Animal Control Officer

Protect animals, support public safety, and serve the community.

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is seeking a dedicated and professional Animal Control Officer to respond to calls for service involving public safety, animal welfare, animal ordinances, and quality-of-life concerns throughout the Des Moines community. This role supports the health and safety of both people and animals while helping promote responsible pet ownership.

This is a great opportunity for someone with animal handling, public safety, law enforcement, security, customer service, animal welfare, veterinary, or community service experience who enjoys working independently, solving problems, and making a direct impact in the field.

Schedule

• Full-time position
• Wednesday through Saturday (after training period) 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. or 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. depending on time of year
• 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

About the Animal Rescue League of Iowa

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is Iowa’s largest nonprofit animal welfare organization, helping animals and the people who love them through sheltering, adoption, veterinary care, animal services, community programs, and pet support resources. Across multiple locations and programs in the Des Moines metro, the ARL works every day to provide compassionate care, practical support, and trusted resources for animals and families in our community.

What You’ll Do

• Respond to calls involving public safety, animal welfare, injured or sick animals, ordinance violations, and domestic animal concerns.
• Investigate reports of animal cruelty, neglect, abandonment, bites, and ordinance violations.
• Patrol Des Moines streets and initiate contact with citizens and animals to support compliance with animal ordinances.
• Educate community members on responsible pet ownership, city procedures, and applicable animal ordinances.
• Issue warnings and citations for violations in collaboration with the City of Des Moines Police Department.
• Safely operate Animal Services vehicles and equipment while responding to calls for service.
• Maintain accurate reports, activity logs, citations, emails, and required documentation.
• Work professionally with ARL staff, Animal Services Officers, police officers, command staff, and members of the public.
• Resolve conflict with professionalism while balancing enforcement, education, and compassion.
• Perform humane euthanasia when required and in accordance with established protocols.

What We’re Looking For

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Valid driver’s license with a satisfactory driving record required.
• Ability to operate larger vehicles required.
• Ability to pass a police background check required.
• Animal handling, public safety, law enforcement, security, customer service, animal welfare, veterinary, or related experience preferred.
• Strong communication, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to remain calm, professional, and legally sound in stressful or emotional situations.
• Ability to read, understand, and apply city and state animal codes, procedures, and materials.
• Ability to prepare accurate reports, citations, activity logs, emails, and related documentation.
• Ability to build effective working relationships with peers, supervisors, law enforcement partners, and the public.
• Basic math skills and attention to detail.

Benefits for Full-Time Employees

The ARL is proud to offer competitive, market-driven compensation and a mission-focused culture. In addition, a variety of benefits are available to full-time employees including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer-paid long-term disability and basic life insurance
• Supplemental insurances, including short-term disability, supplemental life insurance, accident, and critical illness insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with an employer contribution
• Veterinary benefits
• Work-life balance through our expansive holiday and paid time off policies

Physical and Work Environment Requirements

This position works in both field and animal services environments and may require driving, standing, walking, bending, lifting, safely handling animals, and working outdoors in varying weather conditions, including heat, cold, rain, or snow. Candidates must be able to lift up to 50 pounds.

The role may involve exposure to animal odors, animal waste, moderate noise, zoonotic diseases, and the possibility of bites or scratches while following established safety procedures. This position may also involve emotionally challenging situations involving injured, sick, neglected, aggressive, abandoned, or deceased animals.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Why Join the ARL?

As an Animal Control Officer, your work helps protect animals, support public safety, and serve the Des Moines community. Whether you are responding to an injured animal, investigating a concern, educating a pet owner, or helping resolve a difficult situation, your work makes a direct impact.

If you are dependable, professional, and ready for meaningful field-based work that supports both animals and people, we would love to have you join our team.

Employment in this position is at-will, meaning either the employee or the ARL may end the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice, as permitted by law.

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state law. Applicants and employees are encouraged to discuss potential accommodations as needed.