Salary

$62,160.00 - $83,544.00 Annually

Location

Boulder, CO

Job Type

Full-time

Job Number

SH2026-036

Department

Sheriffs Office

Division

SHE Operations

Opening Date

08/27/2026

Closing Date

9/10/2026 12:00 PM Mountain

FLSA

Non-Exempt

Description
Benefits
Questions

Description

Animal Protection Officer

Hiring Range

$5,180 - $5,940 (monthly)

$62,160 - $71,280 (yearly)

Salary Range

$5,180 - $ 6,962 (monthly)

$62,160 - $83,544 (yearly)

The Animal Protection Officer enforces applicable state laws, county resolutions, and town ordinances involving animals. He/she initiates and completes reports, investigations, summonses and case files as needed to reach a disposition on animal related incidents. He/she may need to perform any other duties as assigned by the Animal Protection Supervisor or other sworn supervisor.

New employees receive an 80-hour bank of vacation at the time of hire, in addition to 8 hours of both vacation and medical leave accruals each month.

Boulder County is a family-friendly workplace dedicated to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful environment for all employees. We prohibit unlawful discrimination against applicants and employees on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Boulder County requires its employees to reside in the state of Colorado as of the first day of work.

PLEASE NOTE: When submitting your application be sure to include all relevant education and experience, as applications are screened based on the qualifications listed in this position announcement. Applications that do not appear to meet minimum qualifications, as outlined below, will not be considered. Resumes are not accepted in lieu of completed applications.

Please be aware that your cover letter and resume will not be accessed in the initial screening process, so you must complete your application and supplemental questions with as much detail as possible. Any personally identifiable information (PII) such as name and address will be redacted from applications that meet the minimum screening requirements and are forwarded to the hiring manager. If the hiring manager selects you to advance in the hiring process, your cover letter and resume will then be accessible to the hiring team.

Examples of Duties

Investigates reports of animal related county or municipal ordinance and animal related state law violations, conducts follow-up investigations, and keeps the Animal Protection Supervisor informed of progress and potential issues.
Assists citizens with interpretation and understanding of animal related county/municipal ordinances and state laws, department procedure and responsible animal ownership.
Issues warnings and legal summonses for violations of animal related county/municipal ordinances and state laws, as well as prepare case files, work with the District Attorney’s Office in the preparation of cases, and testify in court cases related to criminal investigations.
Patrols jurisdictions, initiates contact with citizens and animals to ensure compliance with animal related county/municipal ordinances and state laws, and the humane treatment of animals.
Capture, control, impound and/or transports domestic, exotic, livestock, and wild animals of differing temperaments.
Assists in the coordination and response of animal rescue and recovery during disasters.
Must be able to use assigned technology such as a law enforcement radio, body worn camera, cell phone and mobile data computer.
Must be willing and prepared to work outside and drive in all types of weather environments and disaster situations, and to work in dangerous conditions at times.
Must be willing to work varied shift schedules or on-call status as set forth by Animal Protection Supervisor.
Must be commissioned by the Colorado Bureau of Animal Protection and pass the certification test of the Animal Welfare Association of Colorado within two years of employment.
Must obtain euthanasia certification and perform the skills within six months of employment.

Other Duties And Responsibilities

Responds to requests for assistance from other jurisdictions and departments as assigned.
Ensures applicable equipment and work areas are cleaned and maintained.
Performs wildlife capture, rescue, and/or euthanasia as required.
Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

21 years of age with valid driver's license. Applicant must successfully pass a complete and thorough application and background investigation, polygraph and psychological exam, physical drug screen, and other tests as necessary.

Education And Experience

Minimum of a high school diploma or GED; Minimum of 21 years of age, valid Colorado Driver’s License and insurable driving record. Proven work ethics and integrity. Experience prioritizing duties and multi-tasking within a busy work environment.

Preferred Qualifications

Advanced education in an applicable field of study such as, but not limited to Animal Science, Wildlife Science, Criminal Justice, Criminology, Veterinary Technology. Previous animal care, animal welfare and/or animal handling experience. Experience reading and interpreting ordinances. Previous enforcement or animal control experience.

Supplemental Information

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

Ability to establish and maintain effective and positive working relationships with staff, community partners and citizens.
Ability to remain calm and level headed in stressful and emotional work situations. Must be able to interact with a wide-variety of community members and provide professional, courteous, and ethical customer service at all times.
Emotional intelligence, ethics, and integrity skills required.
Ability to prioritize and coordinate work assignments and multi-task within a busy work environment.
Must have ability to accurately perceive, soundly reason, and correctly judge situations, occurrences, and circumstances.
Ability and willingness to work in direct contact with and handle animals of all temperaments and in all conditions, including aggressive, injured, ill, and deceased animals is required.
Able to read and interpret county/municipal ordinances and state laws. Computer and basic clerical, writing, and math skills required.
Must be comfortable initiating public contact, relaying information, and providing courtroom testimony.
Possess good communication skills and be able to express oneself clearly and precisely, orally and in writing.
Must possess the following personality traits: Maturity, honesty, integrity, adaptability, sensitivity, compassion, common sense, good self-esteem, patience, wisdom, reliability, self-discipline, creativity, fortitude, assertiveness, pride in work, initiative, dedication to public service, and problem-solving skills.

