Kennel Technician

Animal Friends Humane Society•Fairfield Township, OH

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Kennel Technician provides consistent, attentive care to shelter animals, maintaining their mental and physical health and keeping their environment safe, clean, and sanitized. The role represents Animal Friends Humane Society (AFHS) professionally and supports its mission to promote humane principles, protect animals, and advocate for animals in the community. This is an hourly, non-exempt position scheduled for 0–40 hours per week, depending on the employee’s availability and organizational needs. Weekend shifts are part of the schedule, with occasional evening work. The position reports to the Animal Care Supervisor and Team Lead. Performance evaluations take place after the first three and twelve months, and annually thereafter. The work involves caring for cats and dogs, including animals who may be under-socialized, large, frightened, diseased, injured, or behaviorally challenging. The role includes cleaning and sanitation, feeding and medication, monitoring animal health and behavior, basic wellness procedures, documentation, enrichment, adoption support, and maintaining supplies and accurate animal records. Additional duties may include facilitating dog play groups, using a slat mill, supporting animals with special adoption requirements, socializing fearful animals, and following behavior plans. Working conditions may include high noise levels and odors; exposure to fumes, airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, bites, scratches, zoonotic disease, and outdoor weather; and emotional exposure to euthanasia, abuse, and neglect. The job requires extended periods of standing and frequent movement, lifting, bending, and other physical tasks, including handling animals weighing up to 150 pounds.

Requirements

High school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
Experience with cats and dogs.
Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
Effective, professional communication with the public, volunteers, and staff.
Ability to handle multiple tasks at once.
Comfort interacting with dogs and cats, including animals who may be under-socialized or large.
Skill in safe animal handling and basic knowledge of animal behavior and health.
Compliance with AFHS employee-owned animal policies.
Enthusiasm for the AFHS mission and helping animals in the community.
Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Ability to stand for up to 8–10 hours.
Ability to handle and restrain animals weighing up to 150 pounds and lift 50 pounds to waist height.
Ability to perform frequent standing, walking, bending, lifting, stooping, carrying, and reaching.
No allergies or physical inabilities that would prevent caring for cats.
Ability to kneel, bend at the waist, reach forward, rotate the upper body, raise and lower guillotine doors, move hoses, lift bags of food and litter, and use hand tools such as scrub brushes, brooms, squeegees, and mops.
Ability to walk on paved and unpaved surfaces that may be wet or dry.

Nice To Haves

Previous animal-handling experience is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

Clean and sanitize animal holding cages, dens, crates, and traps daily while following disease-control protocols.
Feed, water, and administer oral or topical medication to shelter animals.
Monitor animals’ physical health, mental well-being, and behavior, and report concerns to the appropriate departments.
Use low-stress handling and positive-reinforcement training.
Perform blood and fecal tests, microchipping, vaccinations, and general wellness procedures.
Accurately document medical findings, vaccinations, tests, and treatments in Petpoint.
Maintain inventory of food, cleaning products, and other supplies, and notify management when items need replenishing.
Counsel potential adopters about dogs and puppies they are considering adopting.
Help facilitate interactions between members of the public and dogs who may be adoption matches.
Treat animals, customers, coworkers, and volunteers with compassion.
Store donated items in an orderly manner in appropriate areas.
Ensure animals are properly tagged and location inventory is accurate.
Follow established safety procedures and protocols.
Provide mental and behavioral enrichment to shelter animals.
Perform initial behavior assessments and consult Dog & Cat Care Coordinators as needed.
Restock kennel and cleaning supplies in appropriate areas.
Spot-clean animal areas throughout the day.
Wash, fold, and put away laundry; prepare clean mop buckets; and wash and disinfect water bowls, food puzzles, and toys daily.
As needed, facilitate daily play groups with three to eight dogs, run dogs on the slat mill, help prepare animals with special requirements for adoption, socialize fearful or timid animals, and work through behavior plans.