Animal Protection Officer

JOB LOCATION

15750 E 32nd Ave Aurora, Colorado 80011-1518

City of Aurora, Colorado

It is an exciting time to work for the City of Aurora, we're growing and looking for dedicated and collaborative individuals to join our team of talented and valued employees. Excellent organizations have a set of principles, or core values, that are used to implement their mission and vision. Those values represent the touchstone for the organization, guiding the decisions of the individuals and the organization. At the City of Aurora, we demonstrate our excellence by modeling the CORE 4 Values of: Integrity , Respect, Professionalism , and Customer Service , and we welcome all who share these values to apply.


Why Work for Aurora?

• Make a difference in the lives of real people every day
• Diverse community
• Competitive total compensation package
• Well-Funded General Employees Retirement Plan
• Light rail station minutes away
• On-site fitness center and overall employee well-being programs Internal educational programs to assist with career advancement
• Access to innovation workspaces

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Salary to be commensurate with experience

The hiring range for this position is $24.55 - $30.69/hourly

The deadline to submit applications is August 10, 2026. Please note, The City of Aurora will conduct ongoing screenings of applications on a first come, first-serve basis; as soon as we determine to have a qualified pool of applicants, this position may close quickly and without notice.

OVERVIEW OF POSITION / DEPARTMENT


Housing and Community Development Services consists of four divisions: Neighborhood Support, Animal Services, Housing and Community Development, and Community Engagement. The mission of the Housing and Community Development Department is to maintain community appearance and enhance the quality of life in Aurora's neighborhoods. This is accomplished through a combination of community outreach, education, code enforcement, and numerous neighborhood improvement programs and services. The staff is dedicated to forming partnerships with neighborhoods, residents, and community groups to strengthen and enhance both the social fabric and physical aspects of Aurora neighborhoods


Aurora Animal Protection Officers provide protection for animals throughout the city, ensuring safe enclosures, food, water, vaccinations, and homes free from abuse by enforcing the ordinances the City of Aurora has set forth and educates the public about responsible pet ownership.


PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES


Animal Handling

• Impounds, confiscates or quarantines stray, injured or aggressive domestic or wild animals
  
  

• Performs euthanasia as required
  
  

Education

• Promotes responsible pet ownership to city residents through presentations in classrooms, at booths, fairs, neighborhood/ward meetings, etc., as needed
  
  

Investigation

• Investigates citizen complaints pertaining to animal related calls, such as barking, running at large, cruelty, mistreatment/neglect and prohibited animals
  
  

• Conducts inspections and investigations by gathering evidence, issuing warnings/summonses, writing formal reports and testifying in court
  
  

• Relays facts of the case and makes recommendations to the City Attorney while attending court proceedings
  
  

Driving

• Operates a variety of City vehicles for daily response to dispatched calls
  
  

• Adheres to vehicle maintenance schedule and performs daily vehicle and standard equipment safety checks
  
  

Other Duties

• Performs duties as the dispatcher for the Animal Protection Officers in the field, as needed
  
  

• Performs basic computer operations for Inputting, updating and maintaining information about field cases, kennel updates and animal activities
  
  

• Provides assistance to other animal welfare, law enforcement agencies, and the fire department
  
  

• May perform additional duties as assigned
  
  

• Performs other related duties as assigned
  
  

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & WORKING CONDITIONS

An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that demonstrates required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.


Education:

• High School diploma or equivalent
  
  

Experience:

• Previous animal handling experience
  
  

• Previous ordinance/law enforcement experience
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:


Experience:

• Associates Degree in Sociology, Psychology, Animal Sciences, Criminology or related field
  
  

• At least two (2) years progressively responsible experience in animal care/control, code enforcement, and/or related work
  
  

Knowledge:

• Animal behavior
  
  

• Animal first aid
  
  

• Court procedures
  
  

• Human psychology
  
  

• General shelter operations
  
  

• Officer Saftey
  
  

Skills:

• Strong interpersonal skills
  
  

• Strong customer service skills
  
  

• Skill in customer relations, crisis communications management, public speaking
  
  

• Skill in checking information for accuracy and completeness and correcting errors
  
  

• De-escalation skills
  
  

• Strong defensive driving skills
  
  

• Map reading skills
  
  

Abilities:

• Active Learning: Willingness to be trained and ability learn new processes
  
  

