Animal Care Assistant

Animal Rescue League Of Iowa•Des Moines, IA

About The Position

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is hiring Animal Care Assistants for a temporary, part-time role through November 2026. The position provides daily care for shelter animals and helps maintain a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for animals, staff, volunteers, and visitors. It is suited to someone with hands-on animal care or handling experience who enjoys active, meaningful work that directly supports animals. Available Monday shifts are 7:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. or 10:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.; Wednesday–Sunday shifts are 7:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Part-time work is available up to 30 hours per week, with possible temporary full-time hours. The role is based in an active animal shelter environment and involves frequent standing, walking, bending, lifting, cleaning, and safe animal handling. Employees may encounter pet dander, animal waste, cleaning chemicals, loud noises, strong odors, zoonotic diseases, and the possibility of bites or scratches while following safety procedures. Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities. Employment is at-will. The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is a nonprofit animal welfare organization serving animals and the people who love them through sheltering, adoption, veterinary care, animal services, community programs, and pet support resources across the Des Moines metro.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Dependable, observant, and compassionate, with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
Comfort working with animals of varying sizes, breeds, temperaments, and medical needs.
Ability to work independently while contributing to a team environment.
Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Office.
Ability to safely lift and move up to 50 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience working with animals is strongly preferred.
Animal shelter, veterinary clinic, kennel, pet care, boarding, farm, or similar experience is highly desirable.
Previous customer service experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide daily care for dogs, cats, and other shelter animals, including feeding, watering, walking, exercise, and enrichment.
Clean, disinfect, and maintain animal living spaces, dishes, laundry, and shared areas.
Observe animals for signs of illness, injury, stress, or behavior changes and promptly report concerns.
Accurately document animal care information in Shelter Buddy and other systems.
Support positive interactions with adopters, volunteers, visitors, and team members.
Assist with general facility cleaning and daily operational needs.
Follow animal handling, safety, sanitation, and organizational procedures.