Animal Control Shelter Assistant

Under general supervision, performs a combination of technical and custodial duties in support of the Sheriff's Office Animal Shelter's operations. Duties include cleaning and maintaining shelter cages and facility structures; caring for animals, euthanizing animals when necessary; and recording information and activities.

• Cleans and disinfects the pound, its cages, equipment and structures. Ensures facility is neat, orderly and clean.
• Handles and cares for animals to include administering drugs, feeding and cleaning when appropriate.
• Euthanizes animals when necessary.
• Cleans equipment and supplies used in euthanizing process; and disposes of animal bodies.
• Answers the telephone and takes messages or answers caller's question.
• Completes a variety of records and administrative documents to include recording complaints from citizens; completing records of drug dosages and administration; completing bite reports; temperature logs, etc.
• Monitors inventory of cleaning supplies and orders supplies as needed.
• Assists in providing medication and testing to sick and injured animals as needed
• Processes pet adoptions applications and contracts.
• Greets customers and provides intake document.
• Performs other related duties as required.

High School Diploma or equivalent and six (6) months experience cleaning or handling domestic animals; or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Must possess and maintain a valid Virginia driver's license.

Must achieve and maintain Euthanasia certification.

• Knowledge of animal handling procedures and safety precautions; of cleaning techniques; of methods used to administer drugs to animals; and of animal control ordinances.
• Is skilled in the use of animal control equipment and cleaning equipment.
• Ability to exercise good judgment in handling animals in the shelter.
• Ability to understand and follow written and oral instructions; and to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to exercise tact, courtesy and firmness in contacts with County personnel, other agencies and local organizations, and the general public.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
• Ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
• Ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving directions and assignments from immediate supervisor.
• Ability to read cleaning instructions and cleaning chemical labels; operating procedures, drug manuals and instructions, and related animal control references, rules and regulations.
• Ability to prepare records of work activities, supply orders, general correspondence, etc. using prescribed formats.
• Ability to apply rational systems to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic or schedule form.
• Ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in animal control enforcement terminology.
• Ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract totals; to multiply and divide.
• Ability to handle a variety of items, animal control equipment, control knobs, switches, etc. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
• Ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instruction.
• Ability to be adaptable to performing under varying levels of stress.

Must be able to…