Animal Services Officer

Company Bio

Vaughan is one of Canada’s fastest-growing cities. Its emerging downtown, the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre; Canada’s first smart hospital, the Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital; and the 900-acre North Maple Regional Park continue to generate momentum and excitement. Be part of something amazing and build your career at the City of Vaughan!

The City is an equal-opportunity employer and a forward-looking municipality that is committed to fostering a dynamic workplace that is diverse, inclusive and welcoming. As an award-winning organization for its employment and diversity and inclusivity practices, the City is focused on providing its employees with a thriving professional environment that leverages flexible work arrangements, a family-focused benefits package emphasizing work-life balance, learning and growth opportunities, and a place where collaboration and teamwork are valued.

Excellence demands brilliant personalities, visionary thinking and a passion for public service. Vaughan is your place to grow.

Position Overview

Responsible for monitoring compliance with municipal by-laws and specific Provincial Statutes; identifying, investigating and reporting alleged offences and enforcing such laws in accordance with applicable legislation/regulations, as appropriate; Delivers public outreach, education, and awareness regarding responsible pet ownership and participates in City functions. Provides service in the City of Vaughan, and any contracted municipality, as assigned.

Responsibilities

Operations

• Carries out all of the legislated and legal requirements of a Provincial Offences Officer, Municipal Law Enforcement Officer, and an Animal Services Officer including the interpretation and application of a broad range of City of Vaughan By-laws and Provincial Statues, in a manner that ensures the integrity of law enforcement activities to be independent, neutral, and impartial.
• Employs appropriate investigative techniques guided by standard operating procedures to gather and analyze evidence and develop and implement investigative plans, including conducting interviews of complainants, offenders, witnesses and others having relevant information, conducting surveillance, and seizing, collecting, documenting and properly storing all evidence.
• Patrols assigned areas, in Vaughan or any other municipality, in an animal control vehicle to search for stray, sick, injured, or deceased animals and provide services as required. Picks up and transports animals to the shelter for impounding, disposal, quarantine, or rabies investigation, or to the veterinarian or external adoption kiosks as required; completes records accordingly in departmental software (i.e. Chameleon).
• Patrols assigned area, in Vaughan or any other municipality, to monitor compliance with local Animal Control By-laws and any other pertinent legislation as it relates to animals, and to take appropriate remediation action, both proactive and reactive.
• Conducts investigations concerning injured, stray, sick, or dangerous animals and violations of the Animal Control and Noise By-laws, or any other pertinent legislation, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Conducts inspections of animal-related businesses, in accordance with the City’s Business Licensing By-law, or its successor.
• Issues and serves Notices of Violation, Orders, Part I’s, Part III’s and other processes of the Provincial Offences Act, Administrative Monetary Penalty Notices, and other documents for non-compliance with the City of Vaughan By-Laws and Provincial Statues.
• Recommends legal action and prepares court briefs for legal action and submits to reporting Supervisor for review.
• Attends court and other quasi-judicial bodies (i.e. administrative penalty screenings/appeal hearings, etc.) to present testimony and evidence regarding violations of the Animal Control and Noise by-laws, or other related legislation (i.e. provincial Dog Owners’ Liability
  Act, or its successor); attends as witness where required to support evidence of other officers.
• Handles sick, injured, dangerous, or deceased animals in a safe and humane manner and disposes of deceased animals in accordance with relevant legislation. Assesses and determines when euthanasia of wildlife is necessary; operates a CO2 gas euthanasia system; assists veterinarians or Registered Veterinary Technicians in the tranquilization and euthanasia of shelter
  animals, as required.
• Utilizes departmentally-issued equipment (i.e. nets, catch poles, snappy snares, etc.), as directed.

Records Management

• Creates, opens, maintains and updates investigation files in departmental databases (i.e. Chameleon, Amanda, Officer Android); updates departmental databases with Provincial Offences Notices, Animal Control Orders, etc.
• Maintains City records in the appropriate data management systems and Officer Notebooks with the required confidentiality related to the investigation process. Complies with Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) regulations and requests.
• Cleans and disinfects fleet vehicles and equipment; ensures that maintenance and service records are kept current with respect to assigned vehicles; recommends/requests maintenance and service as required.

Interactions with Others

• Represents the By-Law & Compliance, Licensing & Permit Services Department at various meetings including but not limited to the public, public organizations, elected officials, and internal/external agencies, municipalities, professional organizations, public consultations, etc.
• Liaises with departmental officials to recommend amendments to by-laws arising from investigations and/or emerging issues.
• Interacts with the public, other law enforcement agencies, property owners, tenants, contractors, solicitors, City and other government officials/agencies.
• Establishes and maintains good relationships with internal/external agencies to ensure investigations are comprehensive and wholesome such that any necessary referrals are sent in a timely manner.
• Responds to inquiries from the public and other agencies, in accordance with organizational standards and legislative requirements and conducts where necessary.
• Provides information to the public regarding licensing, vaccinations, rabies control, pet owner
  responsibilities, spaying/neutering, and adoptions, and other animal-related topics; attends educational events as necessary to provide same. Promotes and enforces pet licensing at every opportunity, including issuance in field.

