Animal Care Technician

Animal Humane Society•Golden Valley, MN

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Job Summary : The Animal Technician is responsible for providing humane and compassionate care to all types of shelter animals, ensuring that animals have a safe and clean environment, drinking water, and food. Requirements Essential Functions: Animal Care: Prepare and distribute food and water to all animals per dietary needs . Perform daily cleaning and sanitization of transfer cages, litter boxes, kennels and animal areas including cleaning up animal feces, urine, vomit and other debris. Monitor animals’ wellbeing, including appearance, appetite, hydration, stools, vomit and activity, reporting any health concerns or behavioral changes. Safely handle animals of varying sociability in a variety of ways including walking, restraining, placing in transport crates, etc. using appropriate PPE procedures. Handle animals who may have transmittable illnesses to other animals and humans, following proper handling, quarantine and PPE procedures. Move animals throughout the shelter as needed. Interpret animal body language, read animal cage cards and communication boards. Escalate animal concerns and communicate directly with appropriate department regarding concerning animal appearance or behavior in a timely manner. Shelter Support: Assist in enrichment programs for animals in shelter. Assist Veterinary Services with fecal/urine collection of animals. Assist with animal restraint for transportation, medical procedures, collection of animal waste and euthanasia as required. Collaborate with other departments and assist as needed. General Cleaning: Utilize approved chemicals to clean animal and non-animal areas. Operate dishwasher, washing machine and dryer. Remove garbage and recycling as needed. Sweep and mop animal areas. Communication and Culture: Communicate in a positive and professional manner with customers, other employees, and volunteers. Promote a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion to make AHS a welcoming environment for all. Technology: Accurately update animal records in PetPoint. Manage and view work schedule in Makeshift. Clock in and out of shifts using ADP. Monitor AHS email and other messaging software. Other duties as assigned. Additional Information: Schedule and Attendance: Required to be on time to scheduled shifts during operational hours which may include evenings, weekends and holidays. May be required to work at a different site based on department needs. May be required to attend occasional off-site meetings and events. Attend and participate in regular team meetings and one-on-one meetings with direct leader. Work Environment: Environment can be dirty, wet, warm and humid. Exposure to zoonotic diseases and pests such as fleas and ticks. Possibility of being bitten or scratched. Exposure to unpleasant odors, chemicals and noises, including barking. May be exposed to extreme weather conditions including but not limited to cold, heat, rain and snow when outside. Qualifications: Experience: Animal handling experience preferred. Skills: Strong communication and interpersonal skills. Strong attention to detail, multi-tasking and time-management skills. Proficient with computers, specifically a working knowledge of Microsoft products. Physical Demands: Must be able to lift, carry, and handle animals and other items up to 50 lbs. unassisted. For animals and other items over 50 lbs., assistance from another team member is required. Prolonged periods of standing and walking. Emotional Demands: Ability to be emotionally resilient while working in a shelter setting. Must be comfortable handling a variety of animals with a wide range of behavioral and medical needs, including the use of humane euthanasia. Transportation: Reliable transportation required. Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required for this role. Duties, responsibilities and requirements may change at any time with or without notice.

Requirements

Animal handling experience preferred
Strong communication and interpersonal skills
Strong attention to detail, multi-tasking and time-management skills
Proficient with computers, specifically a working knowledge of Microsoft products
Must be able to lift, carry, and handle animals and other items up to 50 lbs. unassisted. For animals and other items over 50 lbs., assistance from another team member is required
Prolonged periods of standing and walking
Ability to be emotionally resilient while working in a shelter setting
Must be comfortable handling a variety of animals with a wide range of behavioral and medical needs, including the use of humane euthanasia
Reliable transportation required

Responsibilities

Prepare and distribute food and water to all animals per dietary needs
Perform daily cleaning and sanitization of transfer cages, litter boxes, kennels and animal areas including cleaning up animal feces, urine, vomit and other debris
Monitor animals’ wellbeing, including appearance, appetite, hydration, stools, vomit and activity, reporting any health concerns or behavioral changes
Safely handle animals of varying sociability in a variety of ways including walking, restraining, placing in transport crates, etc. using appropriate PPE procedures
Handle animals who may have transmittable illnesses to other animals and humans, following proper handling, quarantine and PPE procedures
Move animals throughout the shelter as needed
Interpret animal body language, read animal cage cards and communication boards
Escalate animal concerns and communicate directly with appropriate department regarding concerning animal appearance or behavior in a timely manner
Assist in enrichment programs for animals in shelter
Assist Veterinary Services with fecal/urine collection of animals
Assist with animal restraint for transportation, medical procedures, collection of animal waste and euthanasia as required
Collaborate with other departments and assist as needed
Utilize approved chemicals to clean animal and non-animal areas
Operate dishwasher, washing machine and dryer
Remove garbage and recycling as needed
Sweep and mop animal areas
Communicate in a positive and professional manner with customers, other employees, and volunteers
Promote a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion to make AHS a welcoming environment for all
Accurately update animal records in PetPoint
Manage and view work schedule in Makeshift
Clock in and out of shifts using ADP
Monitor AHS email and other messaging software
Other duties as assigned

Benefits

Make a difference in the lives of animals and people
Join a team of coworkers who love animals as much as you do
Work-life balance
Unique animal adoption benefits and discounts on veterinary care, pet supplies, and animal training classes
Health insurance coverage for full time staff includes the following: medical, dental, vision, health savings account, flexible spending account for health care expenses and dependent care, voluntary accident insurance, and employee paid supplemental life, accidental death & dismemberment and long term disability insurance.
Employer paid benefits for full time staff includes the following: basic life insurance, basic accidental death and dismemberment insurance, short-term disability
Support for student loans: we are a Public Service Loan Forgiveness qualified employer
Mental Health and Counseling Support: all employees have access to our Employee Assistance Program with 3 free counseling sessions per year
401k with 4% company match for part-time and full-time staff
Nine paid holidays for full-time staff
Paid floating holidays for part-time and full-time staff (up to 4 days per year based on start date)
Paid Time Off for part time and full time staff (amount is based on hours worked and FTE status)
Paid parent leave for full-time staff