Lead Kennel Technician

Houston Humane Society•Houston, TX

6d•Onsite

About The Position

This position will work in collaboration with various teams and will be responsible for overseeing daily animal care operations. The candidate will ensure the highest standard of humane care for all shelter animals. This includes hands-on animal care while supervising kennel staff, maintaining sanitation and feeding protocols, monitoring animal health and behavior, and supporting medical operations. This position requires strong observational skills, a detail-oriented approach, and a passion for animal welfare.

Requirements

High School Diploma or equivalent
Minimum of 2 years of animal care experience; shelter experience strongly preferred
Able to demonstrate an understanding of animal care, behavior, and disease prevention
Ability to administer medications as prescribed by the veterinarian
Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills
Ability to work well both independently and as part of a team
Physical ability to lift and move animals and perform other physically demanding tasks
Compassionate and patient approach to working with animals in a shelter environment
Other duties as needed

Nice To Haves

Prior supervisory or leadership experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide daily meals to all animals, ensuring each animal receives the proper amount of food and any special dietary requirements.
Monitor and document each animal’s eating habits, noting any changes in appetite or refusal to eat.
Ensure access to clean water at all times.
Monitor defecation and urination habits of animals, noting any irregularities or concerns (e.g., diarrhea, constipation, frequency).
Report any issues to the veterinary team for further evaluation.
Perform daily health checks for all animals, assessing general well-being, behavior, and physical condition. Ensure humane handling and low-stress animal management practices.
Assist the medical team with providing core intake vaccines, microchips, and preventative care to all shelter animals on a routine basis.
Observe for signs of illness or injury (e.g., limping, coughing, lethargy, vomiting) and report findings to the veterinarian or shelter manager immediately.
Monitor post-op incision sites daily.
Monitor the mental and physical health of animals, ensuring they are comfortable and stable.
Ensure that all shelter animals have accurate kennel cards and are identifiable. Assist with animal movement within the facility.
Conduct and document biweekly weight checks and report any significant weight changes to the shelter medical team.
Document appropriately within shelter animal databases.
Administer medications (oral, topical, or as directed by veterinarians) to animals as prescribed, and document accurately within the appropriate database.
Collaborate with the shelter training and enrichment team to provide activities to improve the animals physical and mental well-being.
Monitor the safety of the pets during enrichment activities.
Train, mentor, and provide guidance to the kennel technician team.
Collaborate with the Lead Shelter Veterinary Technician and Veterinary Care Manager to promote a positive, team-oriented work environment.
Assist with scheduling and daily task delegation.
Monitor staff performance and collaborate with leadership to improve processes and procedures.
Assist with inventory tracking of all shelter animal diets.