Shelter Associate

Posting Date

01/14/26

01/28/26

Anticipated Hiring Range: $18.50 - $21.50 hourly
Full Pay Range: $18.50 - $30.50 hourly
Salary offers are based on the candidate's equivalent experience and internal equity with other employees within the same job classification. This position is eligible for overtime compensation for all hours worked over 40 in the designated workweek.

Unclassified

Animal Care and Control

Are you a passionate animal advocate who is motivated to care for animals by providing a clean and caring kennel environment for the dogs in our care? As one of the largest animal shelters in the Nation, we need your support to make a difference!

We want you to be our next diligent Shelter Associate to provide daily care and support for our shelter dogs. You ll be an advocate for the dogs and promote the health, safety, and welfare of the people and animals of Maricopa County. This position requires the employee to be in the office and or customer-facing for all hours worked.

Maricopa County Animal Care & Control employees are committed to animal welfare and strengthening the human-animal bond in our community, and we are always looking to add talented individuals to our team, either at our West or East Valley Animal Care Centers. As one of the nation s largest open-admission shelters, we work with our community to serve the animals and people of Maricopa County.

Our adoptions, shelter, clinic, and animal services officer teams learn first-hand about the proper care of homeless and stray animals and work hard to help find them new homes.

• Work with a greater purpose

• Tuition reimbursement

• Exceptional work-life balance

• Opportunities for growth and development within Maricopa County

• Child care benefits, including access to our on-site center, Maricopa County Kids Club, dedicated to serving Maricopa County families exclusively

• Low-cost, high-value healthcare for you and your qualifying dependents

• Paid vacation, sick time, and parental leave

• Extensive wellness program, including healthcare premium discounts

• Employee discounts for goods and services

• Maricopa County participates in the Arizona State Retirement System. This defined retirement benefit requires a 12% monthly contribution rate and includes a 100% employer match on Day 1

• Learn more atWork With Us | Maricopa County, AZ

• Six months of experience working with animals in a veterinary hospital, humane society, or other animal facility

• High school diploma or GED

• Candidates must be flexible and able to work all shifts, including starting as early as 6 AM and finishing as late as 7 PM, working weekends and holidays. Shelter Associates are assigned on any shift, with any combination of days off, determined by the needs of the Department. May be assigned to work at other shelter locations based on operational needs

• Must complete department-required animal handling training within 30 days of hire

• Six months of in-person customer service work experience

• Bilingual in Spanish and English-speaking skills

• Fear Free Certification

• Perform animal care and related duties such as feeding, cleaning, exercising, and monitoring the behavior and health of animals in our care

• Responsible for the daily care of animals, including providing appropriate food and water, cleaning animal kennels, and performing general housekeeping of the shelter

• Ensure all shelter animals are properly housed and cared for within the guidelines of the Five Domains of Animal Welfare, and that positive reinforcement training and Fear Free methods are utilized

• Follow all feeding, handling, and care policies and expectations within the guidelines of the Five Domains of Animal Welfare and ensure low-stress handling and Fear Free methods are utilized

• Conduct daily shelter welfare rounds, assist with the movement of animals, and record and address concerns following standard protocols

• Ensure that shelter areas, such as yards and meet and greet rooms, are maintained throughout the day. Keep supply areas stocked and clean, and ensure tools and equipment are kept in good working order. Reports broke items in a timely manner

• Update animal records and perform data entry at the shelter, including animal identification information, photographs, kennel cards, animal bios, and medical and behavior information. Ensure animal records are updated throughout the shelter stay process

• Assist with in-shelter animal adoption meet-and-greets by interacting with customers in person and providing exceptional customer service

• Assist with in-shelter animal enrichment in accordance with the daily enrichment schedules

• Work is performed in an animal shelter with exposure to extreme and varying temperatures, excessive noise, dogs and cats with unknown temperaments or behaviors, animal waste and fluids, deceased animals, cleaning chemicals, and zoonotic diseases

• While performing the duties of this…