Job Description

Posting number: O-2980-K

Department: ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL

Job classification: ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER II

Posting type: Open

Categories: Code Enforcement, Community Services, Animal Control, Animal Services, Customer Service

Summary

DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL

EXAM NUMBER

O-2980-K

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT

We welcome applications from anyone!

WHEN TO APPLY

The application filing period will begin on October 23, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. (PT) - Continuous. We will keep accepting applications until the position is filled. The application window may close unexpectedly once we have enough qualified candidates.

WHY WORK FOR US?

The County has more than 2,100 different job types, offering a lifetime of opportunities and careers! We are dedicated professionals committed to preserving the dignity and integrity of the workplace as well as protecting the rights of each employee. Join us and discover one of the strongest public-sector benefits packages in the county with a rich selection of health care options, robust retirement plans and the flexibility to work, relax, and rejuvenate to reach your fullest personal and professional potential.

DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL

The County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control is one of the largest and most progressive animal control agencies in the United States. Our seven animal care centers serve over 3 million residents across 43 contract cities and unincorporated areas. We cover a diverse area of more than 3,400 square miles, providing 24/7 animal control and rescue services.

For more information about our amazing benefits, please visit us here: https://hr.lacounty.gov/benefits/

OUR DEPARTMENT'S MISSION

An innovative animal care and control agency with state-of-the-art facilities providing animals and residents high quality, effective, and caring service.

THE TEAM MEMBER WE ARE SEARCHING FOR

We are looking for an extraordinarily dedicated and compassionate person who has a demonstrated history in animal care and control. Our ideal applicant is driven, with excellent communication skills and the capacity to work in coordination within a diverse group. You should be motivated to effectively carry out animal control strategies and give to making Los Angeles a safer environment for both animals and residents.

Examples of duties

What will you do:

• Patrols an assigned geographical area in a light truck observing for violations or responding to incidents.
• Inspects animal facilities to ensure conformance to laws; explains violations and need for correction of such things as poor sanitary conditions, inadequate food, sick or injured animals and over-crowded conditions; issues citations as appropriate.
• Captures both domestic and wild animals using equipment and methods appropriate for animal abatement and control; may require chasing, climbing fences and crawling under houses.
• Issues citations, licenses, warnings and/or legal notices.
• Reports to a field command post established to provide extended hours of animal containment, capture and relocation, in emergencies such as brush fires, floods or animals loose on public thoroughfares.
• Serves as office information officer and radio dispatcher; receives and responds to in-person and telephone requests for information and animal control services from citizens and other public agencies; dispatches officers to routine incidents.
• Enforces sections of the Penal Code pertaining to cruelty to animals.
• Assists the Department of Regional Planning by inspecting property and premises to determine compliance with zoning ordinances involving the housing of animals when special permits are required; recommends approval or rejection based upon adequacy of facilities.
• Present departmentally prepared and approved educational programs, including lectures, slides and demonstrations at schools and civic meetings, when necessary.
• Operate tranquilizer gun equipment for use in the capture and seizure of animals in circumstances in which there is eminent danger to human life, public safety or property, when necessary.
• Pick up small dead animals manually and load into truck; loads larger animals, such as horses or cows, using a truck-driven winch and harness, when necessary.
• Testify in court as to facts related to violations of animal control laws, when necessary.
• Act as officer-in-charge as required, when necessary.

Qualifications

REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY:

Six months of experience at the level of Animal Control Officer I* for an animal control regulatory agency - AND Possession of certification indicating successful completion of training program per California Penal Code Section 832**.

You may still qualify even if your job title isn’t exactly the same as the ones listed. What matters is that your experience is at a similar level — meaning your job involves similar responsibilities, requires comparable skills and knowledge, and takes place within a similar organizational structure. Please provide a clear explanation of your experience to demonstrate that it is at the appropriate level.

No withhold or out-of-class work experience in the service of the County of Los Angeles will be accepted for this examination. Required experience must be fully met at the time of filing, and clearly indicated on the application.

LICENSE:

A valid California Class C Driver License is required at the time of appointment.

A valid California Class B Driver License may be required for some positions at the time of appointment.

Successful applicants for positions that require driving must obtain a copy of their driving record from the California State Department of Motor Vehicles before final appointment. Applicants should not present a copy of their driving history until asked to do so by the hiring department. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether an applicant's driving history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job. License must not be currently suspended, restricted or revoked.

PHYSICAL CLASS:

4 – Arduous: This class involves frequent heavy lifting over 25 pounds, often combined with bending, twisting, or working above ground on irregular surfaces. It includes those positions that occasionally demand extraordinary physical activity such as those in Safety positions.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS INFORMATION:

*Experience at the level of Animal Control Officer I refers to experience enforcing State, County and City codes and ordinances governing animal control including the care and treatment, impounding, quarantine, licensing vaccination, and regulation of a variety of animals under general supervision.

**A copy of a P.C. 832 Certificate indicating successful completion of training program per California Penal Code Section 832.

