Animal Control Officer

Salary : $4,394.00 - $5,341.00 Monthly
Location : Corona, CA
Job Type: Full-Time Benefited
Job Number: 2026-32-16
Department: Police Department
Opening Date: 09/25/2026
Closing Date: 10/9/2026 11:59 PM Pacific


DESCRIPTION
3% Cost of Living Adjustment effective December 26, 2026, for positions represented by the Corona Public Service Employees Association.
Step into a career that's anything but ordinary. The City of Corona is excited to invite passionate, driven individuals to join our Police Department as an Animal Control Officer! As part of a dynamic team of more than 250 professionals across Field Services, Investigative Services, and Support Services, you'll play a vital role in protecting the community and its animals. Our mission is rooted in safety, service, and transparency - and we're looking for someone ready to make a real difference. If you're eager for a fast-paced role where every day brings new challenges, meaningful public interaction, and opportunities to help those who need it most, this is your chance to serve with purpose!
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is a confident, energetic problem-solver who thrives in a fast-paced, field-based environment. You're someone who brings equal parts compassion and courage - skilled at understanding animal behavior, calm in unpredictable situations, and ready to act decisively when the community needs you. You communicate clearly, build trust with residents, and approach every call with professionalism and heart. You're detail-minded, safety-focused, and eager to grow your expertise through hands-on work and specialized training. Ability to work weekends, holidays, and on-call hours is required, as you'll be a key partner in keeping our community safe around the clock. If you're self-motivated, adaptable, and excited to serve with purpose as part of the City of Corona Police Department, we want to meet you.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of methods and techniques of handling, collecting, impounding, and registering a variety of wild and domestic animals in various conditions.
• Knowledge of principles, practices, methods, and techniques of code violation investigation and compliance.
• Knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility.
• Knowledge of City and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.

Skills & Abilities

• Ability to recognize normal and abnormal animal behavior and act accordingly.
• Ability to handle potentially dangerous animals in a safe manner.
• Ability to medicate or euthanize animals, after completion of appropriate training.
• Ability to respond to after-hours emergency calls, as directed.
• Ability to interpret and apply federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations pertaining to animal services.
• Ability to work extended hours and rotating shifts, including mandatory training and meetings, overtime, evenings weekends, and holidays.

Education & Experience

• Equivalent to completion of the twelfth (12th) grade.
• Two (2) years of experience in the enforcement and communication of animal services codes, ordinances, and regulations, and the humane care and handling of animals is desired.
• Previous animal or law enforcement experience is desired.
• Possession of a valid California Driver's License (Class C), to be maintained throughout employment.
• Possession of, ability to obtain, or successful acquisition within 12 months of employment:
  1. a valid Chemical Immobilization Certification, to be maintained throughout employment.
  2. a valid Euthanasia by Injection Certification, to be maintained throughout employment.
  3. a P.C. 832 Certification in the use of firearms, search and seizure, and arrest practices.

Characteristics

• Integrity- Being truthful and ethical in what we do, what we say, and what we say we do in both our personal and professional lives.
• Respect- We are committed to our profession and will always respect one another and the community that we serve.
• Inclusion- We are not just diverse; we are welcoming to all.
• Teamwork- When we work together to achieve our mission, the department and community will grow stronger. Together, we are better.
• Innovation- We provide modern police services and are committed to always improve our organizational practices.

Ability to work weekends, holidays, and on-call hours is required. This position is FLSA Non-Exempt eligible for overtime compensation. To view the full job description, click here.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applications will be accepted through Friday , October 9, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early, as late submissions will not be accepted.

Recruitment Timeline
• First Review Deadline: Friday , October 2, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Applications received by this deadline will be included in the first group of candidates reviewed.
• Final Application Deadline: Friday, October 9, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
• Secondary Review (If Applicable): Applications submitted after October 2, 2026, at 11;59pm may be reviewed if the initial candidate pool does not yield a sufficient number of qualified applicants.
• Interview Period (Tentative): Week of Monday, October 12, 2026

After the initial screening, candidates who demonstrate the most desirable qualifications may be invited to a virtual HireVue interview or an in-person interview. Top-scoring candidates from the interview process may be placed on an eligibility list used to fill the vacant position. The selected candidate may be required to successfully complete a reference and background check, including livescan, and must pass a pre-employment medical examination with drug and alcohol screening.

