Position: Dog Caretaker

Hourly Pay Rate: $12.00 – part-time

Work hours: Various shifts depending on shelter needs. Must be able to work weekends.

Job Duties

• Safely and humanely move and/or relocate canines to the various areas of the shelter based on medical or behavioral issues. For animals that are in isolation, this may require wearing booties, gowns, gloves, or masks to minimize the spreading of illness and disease. Bathe dogs as needed.
• Provide clean water to all canines throughout the day and properly feed at the scheduled time. Periodically provide mental enrichment exercise via food distributing tools or assistance with play groups.
• Monitor and observe all canine health needs and administer medications as prescribed by the shelter veterinarian. Communicate animal health concerns and needs to your supervisor, behaviorist, and veterinarian staff.
• Implement/follow behavioral plans for identified canines as established by the Canine Program Coordinator.
• Ensure that accurate information and signage is displayed on the front of each animal’s kennel. Update as needed.
• Working in a team environment, take work direction from your co-workers or the Canine Program Coordinator to improve your skill set, safe animal handling practices, or disease management protocol.
• Clean all interior and exterior canine areas of the shelter daily to include public hallways, kennels, isolation, kitchen, outdoor shared areas, and runs. Daily cleaning includes, but is not limited to the scooping of urine, feces, vomit or other canine excrement, sweeping and mopping of all canine-related areas, replacing bedding and toys as needed, washing, drying, folding and restocking clean laundry.
• Complete deep cleaning of all kennels as needed, in addition to daily cleaning tasks. Deep cleaning includes, but is not limited to the spraying/scrubbing all surfaces, disinfecting, and rinsing of the kennels and runs.
• Maintain a clean and organized work space. Promptly discard worn or torn linens, toys, food, or trash to minimize odors, transmittal of illness, and cluttered work areas.
• Assist potential adopters by honestly answering questions about the animals, energy level, temperament, behaviors, and any known health issues. Recommend the adopters spend time with specific animals that may be a good match for the household.
• Provide information and educate visitors about the animals housed at the shelter. Provide friendly direction and monitor visitors and volunteers interaction with the animals to ensure proper interaction and a safe environment.
• Provide timely updates to the communication log book in the dog kitchen to relay information to other caretakers, veterinary staff, and the executive director.
• Collect all trash and take to dumpster prior to closing the shelter for the night.
• Attend and participate in HSDC staff meetings, training sessions, or other administrative events as scheduled by management.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• A current working knowledge of companion animal care and adoption issues, knowledge of transmittable disease in canines, zoonotic diseases, safe and humane animal handling procedures.
• Confidence and ability to work with canines of varying sizes and weights. Shelter animals can be unpredictable or aggressive. Knowledge and observation of canine posturing behaviors are preferred, but not required.
• Ability to properly handle and dispose of animal waste, hazardous chemicals/materials and sharp objects.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma, or equivalent.
• Ability to maintain a professional appearance and demeanor both within the HSDC and the public.
• Ability to approach HSDC staff, volunteers and the public to openly discuss the shelter, its mission, and the animals in a friendly, honest, and professional manner.
• Must have reliable transportation and be dependable. The shelter animal’s health and welfare depend on your attendance.
• Valid driver’s license required.
• Must successfully pass a background investigation.
• Electronic deposit (ACH) of paycheck is required.

Physical demands and working environment

• Ability to work in an emotionally taxing field – a positive attitude and sense of humor are essential.
• Work is performed in an animal shelter. There is a potential for exposure to environmental factors such as temperature variations, high noise levels, zoonotic diseases, animal waste, strong odors, hazardous chemicals or chemical materials requiring OSHA Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), anesthetics, sharp objects, and potential hostile persons and/or dangerous and unpredictable animals.
• Ability to multi-task in a constantly changing environment.
• Must be able to work assigned shift, including weekends, holidays or during emergencies.
• May be required to work long or unusual hours during peak operational needs.
• Ability to stay standing or active during entire shift; lift and carry objects and animals up to 50 pounds; lift, bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, push, pull and other strenuous activities.

This position has a 90 day probationary period.

This is an at-will position.