Animal Care Specialist

Job Summary/Scope

Maintains and cleans animal shelter offices, kennels, and grounds. Assists in feeding, care, and maintenance of impounded animals. Conducts redemption of impounded animals and adoptions of unwanted animals. Euthanizes unwanted, injured & diseased animals. No supervisory or budgetary responsibilities.

• Clean and disinfect animal housing. Maintain a clean and safe living environment for shelter animals.
• Admit unwanted animals delivered to the animal shelter after conducting relinquishment interviews and animal assessments. Perform redemption of impounded animals. Conduct adoption of shelter animals including adoption interviews and counseling.
• Issue legal notices, summons, and other documents requested by Animal Control Officers.
• Track animal inventory and monitor shelter animals for medical or behavioral concerns.
• Assist veterinarian in euthanasia and prepare rabies specimens for the State Laboratory.
• Administer preventive vaccinations and parasitic medications to animals upon intake. Perform wellness assessments upon intake of shelter animals.
• Complete blood draws on dogs and cats to test for heartworms and feline leukemia.
• Perform data entry of impounded animals and disposition of animals adopted, redeemed, or euthanized.
• Reconcile daily revenue reports.
• Communicate with rescues, satellite adoptions facilities, and foster homes regarding animal care.
• Review adoption applications, schedule appointments for the public to conduct shelter business.
• Operate incinerator under the regulations of the Department of Natural Resources.
• Deliver animals to vet appointments as needed.
• Assist the Senior Animal Care Specialists with programs as assigned.

• Relieve office staff during breaks and meals and assist in reception duties as assigned.
• Assist in maintaining records and logs animals in and out of shelter.
• Assist in giving tours to special visiting groups.
• Perform all other related duties as assigned.

City employees shall conduct themselves in a professional manner and shall exhibit and extend such professional conduct appropriate for the circumstances to those with whom they come into contact both internally and externally during the performance of their duties. Examples of professional conduct include, but are not limited to, being communicative, informative, fair, honest, and respectful.

• Skills in the feeding, care, and handling of various species of animals.
• Skills in data entry and operation of 10 key calculator.
• Skills in performing humane euthanasia.
• Knowledge of routine maintenance and custodial practices and operation of cleaning equipment.
• Knowledge of animal related diseases and various animal breeds.
• Ability to communicate well orally and in writing.
• Must be able to work well with the public and deal with occasional irate citizens.
• Valid driver's license required.

Routinely uses a variety of custodial and maintenance hand tools such as pressure washer, mops, brooms, scrub brushes, shovels, and hoses. Uses catch tools to control animals. Operates euthanasia equipment including syringes, incinerator. Office work involves telephone and computer. Occasionally operates a light truck. There may be times when use of personal vehicle may be required.

Work principally performed in an indoor shop environment. Performs such physical activities as lifting, carrying, standing, climbing, sitting bending, and stooping, lifting up to 50 pounds to shoulder height, and 75 pounds to waist height. Most work performed in the presence of foul odors normally associated with animals in the kennel environment. Exposed to such environmental conditions as dirt, dust, heat, cold, loud noise, and sudden temperature change.

Some evening and weekend work required. Some overnight or day travel may be required for business purposes. Vacation and other leave scheduling shall be requested of and approved by the appropriate supervisor. All Animal Control & Rescue staff are subject to on call duty in the event of…