Animal Care Attendant

The Department of Health and Human Services – Animal Care Services is currently hiring for temporary/extra help Animal Care Attendant vacancies. This is an outstanding career opportunity to join Placer County Animal Services and contribute to the continued success of this progressive and innovative organization, while working at the state-of-the-art animal care facility located in Auburn.

Click here to view a photo album of the animal shelter.

Temporary/Extra Help assignments are limited to working 28 hours per week (including weekends and holidays) with a cap of 999 hours or 960 hours for CalPERS retired annuitants in a fiscal year and are not eligible for benefits.

 Appointments made from this eligible list may be eligible for transition to permanent status, should vacancies arise.

Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees, including:

• Holidays: 14 paid holidays per year, 2 of which are floating holidays*
• Vacation leave: 10 days/year with ability to accrue 25 days/year
• Sick leave: 12 days/year*
• Cafeteria plan: 6% of employee’s salary will be contributed towards employee to use towards 401(k), dependent care, medical co-insurance, or cash
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance available for employees and dependents
• $50,000 life insurance policy at no cost to employee
• CalPERS retirement plans
• Retiree medical insurance
• Deferred compensation
• Education allowance: up to $1,200 per year
• Bilingual incentive: incumbents may be eligible for bilingual incentive pay depending upon operational needs and certification of proficiency.

*Amounts will be prorated for part-time employees and employees hired after the first of the year.

The information above represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire about the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department. For a detailed listing of benefits, please click here to view General benefits.

For more information regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer, please visit Placer County's Human Resources website.

To feed and care for animals housed by the County in the animal care facility; and to maintain facilities in a clean and sanitary condition.

Receives immediate supervision from the Animal Care Supervisor, and technical and functional supervision from other animal care staff.

• Maintain the animal care facility in a clean, sanitary and safe condition; clean and disinfect kennels and cages; feed and water animals; provide first aid to wounded animals.  Maintain records on special feed instructions for animals needing unique care; clean and disinfect quarantine areas; take in stray and owner released animals from the public and provide appropriate records; handle dead and decomposing animal carcasses.
• Assist the public in difficult situations, including requests for euthanasia; perform euthanasia procedures to ensure safe and humane treatment; perform chemical restraint procedures as necessary.
• Receive and classify animals delivered to the shelter.
• Assist the public in redemption and adoption of animals; review records for lost and found animals and attempt to help the public.
• Oversee volunteer involvement in the animal care facility; teach basic animal attendant skills.
• Oversee the ordering of supplies needed for operation of the animal care facility; make recommendations to supervisor.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with coworkers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Administer vaccinations and medications to animals in accordance with the Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters.
• Provide enrichment to animals on a daily basis to maintain their health and well-being.
• Attend off-site events and presentations on behalf of the County to educate the public about animal care services and promote responsible pet ownership.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: No experience is required. Some experience handling dogs and cats under stressful and traumatic conditions is desirable.

Training: Formal or informal education or training which ensures the ability to read and write at a level necessary for successful job performance.

Required License or Certificate:

• Possession of, or ability to obtain prior to completion of the probationary period, a certificate in euthanasia procedures.
• May need to possess a valid driver’s license as required by the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

Knowledge of:

• Various dog breeds and characteristics in order to properly classify and cage dogs in order to avoid disruptions and maintain safety of all animals.

Ability to:

• Work with the public during tense and emotional situations; calm hostile and emotionally distraught individuals; demonstrate tact, courtesy, patience and sound judgement.
• Relay information to the public on program and departmental policies, procedures, and services.
• Learn procedures and terminology associated with animal shelter operations.
• Instruct and review the work of volunteers and trustees involved in maintaining the shelter facility.
• Learn to apply state and local laws, rules and regulations relating to the shelter, including special conditions for quarantined animals.
• Properly feed animals and notice symptoms of illness.
• Hold live animals and inject a euthanizing drug into the animal in the most humane manner possible; properly measure drugs into hypodermic syringes for chemical restraint and euthanasia.
• Maintain records and files.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of animal control operations; intermittently analyze work papers, reports and special projects;  problem solve animal shelter situations; and explain animal care and control related laws to the public.
• On an intermittent basis, sit at desk or in vehicle; walk and stand during field activities; bend, squat, kneel or twist while working in field or animal shelter operations; perform simple and power grasping, pushing, pulling and finer manipulation; and lift very heavy weight.

Training & Experience Rating (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training, and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula. Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination (which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation), sign a constitutional oath, and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S.  For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation (which may include a voice stress analysis and/or a polygraph), and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

The eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification. For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey level) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

Placer County offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please click here.

Thank you for your interest in employment with Placer County. Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer, and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race (including traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, ancestry, religion (including creed and belief), national origin, citizenship, physical disability (including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over),  marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including parental status, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), political orientation, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.