Animal Care Technician

Animal Care  Technician

Job Title:         Animal Care Technician – Non-exempt
Department:    Operations
Reports To:     Shelter Manager

Position Summary

Provide humane care of all animals in the shelter, including, but not limited to, cleaning, feeding, watering and monitoring animal health behavior.  Counsels and educates potential adopters and customers at SHS.  

Representative Tasks and Major Responsibilities:

1. Provide humane care and handling of animals in adherence with SHS policies and procedures
2. Clean and disinfect kennels, cages, food and water bowls, and other areas of the shelter daily
3. Observe animals for health or behavioral problems/changes and report any problems
4. Provide assistance to customers who have lost their animals or are adopting a new pet
5. Maintain a clean and safe environment for the animals and public at all times.
6. Maintain equipment to assure proper function and safety and report any needed repairs to a supervisor immediately.
7. Counsels and educates public regarding making responsible decisions for their pets
8. Assist as needed maintaining both the interior and exterior of the facility
9. Janitorial duties include taking out trash and pet waste, use of the squeegee to maintain dry floor, sweeping, mopping, restocking supplies, overall kennel cleaning maintenance and laundry
10. Follows all safety guidelines to ensure a safe work environment. Takes immediate action to address any safety concern or noncompliance of safety rules that could put an employee, volunteer, client, animal, or the organization at risk
11. Ensure animals are properly identified, descriptions are accurate, and SHS identification is on
12. Represent the SHS in a professional and courteous manner at all times.  Provides quality service to customers and volunteers; recognizing their individual contributions to the success of our organization.
13. Assist in restraint of animals during physical exams
14. Bathe animals
15. Assist in euthanasia
16. Perform other duties as assigned

Job Conditions:

This position is non-exempt, work hours will vary and include evenings, weekends and holidays.

Requires handling of animals (sometimes fractious).  Includes exposure to all weather conditions, animals, zoonotic diseases, cleaning agents, chemicals, and high noise level areas.   

Must be able to perform physical work: lifting up to 75 pounds; reaching, standing, bending, and stooping.  Safety procedures must be adhered to at all times.

Environment is conducive to injury from scratches and bites.

Qualification requirements:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and task satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

1. High school diploma or equivalent required.
2. Animal handling experience helpful, but not required.
3. Maintain a neat and well groomed personal appearance.
4. Demonstrates understanding and ability to communicate effectively the policies and procedures of SHS.
5. Ability to operate a computer.
6. Must be able to work weekends, evenings and holidays, if needed.
7. Must be able to communicate in written or oral form and complete required paperwork accurately, legibly and in a timely manner.

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