Animal Care Associate

POSITION SUMMARY:

This position is part of a union‑represented bargaining unit. Union membership is mandatory as a condition of employment.

The Shelter Care Program is responsible for the direct animal care for all nine species of animal accepted for admission at Seattle Humane. This includes dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, hamsters, gerbils, rats, and mice. Each day the Shelter Care Team feeds, cleans, exercises, enriches, and medicates the animals in our care. In addition to the high level of care each animal receives, the Shelter Care Team also provides pathway planning for each animal’s journey.

This starts from intake to outcome with an emphasis on minimizing length of stay and meeting each pet’s individual needs. In order to accomplish these duties, Shelter Care is comprised of compassionate and skilled staff and volunteers. While the work during the day can be challenging, the team supports a culture of leaving work at work when the scheduled day is over.

The Animal Care Associate (ACA) I position is responsible for providing direct care for the animals in the shelter building and supporting other shelter operations. ACA I is the entry position within the Animal Care Associates, with opportunities to advance to specialize within a species or as a trainer of staff and volunteers. A day in the life of an ACA includes cleaning, feeding, socializing, exercising, and medicating animals as directed.

ACAs also clean and restock animal areas. ACAs are assigned a daily circuit of work to complete individually or with the help of volunteers. When ACAs have completed their assignments they are expected to assist fellow teammates. Successful candidates can work alone and with others, enjoy problem‑solving, and thrive in a fast‑paced environment where change is constant and communication is crucial.

This position also requires applicants to appreciate working with both animals and people.

• Responsible for direct animal care of all pets in the shelter; this includes feeding, cleaning, socialization, enrichment, exercise, and medicating as instructed.
• Responsible for keeping animal areas and supplies clean, tidy, and restocked.
• Enter observations and notes into the pet database.
• Monitors the animals for input and output as well as signs of stress and illness.
• Carry out animal movement plans.
• Communicate concerns with a supervisor promptly.
• Offload transfer animals.
• Support teammates in the completion of their duties.
• Provide basic grooming such as nail trims, baths, and brushing as needed.
• Work closely with volunteers to complete care duties.
• Actively participate in project and group meetings.
• Follow all SOPs and processes.
• Adhere to the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare.
• Focus on disease prevention and safe working practices.

• Maintain appropriate files and records. Adhere to the file and records retention policy and procedures.
• Support other staff teams as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Staff:
  No staff supervision.
• Volunteers:
  No volunteer supervision.

Daily communication with staff and volunteers across the organization in person, through email, written procedures, monitoring sheets, and/or the database.

Animal Care Associates are flexible and respond to a variety of tasks while managing multiple priorities daily. A high degree of independent judgment is required. Formal policies and procedures are followed or developed as needed. The role requires a high level of attention to detail, the ability to respond to unexpected questions or requests from volunteers and staff, maintain concentration despite frequent interruptions, work well without direct supervision, communicate effectively and display cultural competency with people of varying backgrounds, provide good customer service, and work well within a team setting.

• Animal handling experience preferred.
• Experience working compassionately with people in high‑stress situations preferred.
• Must have good communication skills.
• Must be able to write clearly and listen effectively.
• Basic knowledge or experience with…