Internal candidates must ensure their application is fully updated to reflect their current position with the City and all previous City positions held. Incomplete or outdated applications may result in disqualification during the review process. Internal candidates may also be required to participate in all components of the selection and pre-employment process, depending on departmental review and position requirements.
The selected candidate will undergo a thorough background investigation and medical exam with the Corona Police Department. Background investigation will include but is not limited to the following :

• No felony conviction(s).
• Submit to a fingerprint and criminal history check - State and Federal Bureaus.
• Good moral character as determined by a thorough background investigation.
• United States high school graduate, GED, or equivalent.
• No conviction(s) of a serious offense, or numerous convictions of minor offenses.
• Submit to a polygraph examination.
• Successfully pass a medical examination.
• Credit history check, if established, must be satisfactory.

COMMUNITY
A City whose heritage spans more than a century, the City of Corona, located in Riverside County, California, encompasses around 40 square miles and has a vibrant, culturally diverse population of approximately 168,100 residents. Residents of Corona enjoy a variety of cultural, recreational, and educational opportunities that provide a first-rate quality of life for its residents and visitors. Within an hour's travel time, outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy such winter activities as snowboarding and skiing and such summer activities as surfing, boating, or simply relaxing on a beach. Corona's economy is strong and getting stronger; more than 84,000 people work here. Our retail, commercial, and housing areas are expanding, and office development continues to be strong.


THE ORGANIZATION
The City of Corona is a General Law city operating under a Council-Manager form of government. Policy making and legislative authority is vested in the City Council, consisting of a Mayor and four Council Members. Members of the City Council are elected by District to a four-year term. The Mayor is selected by the Council and serves as the presiding officer for one year.
The City is organized into the following departments/organizational units: Community Services, City Manager's Office, Economic Development, Finance, Fire, Human Resources, Information Technology, Legal and Risk Management, Police, Planning & Development, Public Works, and Utilities. Oversight of these departments is divided between the City Manager and an Assistant City Manager.
The City's total operating budget for Fiscal Year 2026 is $422.7 million with a General Fund operating budget of $231.3 million. Corona enjoys a workforce of 935 dedicated employees who provide high-quality services to its residents and visitors each day.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES


To view the essential duties and responsibilities,

QUALIFICATIONS GUIDELINES


To view the qualifications guidelines,

PHYSICAL/MENTAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT


To view the physical/mental demands and work environment,
CORONA PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION
CITY PAID BENEFITS*

For a complete explanation of benefits, benefit eligibility and restrictions; please refer to the current Corona Public Service Employees Association, Memorandum of Understanding. Any information contained herein that may conflict with the provisions of the Corona Public Service Employees Association MOU, the MOU shall prevail.

RETIREMENT: Employees are covered by the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS). The City does not participate in Social Security and the City pays the employees mandatory contribution to the Medicare Program. The City offers two retirement formulas based on the employee's current CalPERS membership status. The 2.7% @ 55 highest single year of service retirement formula will be applied to employees hired prior to January 1, 2013 and those current CalPERS members with no significant break in PERS-qualified employment. The 2% @ 62 three year average retirement formula will be applied to those employees with a significant break in PERS-qualified employment those who have not formerly been a member of CalPERS or another retirement program with which CalPERS has a reciprocal relationship.
All employees hired on or after January 1, 2013, will be subject to CalPERS membership review for applicability of PEPRA.

ANNUAL LEAVE & HOLIDAYS:
Annual Leave During Initial Probation :
Probationary employees employed less than one full year shall accrue Probationary Sick Leave at one-half the rate of a 1-5 year full time regular employee (3.23 hours) per pay period. During the first six months, such leave may be used for sick leave, only. Such accrued time may be used for employee or family illness or medical reasons.

After six (6) months, an employee may request up to one week of "Advanced Annual Leave" for vacation purposes with the permission of his or her supervisor. Under extenuating circumstances and with Department Head approval, this leave can be used prior to six months of employment.

When the employee completes one year of service, the Annual Leave accrued as Probationary Sick Leave will be converted to regular Annual Leave for a total of 168 hours.

Years of Service With the City Each Pay Period Annual Totals
1-5 6.46 168 Hours
6-8 7.08 184 Hours
9-15 8.00 208 Hours
16+ 9.54 248 Hours

Holiday Leave hours earned during the first year of employment are available to be used for any purpose. There are 13 (10 hour) paid holidays (130 hours) per calendar year.

ANNUAL LEAVE BUYBACK: Eligible employees may "buy back" a maximum of 160 hours of annual leave once each year.

MEDICAL INSURANCE : The City currently offers a variety of HMO plans as well as several PPO plans through CalPERS. For plan information, click the link below.
The City provides a Medical Allowance to Members to be used for the purpose of purchasing mandatory health coverage offered through PEMHCA for the Member and his or her eligible dependents. The Medical Allowance shall consist of the following: (1) the Base Contribution Rate, plus (2) an amount equal to the difference between the Base Contribution Rate and the following amounts, as applicable:

1. $978.00 per month for Members electing Employee only coverage;
2. $1,646.00 per month for Members electing Employee plus one dependent coverage; or
3. $2173.00 per month for Members electing Employee plus two or more dependents coverage.

