Animal Shelter Attendant

Story County•Nevada, IA

About The Position

This position provides care to animals in the animal shelter and performs related animal-care duties. Responsibilities include animal intake and evaluation, feeding and caring for animals, administering medications, and cleaning shelter cages and facilities. The attendant also supports adoptions, maintains animal records, responds to animal-control requests and emergencies, and participates in off-site events and foster-care coordination. The work is typically performed in an animal shelter or outdoors, sometimes in cold or inclement weather. It involves intermittent sitting, standing, bending, crouching, and stooping; frequent lifting of light and heavy objects; and use of the sense of smell. The employee may encounter noise, dust, dirt, grease, contagious or infectious diseases, irritating chemicals, and potentially dangerous animals. Specialized animal-containment equipment and protective devices such as masks, goggles, and gloves are used.

Requirements

Knowledge of animal behavior, animal health, and basic animal husbandry.
Skill in the use of computers and job-related software programs.
Skill in the humane care of animals.
Skill in analyzing problems and developing and implementing solutions.
Skill in customer service.
Skill in oral and written communication.
Ability to read, write, and perform mathematical calculations at a level commonly associated with completion of high school or equivalent.
Sufficient experience to understand the basic principles relevant to the major duties, usually associated with an apprenticeship or internship or one to two years in a similar position.
Ability to lift light objects (24 pounds or less) and heavy objects (25 pounds or more).
Ability to use specialized animal-containment equipment and protective devices such as masks, goggles, and gloves.

Responsibilities

Clean, sanitize, and disinfect animal enclosures, medical examination rooms, and other animal holding areas and rooms.
Feed, water, exercise, and socialize domestic animals and livestock; bathe and groom animals as needed.
Assist clients with adoptions by recommending animals and sharing relevant health or behavior history.
Identify and isolate dangerous or injured animals.
Observe animals for signs of illness, injury, stress, or poor behavior and report observations to a supervisor; monitor animals’ care following surgery.
Administer prescribed medications and immunizations, including vaccinations, deworming, and flea treatments.
Assist with humane euthanasia as needed.
Enter information into a software database and prepare case, intake, medical, and vaccination reports.
Maintain animal records and logs.
Receive emergency and non-emergency requests for animal-control services and explain departmental policies and county ordinances.
Scan animals for microchips.
Participate in off-site adoption events and fundraisers.
Assist in coordinating foster care for shelter animals.
Respond to emergencies related to disasters or other events, including on-call and after-hours emergencies as needed.
Perform related duties as assigned.