In order to receive credit for the required certification, applicants must attach a legible photocopy of their California Penal Code Section 832 Certificate at the time of filing.

Please submit documentation to SPerez@animalcare.lacounty.gov or fax them to (562) 422-3187 within fifteen (15) calendar days of filing. Please include exam number and exam title. We do not accept password-protected documents. Ensure documents are unlocked before attaching to your application or sending to the exam analyst. Supplemental informationOnce we have identified that you meet our requirements, an invitation (if applicable) regarding the following assessment processes will be sent:

EXAMINATION CONTENT:

The examination will consist of TWO (2) Parts:

Part I: Multiple Choice and/or Simulation Assessment(s), weighted at 75%, assessing:

AchievementResponsibilitySafety OrientationTeamworkDeductive Reasoning

Part II: an Evaluation of Training and Experience, weighted at 25%, measuring:

Current professional certifications/licenses in an animal care related areaKnowledge of Various Domestic, Wild, Exotic Animals and Livestock as found within LA County Knowledge of Techniques, Tools, and Equipment Used In Animal Care and Control ServicesKnowledge of State and Local Animal Control Laws and RegulationsAbility to serve as a lead to lower-level animal control staff

MULTIPLE-CHOICE AND/OR SIMULATION ASSESSMENTS ARE NOT REVIEWABLE BY CANDIDATES PER CIVIL SERVICE RULE 7.19.

Applicants must achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on Part I in order to have their Part II Evaluation of Training and Experience calculated and scored.

TRANSFER OF TEST COMPONENTS: If you recently took identical components for other exams, the test responses may be automatically transferred to this examination. This exam contains test components that might be used on future exams, and your responses could be transferred to that exam. Scores cannot be given over the telephone.

TEST PREPARATION:

We provide study guides and other test preparation resources to help candidates prepare for employment tests. While the guides will help you prepare for the test, we recommend reviewing all related materials that seem necessary.

Online practice tests are available at https://www.shldirect.com/en/practice-tests (https://www.shldirect.com/en/practice-tests). You can also visit our Los Angeles County Online Assessment Preparation Series webpage at https://lacounty.attract.neogov.com/la-county-online-assessments-prep-series for information about common online assessment types, sample questions, and test-taking tips. (Generally, only used for CTAD-administered written exams)Various information can be found on our website at https://hr.lacounty.gov/job-search-toolkit/. The section dedicated to test preparation is "Employment Test Assistance."

SPECIAL INFORMATION:

Appointees may be required to work any shift including evenings, nights, weekends and holidays.

ELIGIBILITY AND VACANCY INFORMATION:Applicants who passed the assessment(s) are placed on the list in the order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months. Applications will be processed as they are received and added to the list accordingly. We will use this list to fill vacancies in the Department of Animal Care and Control as they occur.

APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION:

WE ONLY ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FILED ONLINE. APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED BY U.S. MAIL, FAX, OR IN PERSON ARE NOT ACCEPTED.Apply online by clicking on the green "Apply" tab for this posting. You can also track the status of your application using this website.

Please fill out the application completely. Provide relevant job experience including employer's name and address, job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, and description of work performed. Copying VERBIAGE from the Requirements or class specification as your work experience WILL NOT BE sufficient to demonstrate meeting the requirements. We may verify information included in the application at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. Falsification of information on your application and any attachments will result in refusal of application, rescission of appointment, or restriction of application to future recruitments.

We will send notifications to the email address provided on the application, so it is important that you provide a valid email address. If you choose to unsubscribe or opt out from receiving our emails, it is possible to view notices by logging into governmentjobs.com and checking the profile inbox. It is every applicant's responsibility to take steps to view correspondence, and we will not consider claims of missing notices to be a valid reason for re-scheduling an exam part. Register the below domains as approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk mail. SPerez@animalcare.lacounty.govinfo@governmentjobs.comtalentcentral@shl.comdonot-reply@amcatmail.com

New email addresses need to be verified. This only needs to be done once per email address and can be done at any time by logging in to governmentjobs.com and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of the online application and to prevent incorrectly entered email addresses. SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number, so include yours when applying.For those who do not have access to a computer or the internet, we provide access to complete an application at public libraries throughout the county.

NO SHARING OF USER ID AND PASSWORD: All applicants must file their application online using their own user ID and password. Using a family member's or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI):The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. We are committed to promoting Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst race. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

Testing Accommodation:

If you require an accommodation to fairly compete in any part of the assessment process, you will be given the opportunity to make a request when completing your application. Please note, you may be required to submit documentation from a qualified medical provider or other qualified professional to support your request for a testing accommodation.Testing Accommodations Coordinator: TestingAccommodations@hr.lacounty.govDepartment Contact Phone: (562) 534-1402

Department Contact Email: SPerez@animalcare.lacounty.gov

ADA Coordinator Phone: (562) 256-7100

California Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2922

Teletype Phone: (800) 899-4099

Alternate TTY Phone: (800) 897-0077