Title:                               ANIMAL CARE SPECIALIST

Reports To:      Animal Care Manager/Adoption Center Manager

Hours:               Full-time, non-exempt position.

Function:          Under the supervision of the animal care and adoption center managers, the animal care specialist ensures the successful operation of DPVHS animal care and adoption centers by ensuring humane care for the animals; maintaining high standards of customer service; and contributing to the operation and maintenance of the facility.

Responsibilities:

Animal Care:

Provides consistently high standards of humane care for all DPVHS animals, including best practices in enrichment, rehabilitation, feeding, housing, and medical care.

Ensures that prescribed medical and behavioral treatment programs for all sheltered animals are carried out.

Performs routine kennel work, including maintenance of animal care areas, cages, kennels, and public areas.

Participates in the screening and selection of animals for adoption in accordance with agency guidelines.

Performs initial and continued health and behavior screening of shelter animals, including screening for euthanasia as appropriate.  Observes animals for signs of illness or injury and reports such to the Site Supervisor, Animal Care Manager or a veterinarian for treatment in accordance with agency guidelines.

Works closely with foster care volunteers on scheduling, animal care, and monitoring of volunteer needs.

Helps coordinate veterinary visits and the transport of animals and specimens to veterinary offices.

May assist veterinary staff with euthanasia, as needed.

 

Customer Care:

Conducts adoptions, intakes, and other shelter services while ensuring high standards of customer and animal care.

Provides excellent service to customers.

Conducts high quality delivery of shelter outreach programs.

Serves as a representative of DPVHS to customers and assesses customer needs and support. Resolves customer concerns.

Accurately maintains records and daily paperwork, including cash receipts and other routine documents.

Implements new shelter programs and participates in their integration into the daily operations of the adoption and animal care centers. 

Works with leadership to determine needed efficiencies and implements needed changes.

 

Volunteer and Interns:

Provides daily supervision to volunteers and interns of the animal care and adoption centers in the performance of their respective job responsibilities.

Trains volunteers and interns and provides ongoing feedback and guidance, with particular responsibility for animal care volunteers.

      Actively supports volunteers and interns and promotes the development of skills related to the advancement of   our goals and mission. 

 

Other Responsibilities:

Routinely communicates animal- , customer-, and volunteer-related developments with other staff through the Communications Log.

Monitors and tracks usage of department supplies following the proper agency purchasing guidelines.

Attends DPVHS events as required.

Networks with and assists other animal welfare agencies.

Assists with the maintenance and upkeep of animal care facilities and equipment.

Assures the safety of the DPVHS workplace and actively monitors safety for staff, clients, and animals.  Follows safety guidelines to ensure a safe work environment.

Implements the Standard Operating Procedure Manual and follows DPVHS operating standards and policies.

Works with leadership to recommend and implement policy/procedural changes for the animal care and adoption centers.

Complies with DPVHS personnel policies. 

Attends appropriate staff meetings

Serves on appropriate committees, task forces and networks.

Represents the DPVHS in a professional and courteous manner at all times. 

Provides quality service to customers, volunteers, donors, and staff recognizing their individual contribution to the success of our organization.

Regularly participates in meetings with staff and volunteers to share ideas and suggestions designed to improve working conditions and the organization.

Performs other duties as assigned.

 

Position Requirements:

Education:

High school diploma or equivalent. 

Experience:

Knowledge of basic domestic animal care and safe/humane animal handling.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office products.  

At least 1 year delivering excellent customer service in a fast-paced environment.

 

Skills and Traits:

The animal care specialist must agree with and be committed to the mission, policies, and goals of DPVHS. 

Must be energetic, team oriented and quality improvement minded.

Must be positive, flexible and able to handle difficult and sensitive situations with diplomacy and discretion. 

Must understand and respect confidentiality, be assertive, prioritize, focus and be customer oriented.

Must be able to see the adoption and animal care centers in their relationship to the agency as a whole and the community at large.

Must have public and employee relations skills as well as excellent communication skills.  

Must have demonstrated ability to work in a team environment.

Must have strong analytical ability to make sound decisions.

Must be at least 18 years of age.

 

Mental, Physical and Communication Demands:

Must be available to work when and where needed by the organization. Must be willing to work irregular hours, weekends, and holidays. 

Requires working alone or with minimal supervision. Must be self-motivated.

Requires working under pressure with public audience. 

Requires patience and tact when working with difficult, emotional, or angry people. 

Requires computer proficiency in word processing, spreadsheets, email, and shelter software. 

Requires handling people and animals in a pleasant, courteous and professional manner.

Requires ability to work safely around unruly, vicious, sick, injured or dangerous animals.

While performing this job the employee will regularly be required to use hands and arms to reach, grasp, and hold animals, supplies and other tools; to talk and speak clearly to clients and co-workers; and to hear questions and animals.

This job requires a great deal of standing, walking, sitting, kneeling, crouching and general mobility. It may include lifting, carrying, and pushing of supplies and cleaning of animal areas.

This job requires working around and with chemical compounds (i.e., bleach, detergents, and disinfectants) used to clean and disinfect kennels, cages, and other surfaces.

Requires the ability to work in an office environment with generally moderate, but occasionally loud, noise levels.

While working with shelter animals there is a risk of exposure to parasites and infectious diseases.

Allergic conditions, which would be aggravated when handling or working with animals or cleaning supplies, may be a disqualification.