Intake Specialist
About The Position
The Intake Specialist cares for animals entering the facility and completes intake procedures promptly, accurately, and humanely. The role coordinates animal movement from Intake to the Kennel or Clinic, maintains accurate records in animal management software, and supports the daily cleaning, feeding, housing, and processing of animals. Additional duties may include medicating animals, assisting people surrendering pets, contacting owners of tagged pets, helping rehabilitate and transport animals, and cross-training to provide backup for the Intake Coordinator, including collecting animal and case information and offering support services in a non-judgmental manner. The position performs animal assessments and examinations, administers vaccines and deworming treatments, takes photographs, scans for microchips and identification tags, draws blood and performs specified tests, and inserts microchips as needed. The Intake Specialist helps maintain animal health, sanitation, disease-control, safety, and shelter-operating standards; communicates animal health or behavior concerns to appropriate staff; assists customers and volunteers; and supports the organization’s values and animal-welfare mission. The work is based at 1251 Fulton Industrial Blvd NW, Atlanta, Georgia.
Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent knowledge and experience.
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- Compassion for animals and the people who care for them.
- Ability to serve the public and coworkers with honesty and integrity.
- Excellent customer-service skills.
- Ability to stand for extended periods, up to 10 hours per day, and bend and reach to perform assigned work.
- Ability to lift and carry 50 pounds without assistance.
- Ability to communicate, understand, and follow oral and written instructions and procedures.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
- Comfort working with dogs and cats of all sizes, breeds, and temperaments.
- Knowledge of general animal-care principles and practices.
- Basic animal medical and behavior knowledge.
- Ability to follow safety protocols and handle challenging situations calmly and professionally.
- Ability to collaborate with multiple departments to support efficient shelter operations.
- Ability to interact with impounded dogs, cats, and other animals, including vicious, stray, sick, or injured animals.
- Ability to handle seeing and dealing with animals that have been abused, neglected, or treated cruelly.
- Ability to cope with the emotional impact of possible euthanasia cases.
- Ability to work weekends, holidays, and varying shifts based on shelter needs.
- Must pass a background check.
- Must have a means of travel that ensures prompt arrival for work shifts.
Nice To Haves
- One or more years of experience in an animal-related field or animal sheltering.
- Fear Free Sheltering experience or knowledge.
Responsibilities
- Uphold LifeLine Animal Project’s standards and values.
- Provide humane care, including intake, food, water, and clean, safe housing, for animals entering the facility.
- Complete humane intake of animals promptly upon arrival and enter accurate information in animal management software.
- Assess basic animal information, including weight, age, and gender; vaccinate and deworm animals; take photographs; scan for microchips and identification tags; draw blood and perform heartworm and combo tests; and insert microchips as needed.
- Review case notes to classify animals properly and maintain understanding of current County ordinances and accurate case records.
- Perform physical and behavioral examinations and assign behavioral levels to new intakes.
- Notify kennel management or veterinary personnel of injury, illness, or animal distress.
- Coordinate shelter moves with the Intake Supervisor and animal care leadership team, and move animals out of intake holding as soon as possible.
- Model proper animal handling, safety protocols, and compassionate care; safely handle bite-quarantine animals, vicious animals, and feral cats.
- Report found microchips or other identification to the client care team.
- Ensure adequate intake space is available each evening for overnight drop-offs.
- Clean and disinfect dog and cat cages and follow disease-control, animal-health, and sanitation protocols.
- Complete Friendly Finder intakes promptly.
- Euthanize or assist with animal euthanasia, and perform duties including vaccination, deworming, scanning for microchips, and checking for identification tags.
- Maintain cleanliness and organization of shelter walkways, animal areas, and work areas, and ensure equipment is maintained and operational.
- Assist customers respectfully, including people interested in adopting an animal or looking for a lost pet.
- Communicate regularly with staff to support smooth intake operations and promptly address challenges.
- Support and engage volunteers assisting the intake teams.
- Participate in LifeLine’s 40-hour annual training requirement and complete a euthanasia certification course.
- Cross-train in the full range of intake duties, including customer-service and administrative responsibilities.
- Perform other tasks as assigned.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