Other Duties

• Performs animal care duties as assigned such as feeding animals, monitoring sick and dangerous animals, segregating and isolating animals when necessary.
• Assists with front office duties such as receiving animals brought to the shelter by the public and releasing impounded animals to the public and issuing animal control orders, as required.
• Assists with assigned departmental tasks and initiatives, as required, including but not limited to; special projects, blitz, joint initiatives, special events, etc.
• Participates in the training new employees, as required.
• Performs other related tasks as assigned, that are in accordance with job responsibilities or necessary department and corporate objectives, including those which may occur in unplanned or emergency situations.
• Responsible for ensuring compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations and the corporate Occupational Health and Safety Policy and related procedures.
• Responsible for ensuring compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians Disability Act (AODA) and related policy and procedures.

Qualifications and Experience

• Successful completion of a two (2) year College Diploma in Veterinary Technology or a two (2) year Law Enforcement Diploma, or equivalent combination of education and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities.
• Minimum two (2) years related animal control enforcement experience, preferably in a municipal environment.
• Valid non-probationary Ontario Class ‘G’ driver’s license, in good standing.
• Strong organizational and report writing skills, accompanied with computer literacy.
• Strong problem solving and conflict resolution skills.
• Sound judgment and service excellence in dealing with the public and animals.
• Ability to develop and maintain working relationships with co-workers, agencies and organizations.
• Knowledge of, and demonstrated ability in, the City’s core competencies and relevant functional competencies.
• Ability to utilize all available City software and resources during the course of by-law investigations.
• Ability to manage a workload responsibly and ensure by-law investigations and follow-ups are executed in accordance with Corporate service delivery standards.
• Working knowledge of municipal by-laws, enforcement processes, Provincial Offences Act, Dog Owners’ Liability Act, Municipal Act (Administrative Penalties), and court proceedings.
• Ability to lift and move animals or objects weighing up to 100 lbs.
• Excellent and effective verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to be tactful, patient and courteous, when dealing with the public, elected officials and staff in other service areas and meet all needs of diverse audiences/stakeholders.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills with the ability to apply these skills when assessing difficult and challenging situations and demonstrate sound judgment and service excellence, at all times.
• Ability to apply a customer service approach in interactions with others and, when problem-solving and addressing by-law infractions, utilizes alternate dispute resolution and/or mediation.
• Expected to work independently and in a team environment in the field and wear a uniform and all issued personal protective equipment at all times while on duty.
• Ability to obtain and maintain membership in good standing of the Municipal Law Enforcement Officers’ Association.

Working Conditions

• Ability to work rotating shifts, including evenings and weekends, late evenings, early mornings.
• Expected to work independently in the field a majority of the time, wear assigned uniform and protective personal equipment (PPE).
• Prolonged use of vehicle throughout shift.
• Ability to be on standby and respond to a company-issued cell phone during standby hours outside of the office. Availability to work outside normal business hours, as required and in accordance with the Collective Agreement.
• Exposure to people who may be impatient, angry or unpredictable; dealing with complaints.
• Exposure to emotionally distressing situations involving animals (i.e. injury, illness, neglect, cruelty, etc.).
• Exposure to potentially dangerous animals, both domestic and wild.
• Exposure to potential biohazards (i.e. hoarding situations, wildlife/rabies vector species, parasites) and unpleasant/noxious odors.
• Moderate physical activity/output required for the apprehension of animals.
• Exposure to changing and potentially adverse weather conditions throughout year due to inside/outside work environment, mainly in the field, utilizing mobile vehicle office.
• May be required to report directly to other municipalities as directed to provide contract animal control services.
• Successful candidates(s) will be required to submit a clear Vulnerable Screening Criminal Record Check, prior to commencing employment.

If you are an energetic person who is interested in bringing your knowledge and passion for the City of Vaughan, please apply on or before August 4, 2026 at: City of Vaughan - Animal Services Officer.      

Employment Equity

Please note that only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

The City of Vaughan is committed to diversity and inclusivity in employment and welcomes applications from qualified individuals of diverse backgrounds. The City of Vaughan is also committed to providing accommodations for people with disabilities. 

Please contact Human Resources if you require an accommodation, and we will work with you to meet your needs.