Pet Adoption Counselor

SPCA Florida•Lakeland, FL

About The Position

SPCA Florida is seeking a full-time Adoption Counselor to support its mission of finding loving homes for animals in its care. Adoption Counselors are often the first point of contact for visitors and create a welcoming environment through professional, empathetic interactions with people and animals. They guide families through the adoption process and help match pets with suitable homes. The role combines public-facing customer service, adoption counseling, animal interaction and handling, recordkeeping, cleaning, and retail and payment duties. Counselors explain animal care, behavior, medical histories, and adoption procedures; review applications and interview applicants; and make decisions to finalize or deny adoptions while maintaining a courteous experience. The position also involves learning the ShelterLuv system, maintaining sanitation, reporting animal health concerns, and participating in team meetings and continuing education. The Adoption Center is open seven days a week, and the role requires a flexible schedule that includes Saturdays and Sundays.

Requirements

High school diploma required.
Animal experience required, including knowledge of animal behavior and handling.
Knowledge of general office practices and procedures.
Receptionist experience.
Ability to perform clerical work quickly and accurately.
Ability to use a multiple-line telephone system.
Ability to handle cash and other forms of payment.
Ability to interact closely with clients and patients daily.
Leadership skills, initiative, eagerness to learn, and strong customer service skills.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with minimal supervision.
Flexible attitude and work habits, with availability to work a flexible schedule that includes Saturdays and Sundays.

Nice To Haves

Associate degree preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Greet visitors and speak with prospective adopters to understand what they are looking for in a pet.
Get to know the animals and explain their personalities to prospective adopters to help create successful matches.
Guide applicants through the adoption process, including sharing animal-care and behavior information, reviewing applications, interviewing applicants, making adoption decisions, and communicating decisions courteously.
Learn and use ShelterLuv to enter complete and accurate animal data.
Clean cages and maintain sanitation standards.
Provide quality in-person and telephone service to clients and assist visitors with information about available pets and adoption procedures.
Educate adopters about animal care, training, enrichment, and long-term responsibilities.
Explain animals’ medical histories and related paperwork to clients.
Facilitate visits and interactions between animals and potential adopters.
Perform housekeeping duties, including laundry and dishes, and help clean public areas and control disease as needed.
Report signs of illness, disease, injury, or unusual activity to the Adoption Center Medical Team.
Learn the animals in different areas and their personalities to support appropriate placements.
Encourage retail store sales to help meet budget goals.
Collect payments for store sales and adoptions, and balance adoption financials daily.
Respond promptly to emails and phone calls from adopters and potential adopters.
Participate in team meetings and share ideas and suggestions for improvements.
Participate in continuing education and attend educational programs as required.
Treat everyone in a nonjudgmental manner.