Eligible Opt-Out Arrangement: Upon providing reasonable evidence of alternative coverage as required by the Affordable Care Act (ACA)'s Eligible Opt-Out Arrangement rules (below), employees shall be entitled to the following dollars in the first two pay periods each month in taxable cash, in lieu of the amount provided in Section 10.2 above:

(a) $300.00 ($600 per month) for Employee + 2 or more dependents
(b) $200.00 ($400 per month) for Employee + 1 dependent
(c) $100.00 ($200 per month) for Employee Only

DENTAL INSURANCE: The City currently offers HMO and PPO dental insurance through Delta Dental. Dental insurance premiums are paid by the employee.

VISION INSURANCE: The City currently offers vision insurance through Eye Med. Vision insurance premiums are paid by the employee.

DISABILITY INSURANCE: Short-term and long-term disability insurance is provided free to each employee.

LIFE INSURANCE: The City provides a term life insurance policy to each employee equal to 5 ½ times the employee's annual basic earnings to a maximum, of $750,000.00.

FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT (FSA): Each employee may contribute to either a medical reimbursement account or dependent care account to pay for unreimbursed medical expenses and/or dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.


EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE AND COUNSELING PROGRAM: This is a comprehensive program designed to help employees and their family members find direction in solving personal and/or emotional problems.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION (457) PLAN: To supplement retirement, employees can make voluntary salary deferrals to a Nationwide plan.

LONGEVITY PAY: After 5 years of service $500.00 annually. After 10 years of service $700.00 annually. After 15 years of service $800.00 annually. After 20 years of service $1000.00 annually.

TUITION REIMBURSEMENT: The City of Corona recognizes the value of an educated workforce and encourages employees to pursue the goal of higher education. The City has adopted a plan to provide financial reimbursement for tuition and textbooks for job-related college courses. It is a plan wherein the City participates with the employee in financing specific job-related courses leading to an appropriate degree or certificate. Education plans approved in writing by the City shall reimburse Members for the cost up to a lifetime maximum amount of $10,000 per employee.

BI-LINGUAL PAY: The City shall pay $189.58 per month to employees for Bilingual pay. If an employee becomes eligible for bilingual pay for less than a full month, the monthly amount shall be pro-rated accordingly. All unit employees are eligible to receive bilingual pay. An employee receiving bilingual pay will be required to speak the alternate language in the course and scope of their employment and may be asked to assist in translating even if unrelated to their specific job duties.


* DISCLAIMER: City paid benefits shall be as set forth in the most current version of the Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") between the City of Corona and the Corona General Employees Association, which can be viewed on the City's website (). In the event of any conflict between the above summary of City paid benefits and any terms or conditions set forth in the most current version of the MOU, the terms and conditions set forth in the MOU shall control for purposes of this recruitment.
01


Do you possess a valid California Class C Driver's License?

• Yes
• No

02


Please indicate your highest level of education completed.

• Less than high school diploma or GED equivalent
• High school diploma or GED equivalent
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree or higher

03


How many years of experience in the enforcement and communication of animal services codes, ordinances, and regulations do you possess?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year or more, but less than 2 years
• 2 years or more, but less than 3 years
• 3 years or more, but less than 4 years
• 4 years or more, but less than 5 years
• 5 or more years

04


Do you have experience in the humane care and handling of animals?

• Yes
• No

05


Do you have previous animal care or law enforcement experience?

• Yes
• No

06


For the questions answered above, please provide the name of the agency, length of time, position, and level of responsibility by each function listed. Please note that "See Resume" or "See Application" will be considered an incomplete response for this question and your application will be considered incomplete. If you do not have the required experience, please indicate "N/A".
07


This position requires that you obtain the following certifications within 12 months of employment and maintain them throughout your tenure:• Chemical Immobilization Certification• Euthanasia by Injection Certification• P.C. 832 Certification (firearms, search and seizure, and arrest procedures)Do you acknowledge and confirm your ability to meet these certification requirements within the specified timeframe?

• I acknowledge that I am required to obtain the listed certifications within 12 months of employment and maintain them throughout my employment.

08


This position requires the ability to work weekends, holidays, overtime, and on-call hours as assigned.Please select the option that best describes your availability:

• I am available to work on weekdays
• I am available to work weekends
• I am available to work holidays
• I am available to work overtime
• I am available to work on-call hours

09


I acknowledge that the information provided in this job application, to include; supplemental questions, education/certification information, attachments and work history are complete and accurate and cannot be changed once the application is submitted. Please note "See Resume" is considered an incomplete response and your application will not be considered.

• Yes
• No

Required Question