Bilingual candidates (speaking, reading, writing and understanding) are eligible for additional compensation.

Working Conditions And Physical Requirements

Capture, handling, restraint and exposure to domestic and wild animals, aggressive animals. Exposure to animal waste, and zoonotic diseases. Work is performed primarily in an outdoor environment, requiring standing and walking for extended periods of time. Entrance into houses or other buildings at times. Must be able to push and pull (up to 40 lbs./force) and perform occasional lifting (up to 50 lbs.). Exposure to dangerous conditions including aggressive persons, traffic, weather, and natural/man-made disasters.

Benefits

As well as offering competitive pay and a caring work environment, Boulder County offers employees an array of benefits. For all FTE and Term employees, we provide:

Outstanding options of comprehensive health plans that include vision and dental coverage. Information can be found HERE.Additional Benefits include (Download PDF reader)

Family-forming benefits- infertility treatment, adoption and surrogacy reimbursements
12 weeks Paid Caregiver leave
Breast feeding friendly-work environment
Infants-at-work policy
Access to LifeMart and Benefits Hub discount hub, including discounts on childcare centers, event tickets, travel and more!
Access to a nationally-recognized wellness program
Employee Assistance Program
PERA 401k
Social Security retirement plans
Additional Life and Disability Insurance
Critical Illness and Accidental Insurance
County-paid tuition assistance
Eligible for PSLF- Public Service Loan Forgiveness
Free EcoPass
Hospital Indemnity
ID Theft Protection
Pet Insurance
8 Hours of Paid Public Service Leave

Generous paid time off

Holidays
- New Year's Day
- Martin Luther King's Birthday January
- Presidents' Day
- Memorial Day
- Juneteenth
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Indigenous People's Day
- General Election Day November (first Tuesday after the first Monday, even years)
- Veterans' Day
- Thanksgiving Day November
- Friday after Thanksgiving*
- Christmas Eve- ½ day (full day off depends on day of the week)
- Christmas Day
- New Year’s Eve- ½ day (full day off depends on day of the week)
Vacation**
- 80-hour bank of vacation at the time of hire
- Eight hours of vacation per month for the first year of continuous service, then accrue twelve hours of vacation per month after the first year of continuous service.
Medical**
- Eight hours of medical leave for each month employed.

PERA- The County and all employees pay into both Social Security and PERA

Employer contribution to Social Security: 7.65% of salary
Employer contribution to PERA (Local Government Division- most county employees: 15.80%
The District Attorney’s Office observe Francis Xavier Cabrini Day on the first Monday in October and omit the Friday after Thanksgiving
Vacation and Medical leave are based off of full time FTE accruals. Part-time FTE/term employees accrue leave based on the percentage of time they work.

01

It Is Important That You Answer All Questions Below Pertaining To Previous Life And Employment History Truthfully, Even If Previous Experiences Are Not Always Favorable. Please Indicate That You Understand The Following- I Understand That In Order For My Application To Be Considered And For Me Advance Through The Hiring Process, I Must Answer The Following Questions Truthfully. Any Discrepancies Between The Information That I Provide On My Application And Future Testing For This Position May Disqualify Me From The Hiring Process

02

Please list any and all aliases, maiden name, nicknames, other name changes.

03

List all residences in the last 10 years, beginning with your most recent address, including county of resident. List dates resided at each residence.

04

I acknowledge that in order to be considered for a position with the Boulder County Sheriff's Office I must list all places of employment for the last 15 years.

05

Have you ever been discharged (fired), asked to resign, furloughed, or put on inactive status for cause, or subjected to disciplinary action while employed? If so, state place of employment and circumstances.

06

Have you worked for the Boulder County Sheriff's Office previously? If so, state dates employed, position, and supervisor.

07

Have you served in the United States Armed Forces?

08

If YES to Military service, were you ever disciplined, arrested, or court marshaled? If so, please explain.

09

Are you now or have you ever been a member of any organization, association, movement, or group which advocates the overthrow of our constitutional form of government, or which has adopted the policy of advocating or approving the commission of acts of force or violence or which seeks to alter the form of government of the United States by unconstitutional means?

10

Are you now or have you even been a member of or associated with a group or organization that engages in illegal activities; and/or are you now or have you ever been associated with a group that advocates or engages in hatred, hostility, or violence towards people of a different race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, gender, age, or other protected categories?

