BASIC PURPOSE

Reporting to the Animal and Veterinary Care Manager, the Animal Care Technician is responsible for performing preventative animal health care duties, assisting the Animal Care Manager with a variety of shelter care duties, and providing oversight to shelter volunteers. 

Presents a positive, enthusiastic, and professional image when representing Joint Animal Services internally and externally.  Models and promotes a diverse and inclusive staff culture that is friendly and outgoing, collaborative, and free of judgment.  

A first review of applications will occur on October 12th, and weekly thereafter until the posting closes on October 26th, it is in your best interest to apply early. Please note: interviews are tentatively scheduled for October 27th.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

These duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Feeds and waters animals in accordance with prescribed diets and instructions for the species.
• Prepare animal quarters in accordance with specified procedures. Cleans and/or sterilizes cages, runs, and surrounding premises including walls, floors, and food preparation areas.
• Performs preventive animal health care duties such as, but not limited to, grooming, bathing, nail trimming, and inoculations treatment for internal and external parasites.
• Works with the Animal Care Manager to implement industry best practice programs that keep Animal Services as a leader within the animal welfare community, such as Standards of Care, Capacity for Care, Fear Free for Shelters, etc.
• Transfers animals from soiled to clean enclosures making sure to maintain individual animal identity.
• Operates commercial washer and dryer; sorts and distributes laundry, animal bedding, collars, etc.
• Observes animals for abnormalities and reports early manifestations of disease to the Animal Care Manager.
• Maintains records related to feeding, care, animal identification, and ongoing medical treatments as needed.
• Maintains and rotates food supplies and tracks usage of supplies and report shortages to the Animal Care Manager. Evaluates, sorts, and distributes any donated animal goods.
• Evaluates and communicates animal health and behavior issues to the public and to supervisory staff.
• Euthanizes or assists in euthanizing animals according to established procedures, including documentation required by Drug Enforcement Agency and all record entries.
• Performs basic laboratory diagnostic tests such as feline leukemia, feline aids, and parvo virus, and records the results. Administers medications orally and/or topically.
• Oversees volunteers.
• Assist with transporting of animals to veterinary clinics, rescues, and other shelters.
• Provides support to fosters within our foster program, and provide behavior enrichment to animals in the care of the shelter.
• May run a variety of commercial equipment and perform basic kennel repair.

• Coordinate or assist with our rescue partner program.

   Other duties as assigned

• Cross trains in front desk duties including but not limited to adoption, dispatching, processing reclaims, trap loans, answering phones, and interfacing with the public.

• Performs shelter, office, and outdoor clean-up when necessary (for example: general cleaning, pressure washing, lawn mowing, supply organization, etc).
• Provides back-up to shelter staff as necessary.

QUALIFICATIONS

H.S. Diploma or G.E.D. AND one (1) year of experience performing animal care related activities in a veterinary or shelter setting