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Position Information
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Sonoma County Animal Services is looking to hire an Extra-Help Animal Care Assistant who is comfortable in a fast-paced, hands-on role focused on animal well-being! Starting salary up to $28.97/hr*!
About the Position
The Department of Health Services is seeking an extra-help Animal Care Assistant to join the Animal Services team. Our Animal Care Assistants are crucial members of the team, handling the majority of the everyday care of the animals housed in the county-owned animal shelter. This work includes cleaning the kennels thoroughly, following specific protocols to reduce disease, feeding and watering the animals as instructed, bathing and grooming animals (many of whom have never been groomed before), assisting with humane euthanasia, working closely with volunteers who care for the animals, stocking animal care items, and assisting with animal intake (including animals who may have been abandoned, abused, are suffering from disease, or have unknown backgrounds). This work is vital to the success of the shelter and the well-being of the animals.
As the ideal candidate for this position, you will have a background in animal care at an animal shelter, a boarding facility, or a veterinary clinic, and will possess many of the following:
- A thorough understanding of disease control practices in an animal shelter environment
- The ability to handle assisting with humane euthanasia and difficult situations with professionalism and empathy
- Knowledge of the common diseases animals can get in an animal shelter, and the signs of these common diseases
- Training within the animal welfare field
- Training on how to handle large and small animals
- The ability to recognize and understand basic animal behaviors, and how to handle those behaviors when they arise
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to handle feedback and not be afraid to ask questions
- A very strong work ethic, taking pride in the work you do
- The ability to work in a very fast-paced environment and switch gears as needed
Please note:
Animal Care Assistants work from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The required u
niforms and safety boots/shoes are provided.
Animal Care Assistants will be required to work some weekends and holidays, but not evenings, under normal circumstances. Much of the work takes place in an open-air kennel environment, which can be hot or cold depending on the time of year. Selected candidates must pass a physical abilities test and be able to lift 50 pounds. This is an active position that requires a certain degree of strength and stamina.
Extra-Help Employment Extra-help employees relieve or augment permanent staff. Temporary, extra-help employees are not in the classified civil service and do not have property rights to permanently allocated positions. In addition, they do not receive most employee benefits such as long-term disability insurance coverage, accrual of vacation, participation in the County retirement program, or eligibility to take promotional examinations. Temporary, extra-help employees are limited in their employment to a maximum of one calendar year. These employees must be off of work for three months before they can be re-employed on an extra-help basis. Extra-help employees who meet the eligibility requirements may qualify for a County contribution toward medical coverage. This recruitment is being conducted to fill an Animal Care Assistant temporary, extra-help position in the Department of Health Services. This employment list may also be used to fill future extra-help positions as they occur during the active status of this list. *Salary is negotiable within the established range. Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.
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Minimum Qualifications
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Experience and Education: Six months of paid or unpaid full-time experience caring for animals. Examples of qualifying experience are: kennel attendant, shelter worker, veterinarian technician, assistant, or helper.
License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level, including necessary special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position.
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Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
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Working knowledge of: the methods and techniques used in the care of animals; basic animal handling; disease control techniques, practices, methods, and materials used in cleaning animal facilities; occupational hazards of and safety precautions for working around small and large animals.
Ability to: lift, carry, and move up to 50 lbs. without assistance; learn herd health disease transmission and control procedures; recognize common symptoms and common diseases of animals; perform safe animal handling techniques; perform the work in a humane manner; be exposed to the euthanasia of animals by direct injection; perform general labor for extended periods, sometimes under adverse weather conditions; carry out oral and written instructions; properly and legibly complete necessary forms; work tactfully and effectively with co-workers, staff of other agencies, volunteers, inmates, and the general public; operate a personal computer.
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Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying
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- Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
- You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
- You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
- Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.
Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process. Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire be completed. Responses to supplemental questions are used to evaluate your qualifications. Please provide sufficient information to allow for a thorough evaluation of your qualifications. The selection procedure will consist of the following examination: An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (pass/not pass) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's combination of educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities that relate to this position to ensure satisfaction of the minimum qualifications for this position. Candidates who possess the minimum qualifications for the position will be placed on an extra-help employment list and referred to the department. The department may contact candidates from the employment list who possess the most appropriate job-related qualifications for further consideration. Additional Information A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants. Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position. How to Apply Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org. Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job announcement must be received by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted. The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need. HR Analyst: SZ HR Technician: PPB
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County of Sonoma
$23.84 - $28.97 Hourly
medical insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, vision insurance, parental leave, vacation time, paid time off, paid holidays, sick time, retirement plan
Apr 03, 2026