Posting Date
12/04/25Application Deadline
12/09/25Pay Range
Anticipated Hiring Range: $22.50 - $24.94 hourlyJob Type
UnclassifiedDepartment
Animal Care and ControlAbout the Position
Do you enjoy interacting with members of our community and their furry friends?
As an Animal Services Officer, you will be responsible for the humane capture and intake of stray animals, educating community members on responsible pet ownership, and enforcing animal control laws and ordinances. We will look to you to enhance and maintain positive relationships with animal welfare organizations, law enforcement agencies, and other relevant personnel and agencies within Maricopa County. This position requires the employee to be in the office and or customer-facing for all hours worked.
Every day is exciting when you work as an Animal Services Officer for Maricopa County!
About Us
Maricopa County Animal Care & Control employees are committed to animal welfare and strengthening the human-animal bond in our community, and we are always looking to add talented individuals to our team, either at our West or East Valley Animal Care Centers. As one of the nation’s largest open-admission shelters, we work with our community to serve the animals and people of Maricopa County. Our adoptions, shelter, clinic, and animal services officer teams learn first-hand about proper care of homeless and stray animals and work hard to help find them new homes.
Proud to Offer
Work with a greater purpose
Tuition reimbursement
Exceptional work-life balance
Opportunities for growth and development within Maricopa County
Low-cost, high-value healthcare for you and your qualifying dependents
Child care benefits, including access to our on-site center, Maricopa County Kids Club, dedicated to serving Maricopa County families exclusively
Paid vacation, sick time, and parental leave
Extensive wellness program, including healthcare premium discounts
Maricopa County participates in the Arizona State Retirement System. This defined retirement benefit requires a 12% monthly contribution rate and includes a 100% employer match on Day 1
Learn more at Work With Us | Maricopa County, AZ
We Require
One year of animal-related work experience handling and caring for dogs and cats in a kennel facility, veterinary clinic, or animal hospital
One year of public service experience (i.e., park ranger, community outreach, or code enforcement officer)
High School Diploma or GED
Other combinations of related education and experience may be considered in substitution for the minimum qualifications
Other Requirements
Must possess or have the ability to obtain by the time of hire a valid Arizona Driver’s License.
Candidates must be flexible and able to work all shifts, including starting as early as 5 am and finishing as late as 10 pm, working weekends and holidays. Employees can be assigned to any shift, with any combination of days off, determined by the Department's needs
We Also Value
Experience as a kennel employee, veterinary technician, and/or animal control representative
Bilingual skills in English/Spanish
Completion of NACA 1 or other national animal control training certification
Associate's degree in animal science, criminal justice, business administration, or a closely related field
Job Contributions
Patrol assigned areas to ensure compliance with animal control regulations. Respond to routine and emergency animal control calls
Enforce animal control laws and ordinances, ensure humane treatment of animals, and examine animal licenses and rabies vaccination documents. Issue verbal and written warnings, compliance notices, and summons to violators
Conduct competent in-depth investigations of complaints and reports of animal attacks, animal bites, animal nuisances, and serious animal-related violations
Serve as a resource for citizens, the veterinary community, and local authorities for questions pertaining to responsible pet ownership, rehoming pets, reclaiming pets, and other animal-related concerns through community outreach
Gather evidence for animal control cases, including photographs, tape recordings, and interviewing witnesses. Maintain legal chain of custody for evidence, present evidence in court, and testify as needed
Locate, capture, contain, transport, and impound stray animals using a variety of safe and humane methods. Complete animal intake information and logs accurate data
Identify sick/diseased animals, take precautions to prevent the spread of disease to other animals or humans, and recommend veterinarian care if needed, and administer first aid, medications, or other treatment
Work in a rotating emergency response shift, running emergency calls from 6pm to 10 pm
Work on the intake ramp when needed helping offload both outside agencies and field truck, input data into Chameleon, vaccinate dogs, kennel dogs and maintain cleanliness on the ramp
Work in dispatch, dispatching calls to Officers and answering phones when assigned
Perform a daily safety pre- and post-use inspection of the assigned vehicle and ensure maintenance, such as keeping kennels sanitized, vehicle clean, checking oil and other fluids, and tire pressure
Help maintain the cleanliness of the facility by performing daily cleaning duties, including disinfecting equipment and animal amenities to prevent the spread of odor and disease
Complete daily duties at the animal shelter when assigned, such as feeding, watering, and caring for animals, and performing inventory checks on supplies and equipment
Working Conditions
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk on all types of surfaces, sometimes slippery and/or uneven, and rough
Must be able to lift and carry up to 75lb, and perform duties that may require climbing, crawling, kneeling, squatting, lifting, bending, and stooping. Environmental factors include indoors or outdoors, working in the extreme heat of the Arizona summers
Frequently handles and will be exposed to dogs and cats with unknown temperament or behavior. Work will occur in an animal shelter and field environment that can potentially include excessive noise, animal waste and fluids, deceased animals, cleaning chemicals, anesthetic gases, and zoonotic diseases
May be assigned to work at other shelter locations based on operational needs
Machines, Tools, Equipment, Software, and Hardware: Field vehicle, bite stick, radio, county computer, county cell phone, control pole, large and small control nets, animal trap, and affiliated equipment. Protective Equipment Required: Bite sleeves, bite gloves, break sticks, and hazmat gear
Selection Procedure
Only the most qualified candidates will be considered
Consideration will only be given to candidates who submit online applications
Candidates will be contacted primarily through email and their Workday online application profile
Must pass a pre-employment background and/or fingerprint investigation as required by statute or policy, including drug and alcohol testing requirements for positions designated as safety-sensitive
Maricopa County is an equal opportunity employer.
Apply Now!