Animal Services Counselor

Full Job Description

The County of Riverside's Department of Animal Services is seeking to fill multiple Animal Services Counselor vacancies in San Jacinto and Jurupa Valley.

Join the Department of Animal Services and help us fulfill our mission of working together to improve Riverside County for people and animals.

As part of our team, you will embody our core values by demonstrating respect and empathy toward all people and animals, supporting progressive sheltering and adoption programs, and contributing to a safe, collaborative workplace.

If you are passionate about making a meaningful difference in the lives of animals and the community, we encourage you to apply and be a steward for those who cannot speak for themselves.

The five divisions for Animal Services Counselor are Adoption, Foster, Enrichment, Rescue, and Pet Support. We encourage you to read more about these divisions below.

Adoption Counselor - This position is a customer-facing position that focuses on matching people and pets to each other.

This role involves face-to-face interactions with the public and direct animal handling to match adoptable animals with potential homes, providing guidance, education, and support throughout the adoption process.

You'll also play a key role in assessing adopters' needs, promoting responsible pet ownership, and ensuring animals are placed in safe, loving environments.

Ideal candidates are compassionate, patient, great communicators, and comfortable working in a fast-paced, emotionally rewarding environment.

Bilingual skills and previous customer service or animal care experience are a plus.

Foster Counselor - This position will support and grow our foster program by working directly with individuals and families who open their homes to animals in need.

This role includes matching animals with appropriate foster homes, providing training and resources to foster caregivers, and serving as a point of contact for ongoing support.

You'll help coordinate animal movement in and out of foster care, troubleshoot challenges, and ensure both animals and fosters have a positive experience.

The ideal candidate is organized, empathetic, and confident, communicating with a diverse public, especially in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.

Experience in animal care, veterinary care, customer service, or case management is helpful.

Enrichment Counselor - This position plays a vital role in supporting the behavioral and emotional health and well-being of dogs in our care.

This position focuses on providing daily enrichment in-kennel and through playgroups, socialization, and positive reinforcement-based handling to reduce stress and improve adoptability.

You'll work closely with adoption staff, volunteers, and care teams to develop and implement enrichment plans tailored to individual dogs’ needs.

Ideal candidates are patient, observant, comfortable handling a wide range of dog behaviors and types of dogs, and passionate about helping people and helping pets.

Prior experience in dog handling, sheltering, customer service, or animal behavior is a strong plus.

Rescue Counselor - This position will be responsible for building and maintaining partnerships with animal rescue organizations to help place animals who may need extra support beyond what the shelter can provide.

This role involves daily communication and coordination with rescue groups, identifying animals who would benefit from transfer, and managing and delivering the logistics of moving animals safely and efficiently.

You’ll advocate for animals with medical or behavioral challenges and collaborate with veterinary and behavior teams to support rescue placements.

Ideal candidates are highly organized, skilled communicators, and passionate about lifesaving partnerships.

Experience in animal welfare, customer service, case management, or rescue coordination is a plus.

Pet Support Counselor - This position works directly with community members to help them keep, care for, or rehome their pets or found pets.

This role focuses on providing resources, counseling, and alternatives to surrender whenever possible, including support with pet food, housing challenges, veterinary care, and behavior concerns.

You’ll also assist pet owners through the intake or rehoming process when needed. The ideal candidate is compassionate, solutions-oriented, and skilled in active listening and problem-solving.

Experience in social services, customer service, or animal welfare is highly valued in this community-centered position.

The Animal Services Counselor position follows a 5/40 schedule and it requires flexible availability, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

San Jacinto LocationPositions assigned to the San Jacinto location will primarily focus on animal outcomes, including adoptions and rescue placements.

Duties include supporting adoption efforts, coordinating with rescue partners, and building and maintaining collaborative relationships with animal rescue organizations to help place animals into appropriate homes.

Jurupa Valley LocationPositions assigned to the Jurupa Valley location will primarily support animal intake operations.

Duties include providing direct customer service to community members, assisting pet owners through the surrender process, and collecting and documenting relevant animal information, including behavioral history, to support appropriate intake and placement decisions.

Requirements

Qualifications

OPTION I
Experience: Six months performing animal care duties in a public or non-profit animal control program.

OPTION II
Experience: One year of paid or voluntary experience in a veterinary office, animal grooming, animal board and kennel facility, or similar setting which included the care of animals.

OPTION II
Experience: Two years of experience within a customer service environment, which included at least six (6) months of caring for animals.

ALL OPTIONS
Knowledge of: Techniques and procedures for the safe, humane, and efficient handling of animals; laws and ordinances governing the licensing and treatment of animals; the symptoms of common animal diseases; common breeds of domestic animals and appropriate practices for their care and feeding.

Ability to: Establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relations with the public, adoption partners and other employees; handle animals humanely and safely; manage difficult to place animals; read and comprehend laws and regulations pertaining to animal control; clearly explain animal services to the public; exercise tact and good judgment in dealings with the public; recognize symptoms of rabies and other animal diseases; keep statistical records; lift and handle cats, dogs (including large breeds) and other animals.

Other Requirements:
License: Possession of a valid California Driver's License is required, incumbent will be required to transport animals to and from different locations as well as to transport animals that are being rescued throughout Riverside County.

Physical Requirements: This position may require working in an environment with exposure to animal smells, dander, excrement, fluids and wounds. Physically capable of performing duties that may involve lifting, cleaning, or standing for long periods. Ability to safely handle animals, including frightened, injured, or aggressive ones.

Additional Information

For questions regarding this recruitment:
Please contact Valeria Ramirez at 951-955-1943 or varamirez@rivco.org. Please allow 1-2 business days for a response to general inquiries.