Animal Care Associate

Under general supervision, provides a variety of animal care services for animals impounded by the County from impound through final disposition (intake, assessment, placement, care, disposition); provides care of feeding, exercising, and overall care of impounded animals at the County’s temporary holding facility; cleans kennels and ensures a safe and sanitary environment for the animals; collects and transports animals to the shelter facility, veterinarians, foster/adopt homes, and/or area shelters for adoption;

serves as the liaison between volunteer foster/adopt homes and the County; and is cross-trained as an Animal Control Officer to serve as backup or backfill of vacancies when needed.

Education and Experience:

• High School Diploma/GED Certificate from an accredited institution and one year of animal handling experience within an animal shelter, veterinarian’s office, or similar work environment.

Required Licenses or

Certifications:

• Valid New Mexico Driver’s License; other licenses and certifications may be required within a specified time period after hire.
• Pre-employment drug and alcohol screening

This is a safety- sensitive position subject to random drug testing in accordance with County policy. This position is also subject to certain on-call hours.

In area of assignment:

• Provides full care and case management oversight of impounded animals from intake through final disposition.
• Transports animals to area adoption agencies, foster homes, veterinary clinics, and related field-based settings.
• Provides and ensures safe animal handling practices at all times.
• Maintains welfare of impounded animals; feeds, waters, exercises and cares for impounded animals; ensures shelter and overall health of animals is in accordance with sheltering standards.
• Provides customer service assistance as needed; answers questions, helps with paperwork, and provides information as appropriate.
• Provides and ensures full and proper written tracking of all impounded animals.
• Reviews and maintains all necessary supplies.
• Conducts daily facility checks to ensure a consistent safe, secure, and sanitized environment.
• Provides and ensures timely posting of all impounded animals on the County website and related media, including Petfinder.
• Assesses reported or observed violations of animal care regulations; makes determinations and takes appropriate action to address.
• Supports the relationship between the County and the constituent population by providing excellent customer service; promotes the County’s goals and priorities in compliance with all policies and procedures; and maintains absolute confidentiality of work-related issues, client records and County information.
• Ensures that job duties are completed in strict adherence to established safe work practices.
• Reviews foster/adopt applications, conducts interviews and home visits with interested parties, and provides approval/denial recommendations to the Community Services Director.
• Provides certain on-call services as cases demand.
• Is cross-trained as an Animal Control Officer and serves as backup or backfill of vacancies when needed. This includes but is not limited to responding to routine and emergency calls for service of animals; providing field services specific to capture and containment; removing animals from hazardous situations; gathers evidence and collects information on animal care cases; makes court appearances and provides testimony as needed;
  
  and provides information to the public covering a range of animal care topics.
• Performs other job related duties as assigned.