Animal Services Shelter Attendant

SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Animal Services Manager, the Animal Shelter Attendant is responsible for providing daily care, cleaning, and comfort for animals housed at the animal services facility. This position supports public health and animal welfare through proper animal care, facility sanitation, and customer service. Duties include feeding, exercising, grooming, monitoring animal health, and assisting with front desk operations such as adoptions, intakes, owner reclaims, and coordination with rescue groups.

The ideal candidate will embody the City’s core values of Service, Humility, Innovation, Neighborly, and Excellence (SHINE).

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Animal Care and Welfare: Provides complete daily care for sheltered animals, including feeding, watering, exercising, bathing, and grooming. Monitors animals for signs of illness, injury, or behavioral concerns and records general observations. Ensures animals are housed comfortably and humanely at all times.

Facility Cleaning and Sanitization: Cleans and disinfects kennels, cages, litter boxes, feeding utensils, pans, and equipment. Launders animal bedding and towels. Sweeps and mops floors, removes trash, and cleans animal yards of waste in compliance with health and safety standards.

Adoptions and Customer Service: Assists prospective adopters in selecting animals, prepares adoption paperwork, and provides information regarding animal care, examinations, and requirements. Ensures adopted animals are current on vaccinations, preventatives, and medications prior to release.

Front Desk and Administrative Support: Assists with owner reclaims, rescue group releases, stray intakes, and owner surrenders. Answers phone calls and emails, responds to inquiries about available animals, schedules meet-and-greets, and dispatches Animal Services Officers as needed. Maintains accurate records and documentation related to animal care and shelter operations.

Animal Handling and Transport: Safely handles a wide variety of animals, including cats, dogs, and other pet species. Assists with transporting animals to partner shelters, rescue organizations, or veterinary and medical appointments. Unloads and stores food shipments, cat litter, and cleaning supplies.

Communication and Teamwork: Communicates clearly and professionally with employees, volunteers, rescue partners, and the public, both verbally and in writing. Represents Sachse Animal Services and the City of Sachse in a positive manner, upholding SHINE values in all interactions.

Other Related Duties: Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Animal Care and Handling Knowledge: Knowledge of basic animal care, feeding, sanitation, and humane handling practices. Ability to work safely with cats, dogs, and other domestic animals, including those that may be frightened, aggressive, or injured.

Operational and Technical

Skills:

Intermediate computer skills, including the ability to use shelter management software, email, and standard office applications. Ability to safely use animal care equipment, cleaning chemicals, and related tools.

Communication and Interpersonal

Skills:

Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with staff and the public. Ability to provide courteous customer service, follow instructions, and work cooperatively as part of a team.

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Experience in animal handling, care, or training.
• Possess and maintain a valid Class C Texas driver's license.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain Texas Department of State Health Services Basic Euthanasia Certification within six months of hire.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including 10-hour shifts, nights, weekends, holidays, callouts, and overtime as required.