Animal Services Officer

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City of Upland is seeking a dedicated and service-oriented professional who is passionate about animal welfare, public safety, and serving the community. This position offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact by protecting both residents and animals through education, enforcement, and compassionate care. The ideal candidate is calm under pressure, exercises sound judgment, and communicates effectively with people from diverse backgrounds. They are comfortable working independently in the field, handling sensitive situations with professionalism, and treating animals with compassion and respect. The best candidate will possess strong customer service and conflict resolution skills, the ability to safely handle domestic and wild animals, and a thorough understanding of applicable laws and regulations. They will be dependable, adaptable, physically capable of performing field duties, and committed to providing exceptional public service while promoting responsible pet ownership and animal welfare. Experience the rewards of your hard work—comprehensive benefits, including upcoming COLAs, that support your well-being, growth, and success! 3% increase in base effective 6/20/27

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Conducts field patrols and enforces state laws and regulations and local ordinances regarding stray, dangerous, domestic, and wild animals, and other nuisance complaints; investigates complaints from the public and other agencies regarding nuisance, stray, uncontrolled, dangerous, wild, or diseased animals.
• Evaluates animal bites; arranges for proper identification and quarantining of animals; approves and monitors home quarantine of biting animals.
• Explains laws and regulations to the public relating to the care and control of animals, filing of complaints, and the operations and responsibilities of the animal shelter.
• Issues citations for violations of applicable regulations; testifies in court regarding citations, actions taken, and the disposition of complaints.
• Patrols assigned areas in City vehicles; captures wild, stray, and unlicensed animals for impounding; removes dead animals from public and private property; transports injured animals.
• Uses humane traps, snares, animal control tools, and monitoring devices.
• Identifies symptoms of common animal diseases and recommends veterinary medical care, isolation, or euthanasia.
• Releases impounded animals to owners; euthanizes ill, injured, unwanted or aged animals, participates in the care and feeding of animals.
• Assists other agencies and City departments by responding to animal control claims and inquiries.
• Advises, counsels, and instructs others regarding common animal behaviors and safe care and handling procedures.
• Prepares field reports and maintains activity records; collects licensing and user fees when providing customer counter support.
• Provides guidance to temporary work release and volunteer staff, as assigned.
• Complies with City and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualification Guidelines

Knowledge of:

• Basic species and breed identification of a variety of domestic and common wild animals.
• Symptoms and behavior associated with rabies and other common diseases of animals.
• Behavior and handling of common domestic and wild animals.
• Methods and equipment used in the care and handling of common domestic and wild animals.
• Basic mathematics.
• Safe driving rules and practices.
• City and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.
• The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff.

Ability to:

• Handle, capture, and control animals humanely and effectively under stressful or emergency conditions.
• Assess animal behavior and make effective decisions regarding handling, capturing or destroying the animal.
• Identify symptoms and behaviors associated with rabies, distemper, parvo, upper respiratory infections, parasites and other common domestic and wild animal diseases.
• Operate and maintain a wide variety of animal control tools and equipment.
• Safely operate assigned vehicles.
• Learn the street layout and topography of the City of Upland.
• Administer euthanasia by lethal injection in a humane and gentle manner.
• Effectively respond to calls for services.
• Interact effectively and sensitively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Respond to complaints or inquiries from citizens, staff, and outside organizations.
• Prepare clear, effective, and accurate reports, correspondence, and other written materials.
• Maintain accurate logs, records, and written records of work performed.
• Interpret, explain, apply, and enforce laws, ordinances, and regulations pertaining to animal control.
• Recognize normal and abnormal animal behavior.
• Handle potentially dangerous animals in a safe and efficient manner.
• Access, retrieve, enter, and update information using a computer terminal.
• Understand, explain, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures, and standards relevant to work performed.
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Estimate necessary materials and equipment to complete assignments.
• Read and interpret laws, regulations, manuals, and other materials.
• Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments.
• Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Physical And Mental Demands

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; to operate a motor vehicle, to inspect various City and residential sites, and to walk on uneven terrain; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone. This is primarily a field classification with frequent standing in work areas and walking between work areas required. Wrist flexion and lateral rotation are necessary in combination with grasping to handle a snare and leash. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Positions in this classification occasionally lift, move, and carry animals that typically weigh up to 100 pounds.

Work Environment: Employees primarily work outside in variable weather conditions and under exposure to potentially infectious diseases and hazardous physical substances. May involve exposure to dangerous and/or diseased animals. This position will be around animals known to cause allergies. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

Important Information: A competitive review of applicants' experience and qualifications will be conducted. Based on that evaluation, a limited number of applicants whose qualifications best meet the current needs of the City of Upland will be invited to participate in the next step of the examination process. The examination will include a qualifications appraisal interview. Qualified candidates will be provided with more details prior to the start of the examination process.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.