11

Do you have any tattoos/scars/marks anywhere on your body that are associated with a group that advocates or engages in hatred, hostility, or violence towards people of a different race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, gender, age, or other protected category?

12

Litigation Information: Have you ever been the plaintiff of, or named in civil litigation, or received notice of claim or intent to be sued? If yes, please explain.

13

Please tell us about any prior drug usage (including marijuana and psilocybin mushrooms)- drugs used, how often, approximate last time used for each. Sharing this information will not preclude you from employment, however, it is information we need to evaluate your honesty and integrity as part of the hiring process.

14

Driver's License: List all states where you have been licensed to operate a motor vehicle. LIST YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER.

15

Traffic summons/tickets: List any traffic tickets/summons or accidents, indicated date (to the best of your knowledge), Police or Military Agency, Location, and Disposition.

16

Criminal Offense Information: List any occurrence for which you were arrested, and/or detained by police, regardless of formality and punishment. List occurrences as an adult and as a juvenile. If none, list N/A

17

List any friends, relatives, or acquaintances employed by Boulder County Sheriff's Office and their relationship to you.

18

Were you referred to this position by a current BCSO employee, volunteer, or employee who is contracted to work for the BCSO? If so, what is their name?

19

Have you previously applied with the Boulder County Sheriff's Office? If yes, state for which position(s) applied and dates.

20

Do you have active applications with other law enforcement agencies? If yes, list agency, date, position applied for, and status (if known).

21

Why are you seeking employment with the Boulder County Sheriff's Office and why do you feel qualified for the position for which you have applied?

22

Notwithstanding the provisions of Colorado Constitutional Amendment 20, Medical Marijuana, and Amendment 64 legalizing the limited use of marijuana, or Colorado Revised Statute 12-170-103 (the use of "natural medicines," also known as psilocybin mushrooms, the use or non-duty related possession of marijuana or "natural medicines" (psilocybin mushrooms) by a Sheriff's Office employee is a violation of federal law, and is prohibited by policy. Do you acknowledge the use of marijuana and “natural medicine” (i.e.: Psilocybin mushrooms) is prohibited by Federal law and Boulder County Sheriff’s Office policy?

23

List all high schools attended, dates attended and school address.

24

AUTHORIZATION FOR RELEASE OF INFORMATION: I hereby authorize the release of all information and records concerning myself to any agent of the Boulder County Sheriff's Office. The intent of this authorization is to give my consent for complete disclosure of information regarding my background, reputation, and character. This includes, but is not limited to: Records of educational institutions; military records; employment and pre-employment records; training records; financial or credit records; complaints or grievances filed by or against me; records of investigation, complaint, arrest, trial and/or convictions for alleged or actual violations of law; the results of polygraph examinations; records of civil complaints made by or against me; and verbal or written statements by any person; however personal or confidential they may appear to be. I respectfully request and direct you to release all such information upon the request of any representative of the Boulder County Sheriff's Office, regardless of any agreement to the contrary I may have previously made with you. I understand that the above information is for use by the Boulder County Sheriff's Office in conducting a background investigation to determine my suitability for employment, and will be kept confidential. I understand that all materials obtained become the property of the Boulder County Sheriff's Office and will not be released to me. In the event my application is disapproved, the specific reason therefore cannot be revealed to me. I understand that I have rights guaranteed by law to privacy with regards to the disclosure and access of records of information concerning me, and I voluntarily, knowingly, and willingly waive those rights with the understanding that information furnished will be used by the Boulder County Sheriff's Office in conjunction with employment procedures. For and in consideration of the acceptance and processing of my application for employment, I agree to hold the Boulder County Sheriff's Office, its agents, and employees harmless from any and all claims and liability associated with my application for employment or in any way connected with the decision whether or not to employ me with the Boulder County Sheriff's Office. I agree to indemnify and hold harmless any person or organization, and their agents and employees, to whom this request is presented, from and against all claims, damages, losses, and expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees, arising out of or by reason of complying with this request. A photocopy, fax, scanned, or electronic version of this release form will be valid as an original hereof, even though said photocopy does not contain my original signature. APPLICANT: Type your full name in the space provided. By doing so, you acknowledge that your typed name constitutes and electronic signature, which holds the same force as an original signature.

25

I affirm that the information contained in this application is true and correct to the best of my knowledge. I understand that withholding pertinent information or purposely falsifying information will be cause for refusing further consideration of my application. I also acknowledge that by submitting my application I am giving the Boulder County Sheriff's Office permission to investigate my background, including criminal history. I understand that my date of birth may be required to accurately conduct a criminal background investigation.

Required Question

Employer Boulder County

Address 2025 14th Street

Boulder, Colorado, 80302

Phone 303-441-3525

Website http://www.bouldercounty.org

Boulder County Sheriff's Office

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