Animal Protection Officer

San Diego Humane Society is hiring Animal Protection Officers for our Humane Law Enforcement Team!

How you'll impact our mission:

At San Diego Humane Society, we're united by our mission to Inspire Compassion, providing hope and advancing the welfare of animals and people. Animal Protection Officers (APO) impact the lives of more than 40,000 animals each year by patrolling designated areas to enforce state laws and local ordinances and ensure humane treatment of animals. APOs hold primary responsibility for animal control type job duties, including rabies control, dangerous dog investigation, nuisance complaints, off leash enforcement, initiating cruelty in progress investigations, and general welfare concern response.

This role delivers service at the gold standard level in alignment with the SDHS Way, to meet the needs of animals and the people who love them by leading with compassion, finding creative solutions, providing personalized care and building connections. If you're passionate about making an impact in the animal welfare movement, we'd love to talk to you.

What's in it for you?

At SDHS, we're proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and commit to being a place where every person - staff, volunteer, and guest - can feel a sense of belonging. We support and invest in employees through conscious delivery of benefits and a workplace environment based on our Core Values.


As an employee you'll enjoy:

• Competitive pay and paid time-off (including your Birthday Day Off!)
• Comprehensive benefits package, training and well-being programs
• 403(b) retirement plan with 5% match after 1 year
• Free pet adoptions, pet vaccines and spay/neuter services
• ...and so much more!

What you'll do:

• Holds primary responsibility for animal control type job duties, including rabies control, dangerous dog investigation, nuisance complaints, off leash enforcement, initiating cruelty in progress investigations, kennel inspections, and general welfare concern response
• Comprehend and enforce CA state laws and local animal control municipal codes
• Humanely handle, capture, restrain, confine and transport domestic animals and livestock using proper humane equipment, methods and techniques
• Educates the public regarding proper animal care
• Issue citations; may prepare and execute search warrants and arrest warrants, and assist in preparing cases for filing criminal charges
• Conduct accurate and thorough investigations including submitting written reports
• Emergency Response Team - All officers receive training and equipment for responding to animal related emergencies related to a variety of incidents including wildfires

What we're looking for:

• Requires a High School Degree or equivalent.
• One (1) year of paid, full-time experience working in an animal control agency or humane society, veterinary or kennel/boarding facility, ranch or zoo handling, controlling and caring for animals required; OR Six (6) months of experience as an Animal Control Officer.
• Must have a valid CA driver's license and be approved by SDHS insurance carrier to drive a company or personal vehicle for work purposes.
• Working experience in customer services strongly preferred.
• Bilingual skills a plus, Bilingual-Spanish preferred.

To successfully perform this job an individual must have genuine interest in animals and their well-being with strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills.


Candidates must pass a full background check post offer. Additionally, you must be able to pass a medical exam and drug screening.

Location & Hours: Based out of our San Diego Campus, with expected travel to all SDHS campuses and across the greater San Diego County. This position works a 4/10 Alternative Work Schedule.


Pay: Starting range is between $26.00 - $29.61 per hour and is eligible for an hourly bilingual-Spanish premium.

Recruitment Incentives: Candidates with animal shelter experience or field enforcement experience may be eligible for up to a $3,000 recruiting incentive. 1 year full-time paid minimum to qualify for bonus.

• $500 bonus for active PC832 certification.
• Animal Shelter Experience: $250 per full year of experience up to $1,250 (5 years).
• Humane Law Enforcement Officer or Animal Control Officer experience: $500 per full year of experience up to $2,500 (5 years).

Recruiting incentives for HLE positions are limited to a one-time payment per candidate and cannot be received for multiple roles (e.g., for APO and for HLEO).

The listed hiring range for this position depicts the target range of pay rates for candidates. The maximum of the hiring range is reserved for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience. Compensation for internal candidates may increase beyond the listed range based on performance over time. For all candidates, the actual starting pay rate is determined by a variety of factors, including but not limited to your years of related education and experience, internal pay equity, and position location.


To learn more about our benefits and perks, click here.