• Animal Handling: Ability to work with a wide variety of animals including domestic animals, livestock and wildlife
  
  

• Communication: Attention to detail and ability to communicate effectively; both verbally and in writing for report writing, data entry, investigations
  
  

• Judgment: Ability to make competent decisions and remain calm and professional during high stress/tense situations
  
  

• Navigation: Capability to navigate through the city to respond to any address within the jurisdiction in the timeliest manner
  
  

• Perceptiveness: Must have situational awareness and critical thinking capabilities to make reasonable judgements and work under limited supervision
  
  

• Problem Solving: Exceptional interpersonal and mediation skills to verbally de-escalate situations
  
  

• Safety: Ability to perceive and identify public safety hazards and dangerous surroundings
  
  

• Teamwork: Ability to work in a team or with a wide variety of people and be collaborative
  
  

• Values: Should abide by the City's core 4 values in all situations with peers, citizens, and the general public
  
  

Licenses and Certifications Required:

• Driver's License with a good driving history. Interviewed candidates will be required to submit a copy of their driving record.
  
  

• Euthanasia certification to be obtained within a year of employment
  
  

• State certified officers through the Colorado Animal Welfare organization preferred or ability to obtain it within 18 months of employment
  
  

• RCB and OC spray certifications within one year
  
  

WORKING CONDITIONS


Essential Personnel:

• When a local announcement of emergency or disaster is declared by the City, all City of Aurora employees may be required to work as essential personnel.
  
  

Physical Demands:

• Heavy physical work requiring ability to lift and carry animals and/or objects weighing up to 100 pounds with or without assistance
  
  

• Frequent lifting and carrying of objects weighing up to 50 pounds with or without assistance
  
  

• Regular walking and standing
  
  

• Full range of body movements including pushing, pulling, bending, kneeling, stooping/crouching, crawling, and climbing
  
  

• Hand/eye coordination for data entry and frequent operation of motor vehicle, radios, cellular phones and computers
  
  

What physical activity will be performed day to day?

• Frequent lifting, carrying, walking and standing
  
  

• Occasional running
  
  

• May require frequent pushing, pulling, bending and stooping
  
  

• Clear vision to read and interpret reports and other written documents
  
  

• Speech communication and hearing to maintain communication with employees and citizens
  
  

• Hand/eye coordination for operation of computer keyboard
  
  

Work Environment:

• Essential duties performed inside and outside in all types of weather including inclement weather, chemicals and other hazardous conditions
  
  

• Works in a noisy environment with exposure to noise, dust, chemicals, animal dander, odors, fumes, aggressive/dangerous and sick animals
  
  

• Extensive time spent driving a City vehicle
  
  

Equipment Used:

• Operates a motor vehicle
  
  

• Uses a variety of hand tools and equipment common to animal control operations such as a catch pole, syringe for vaccinations/euthanasia, wire cutters and shovel, live-capture humane traps
  
  

• Portable and/or mobile two-way radio, telephone, digital camera, computer, crematory, and "Hotsie machine"/pressure washer vehicle
  
  

• This position may require the incumbent to occasionally use personal equipment (e.g. vehicle, cell phone, tools, etc.) in the course of their employment
  
  

The city of Aurora will implement furlough days (unpaid days off) for most employees in 2026. The scheduled furlough dates are January 16, April 10, July 2, and December 24.

For Veterans preference: Please show all of your employment history, including military service and related documentation (DD214) on the application.


The City of Aurora is an equal opportunity employer. We are required by state and federal agencies to keep certain statistical records on applicants. It will not be used in any way to discriminate against you because of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, creed, national origin, disability or military status, gender identity, unless related to a bona fide occupational qualification as defined by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunity Commission.


Despite the changes in Colorado law, the City of Aurora maintains a drug-free workplace. A positive test of marijuana is grounds for disqualification and ineligibility for employment with the city for one year or termination once hired.

Drug Testing, Thorough Criminal Background Check, and Employment References:
As a condition of employment, all applicants selected for employment with the City of Aurora must undergo a thorough criminal background check.


Applicants selected for safety-sensitive positions are required to complete and pass a drug screening as a condition of employment. Safety sensitive positions include Civil Service positions within Police and Fire Departments and positions where their job responsibilities have direct and substantial responsibility that would impact the health and safety of others.


Employment references will be conducted on finalists for City of Aurora vacancies.