your application. For additional instructions on the application process, examinations, Veteran's preference, pre-employment accommodation or other employment questions, please refer to our web site,
If you are experiencing technical problems, you may contact the applicant support desk Monday through Friday, 6 am to 5 pm Pacific Time at or toll-free
BENEFIT PROGRAM: UPE..
MEDICAL/DENTAL/VISION INSURANCE: A choice of different medical, dental and visions plan are available to elect. The County provides a Flexible Benefit Credit contribution as governed by the applicable LIUNA Memorandum of Understanding to contribute towards the cost of these plans.

Note: Employees on assignment through the Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) receive different benefits. See the list
MISCELLANEOUS RETIREMENT: County of Riverside has three retirement Tiers through the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS).

• Tier I (Classic Member - Formula 3% @ 60): Applicable to current and former County of Riverside local miscellaneous employees hired prior to 08/24/2012 and did not withdraw CalPERS contributions. The employee contribution is eight (8%) percent.
• Tier II (Classic Member - Formula 2% @ 60): Applicable to local miscellaneous employees 1) hired after 08/23/2012 through 12/31/2012; 2) Previously employed with another CalPERS contracting public agency or a reciprocal retirement system, with a break in service of less than six months between the separation date with the previous employer and the appointment date with the County of Riverside. The employee contribution is seven (7%) percent.
• Tier III (PEPRA New Member - Formula 2% @ 62): Applicable to CalPERS local miscellaneous new members hired on or after the implementation of the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) which took effect January 1, 2013. Effective July 1, 2023 employee contributions are 7.25% and will increase to 7.75% effective July 1, 2024.

A new member is defined as any of the following:

1. A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who has no prior membership in any California Public Retirement System.
2. A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who was a member with another California Public Retirement System prior to that date, but who is not subject to reciprocity upon joining CalPERS.
3. A member who first established CalPERS membership prior to January 1, 2013, and who is rehired by a different CalPERS agency after a break in service of greater than six (6) months.

CalPERS refers to all members that do not fit within the definition of a new member as "classic members".

Contribution rates are subject to change based on the County of Riverside annual actuarial valuation.
Note:

This summary is for general information purposes only. Additional questions regarding retirement formulas can be sent to or by calling the Benefits Information Line at ,
Option 2.

If you have prior service credit with another CalPERS agency or within agencies, please contact CalPERS at to determine which retirement tier would be applicable to you. CalPERS is governed by the Public Employees' Retirement Law. The Retirement Law is complex and subject to change. If there's any conflict between this summary and the law, the law will prevail over this summary.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Voluntary employee contribution with a choice between two 457 deferred compensation plan options.

VACATION ACCRUAL (Bi-Weekly Accrual):

0 < 3 year = 80 Hours (10 Days)
4 < 9 years = 120 Hours (15 Days)
10 or more years = 160 Hours (20 Days)

Maximum Vacation leave accumulation is 480 hours.

SICK LEAVE: Four (4) hours Sick Leave accrual per pay period with unlimited accrual.

HOLIDAYS: Normally 12 paid holidays per year

BEREAVEMENT LEAVE: Allowed 5 days (3 days are County paid; 2 additional days can be taken from accrued Sick Leave balance)

BASIC LIFE INSURANCE: Equal to one times annual base salary not to exceed $50,000 of term life coverage. Premiums are paid by the County. Additional Supplemental Life plan is available for employee purchase.

DISABILITY:
Employees contribute to State Disability Insurance (SDI), which provides wage replacement benefits for those unable to work due to non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy. SDI also includes Paid Family Leave benefits. The wage replacement rate, as defined by current law, is between 60-70% of wages earned during the SDI eligibility period. Benefits can be coordinated with other available leave balances to provide up to 100% of regular pay.

POST RETIREMENT MEDICAL CONTRIBUTION: A monthly contribution is made by the County towards retiree health insurance offered through the County as governed by the applicable Memorandum of Understanding.

OTHER: There may be other benefit provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding. Please contact the recruiter listed on the job posting directly for more information.
01

Are you currently 18 years of age or older?

• Yes
• No

02

Are you legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law?

• No
• Yes
• I am in the process of obtaining authorization.

03

Do you possess a valid California Driver's License?

• Yes
• No

04

Do you possess a high school diploma, G.E.D. equivalency or high school proficiency certificate?

• Yes
• No

05

How many years of experience do you have working in an animal shelter, veterinary office, animal grooming, animal board and kennel facility, or similar setting, which included the care and handling of animals?

• No Experience
• A minimum of six months but less than 1 year
• 1 year or more, but less than 2
• 2 years or more, but less than 3
• 3 years or more, but less than 4
• 4 years or more, but less than 5
• 5 years or more, but less than 6
• 6 years or more

06

Do you understand that you must obtain Penal Code 832 training within six months of hire?

• Yes
• No

07

Are you willing to work in the Coachella/Thousand Palms area?

• Yes
• No

08

Do you have basic knowledge techniques and procedures for the safe, humane and efficient handling of animals; laws and ordinances governing the licensing, treatment, and impounding of animals; the 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?

• Yes
• No

09

I acknowledge that this is an at-will employment opportunity and the assignment may end at any time.

• Yes
• No

Required Question