Part-time Kennel Technician

Definition

Job Summary Under general supervision, cleans and maintains the Town's animal shelter facility; feeds, monitors and handles domestic and wild animals held at the shelter; assists the public in locating and handling animals; assists Animal Control Officers in the field as necessary; performs general clerical functions as needed; and performs related duties as required.

Receives general supervision from the Animal Care and Control Manager or designee. Exercises no direct supervision over staff.

This is a journey-level classification that performs a variety of duties related to the care of animals and the maintenance and cleaning of Town animal shelter facilities. This class is distinguished from Animal Shelter Specialist Animal/Control Officer I in that the latter class has responsibility for enforcing state and local laws related to the control of animals, and is empowered with limited peace officer authority in the conduct of official duties.

Examples of duties

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Receives stray, unwanted and other domestic and wild animals at the Town animal shelter from Animal Control Officers and the public.
• Monitors animals for signs of illness or injury and reports symptoms to appropriate staff.
• Places animals in appropriate shelter areas according to species and special requirements, such as isolation pending identification of diseases.
• Scrapes, washes, disinfects and dries kennel runs; cleans, changes and disinfects cage linings.
• Feeds and provides water for animals; bathes animals and performs related animal grooming and care.
• Provides effective customer service; explains shelter policies and procedures.
• Assists the public in claiming lost animals or selecting pets for adoption.
• Assists in maintaining records and completes forms regarding the location, care, feeding and disposition of shelter animals.
• Assists staff with medical exams, vaccinations, and euthanasia.
• Performs routine custodial and grounds maintenance work in the cleaning and maintenance of shelter buildings and grounds.
• Stocks animal food and shelter supplies.
• Assists in opening and closing shelter facilities at designated times of day.
• Performs general clerical work as required.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications

• Basic health and safety issues related to handling and caring for animals.
• Basic species and breed identification of a variety of domestic and common wild animals.
• Symptoms and behavior associated with rabies and other common diseases of animals.
• Methods and techniques of animal capture.
• General custodial and grounds keeping methods and equipment.
• Modern office practices and technology, including the use of computers for records maintenance.
• English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Records maintenance and report writing techniques.
• Basic mathematics.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors and Town staff.

• Learn, interpret and apply federal, state and local laws, codes and ordinances pertaining to the care, keeping, treatment and impounding of animals.
• Learn and apply policies and procedures related to shelter operations and animal care, feeding, handling, adoption, euthanasia and disposal.
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Handle animals humanely and effectively under stressful circumstances.
• Respond calmly and effectively in emergency situation.
• Prepare accurate and complete records.
• Deal tactfully and effectively with the public, both in routine contact and under difficult circumstances.
• Perform basic mathematical computations with accuracy.
• Learn to operate various equipment and tools used in shelter operations.
• Use computers for office and records management.
• Perform work safely following all rules and regulations.
• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and applications related to the work.
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:
Equivalent to completion of the twelfth (12th) grade supplemented by training in animal care and control and six (6) months of experience working with animals in a humane care setting, or other experience providing a basic understanding of animal care and…