Job Description

Job Title: Animal Care Technician I

Department: Animal Care

Reports To: Animal Care & Behavior Manager

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Pay Rate: $16.00 Hourly

The Animal Care Technician I is responsible for the daily care of all animals in the shelter. Assists in the facilitation of adoptions by working with and training volunteers and through client interaction. Participates in playgroup for eligible dogs in our care and distributes daily enrichment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Must be comfortable working with dogs and cats of all breeds, sizes, and temperaments.
• Provide compassionate care to all animals.
• Daily cleaning to prevent cross contamination and provide a healthy climate in animal areas.
• Adhere to all department policies and procedures, including the use of PPE.
• Appropriate feeding and watering as directed by management.
• Provide exercise and enrichment to animals including distribution of prepared enrichment items.
• Perform daily census.
• Communicate with Medical Services staff about health and wellbeing of animals in care.
• Administer heartworm and flea preventative as directed.
• Assist with daily laundry, dispose of waste, and restock supplies.
• Maintain equipment utilized for the daily cleaning and feeding of the animals.
• Read and implement behavior modification plans and basic training as directed.
• Provide continuous feedback to supervisors to facilitate organizational growth.
• Bathe and groom animals as requested.
• Provide excellent customer service.
• Log behavior notes for specific animals as requested.
• Participate in playgroups for eligible dogs as directed, including testing new dogs to determine social skills.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to read, write, and interpret routine reports, correspondence, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and analytical skills; comprehension abilities including the ability to apply, understand and carry out instructions.
• Ability to problem-solve and provide reasonable solutions.
• Must be well-organized, flexible, and work well under pressure.
• Ability to multitask and assist in other areas when needed.
• Ability to work well with others towards a common goal.
• Knowledge of ShelterLuv, a plus
• General knowledge of care, cleaning and keeping of domestic dogs and cats.
• Bilingual, a plus

Education and Experience

• High School Diploma, GED, or higher

Materials and Equipment Used

• Hoses with and without pressure spray attachments
• Scrubbers, squeegees, broom/dustpan, mop and bucket
• Cleaning and sanitizing chemicals
• Leashes, collars, harnesses
• Grooming tools
• Wheeled carts and wheeled tables
• Computer and standard office equipment

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions:

• Consistently required to stand, sit, kneel, move body, and bend and twist body.
• Constantly required to talk, hear and use hands for grasping, reaching, and other operative tasks.
• Consistently required to lift an animate or stationary object of up to 50 pounds.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable

accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions:

• Exposure to animal biomaterial, animal odors, fumes, and airborne particles.
• Exposure to wet and humid conditions, moderate heat, and moving mechanical parts.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.