Animal Care Technician

Job Description

JOB DESCRIPTION

Position Title:
Animal Care Technician

Hours:
Full-time, includes week-ends and holidays

Supervisor:
Animal Care & Behavior Manager;
Animal Care Supervisor

Classification:
Non-exempt, Hourly

Animal Care Technicians are focused on providing the highest standards of animal care according to national best practices. This care includes but is not limited to: cleaning, feeding, medicating, monitoring, transporting, behavior enrichment and behavior modification.

Must be a compassionate and caring individual with excellent communication skills, and ability to work effectively in a high stress, fast-paced environment. Requires prior experience with and knowledge of higher animal care. Must be able to work independently as well as part of a team.

An animal care facility can be an emotionally challenging, high-stress, rapidly changing, and high-demand environment. Feelings of grief and loss, secondary trauma, and compassion fatigue are not uncommon. As such, working at HSHV requires a high degree of emotional regulation and resilience; the ability to tolerate and manage stress; adaptability to change; empathy for both animals and people; and an overall positive outlook.

• Treats animals humanely and with respect, following the highest standards for animal care and handling.
• Provides adequate food and water to shelter animals daily, with awareness of and compliance with any special feeding requirements and medications.
• Completes other daily care tasks for animals, including walking dogs, changing cat litter pans, providing enrichment as needed, etc.
• Observe animals daily for changes in behavior (aggressiveness, listlessness, not eating) and possible health problems (vomiting, diarrhea). Use medical and behavior concern boards, logs, and memos on a daily basis to report changes.
• Follows the highest standards for preventing the spread of contagious disease.
• Work cooperatively with other departments to assist with movement of animals within the shelter as necessary.
• Participates in stress reduction efforts through purposeful handling and placement of animals in the shelter environment, in accordance to Fear Free Shelter Guidelines
• Work closely with Behavior Department to participate in enrichment activities
• Assists behavior department with behavior modification efforts
• Work with volunteers to coordinate a smooth flow of shelter operations and daily care of animals (including dog walking, enrichment, cleaning, feeding, etc.)
• Care for a variety of animal species including cats, dogs, small mammals (rabbits, hamsters, etc.), birds, reptiles, and other domestics.
• Assist Community Cat Coordinator on weekends by feeding/watering cats in the TNR room, and cleaning as needed.
• Perform adoptable dog introductions, as needed.
• Operates laundry machines and organizes laundry used in shelter; distributes bedding throughout shelter
• Assists in distributing HSHV in-kind donations for shelter use, as needed
• Keep all cages, kennels, and all assigned areas clean following daily cleaning procedures.
• Operates sanitizer and distributes clean products and supplies throughout assigned areas
• Keep clean, neat, and appropriately stocked working areas. Organize and maintain storage areas.
• Complete opening and closing tasks in accordance with appropriate checklists.

• Represents HSHV in a professional and courteous manner at all times
• Facilitates client/animal interactions to ensure a safe and pleasant experience
• Actively promotes HSHV’s mission, services, programs, and events.
• Develops relationships with customers and provides a positive experience for our clients by practicing HSHV’s Ten Principles of Great Customer Service.

• Actively supports the advancement of HSHV goals and mission.
• Attends and participates in HSHV training programs as assigned.
• Attend agency staff meetings. Read email on a daily basis and respond as appropriate.
• Maintain awareness of SOPs and policies established in other shelter departments and how they pertain to/affect staff and animals.
• Follows all safety guidelines to…