Animal Services Representative

Do you have a passion for helping animals and want to make a positive impact in the community?

We invite you to join the City of San Bernardino's Animal Shelter Department as an Animal Services Representative!

About the City

As a future member of our team, you'll be joining a city with deep roots, cultural diversity, and exciting momentum. Located in the heart of Southern California's Inland Empire, San Bernardino is the county seat and largest city in San Bernardino County, home to more than 222,000 residents. Its rich history - shaped by Native American, Mexican, and Spanish influences - continues to inspire the city's evolving identity.

San Bernardino offers access to major transit corridors, natural beauty, and a wide range of housing and lifestyle options. It's a place where public service careers are supported by a strong sense of community and purpose - and where motivated professionals can grow, contribute, and be part of something meaningful.

About the Position

The Animal Services Representative serves as a Dispatcher and acts as the primary communications link between the public and Animal Control Officers in the field, ensuring timely, accurate, and coordinated responses to animal-related calls for service. This position receives, prioritizes, and dispatches calls involving stray, injured, aggressive, deceased, or confined animals, cruelty and neglect investigations, and other public safety concerns, while maintaining constant communication with field personnel via radio, phone, and computer-aided dispatch systems.

This role is responsible for gathering critical information, assessing urgency, documenting calls, monitoring officer status and location for safety, and providing real-time support to ensure efficient deployment of resources. The position requires sound judgment, the ability to remain calm under pressure, and strong communication skills, while delivering professional and compassionate customer service to the public during routine and emergency situations.

The Ideal Candidate

* Dispatch & Communication

Skills:

Effectively manage high-volume calls while maintaining composure and professionalism. Gather critical information, assess urgency, and clearly communicate details to field personnel and the public.

* Decision-Making & Judgment:
Exercise sound judgment in prioritizing calls and coordinating responses. Remain calm under pressure while managing multiple tasks and time-sensitive situations.

* Technical & Administrative Proficiency:
Accurately document service requests and maintain records using computer-aided dispatch systems. Monitor field personnel status and location to support operational efficiency and safety.

* Customer Service

Skills:

Deliver professional and compassionate customer service to the public during routine and emergency situations.

A Day in the Life

No two days are exactly alike as an Animal Services Representative. One moment, you may be answering a call regarding a stray or injured animal, carefully gathering critical information and assessing the urgency of the situation; the next, you could be dispatching Animal Control Officers to respond to a public safety concern or coordinating support for a cruelty or neglect investigation.

Throughout the day, you will prioritize calls, document service requests, and maintain constant communication with field personnel to ensure timely and efficient response.

In a fast-paced environment, you'll monitor officer status for safety, provide real-time updates, and serve as the primary link between the community and field staff. You'll interact with residents during both routine and emergency situations, delivering professional and compassionate customer service while helping ensure the safety of animals, officers, and the public. Each shift plays a critical role in supporting Animal Services' mission to protect and care for the community's animals.

For more information on this position, please :
Animal Services Representative

Education and Experience

High School diploma or G.E.D.

AND

One (1) year of animal services experience, customer service or other office administrative support experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Licenses, Certifications, and Equipment

A valid California driver's license is required.

Knowledge of and Skills in

* Understanding departmental procedures, programs, and services related to animal control and animal care operations.

* Applying safe and humane methods for the restraint, handling, medication, cleaning, feeding, and quarantine of animals, including aggressive or difficult animals.

* Interpreting and applying federal, state, county, and local laws, ordinances, and regulations related to animal control, medication, care, and protection.

* Recognizing various animal breeds, behaviors, and appropriate handling techniques to ensure safety and humane treatment.

* Utilizing safe and humane euthanasia methods in accordance with established guidelines and regulations.

* Delivering high-quality customer…