Animal Care Assistant

RPMGlobal; Largo, Northern (FL, KY); Hybrid; USD 23,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Pinellas County is seeking an Animal Care Assistant for the Largo Animal Services facility to provide responsible animal care and services maintenance. You will follow sanitary policies to ensure humane conditions and may assist with euthanasia tasks and post-operative care, while supporting licensing and adoption processes.

The role requires a high school diploma or GED, 1 year of animal care experience or veterinary coursework, and a Florida driver’s license.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• 1 year of animal care/training or coursework in veterinary technology recommended.
• Possession of Florida driver’s license upon hire with MVR evaluation.
• Ability to work rotating shifts, including weekends and holidays, with varied start times.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and be on feet for long periods.

Responsibilities

• Care for impounded animals and observe their condition.
• Assist with euthanasia tasks and cremation processes.
• Maintain sanitary policies to ensure humane conditions in kennels and cages.
• Record animal history, weight, food intake, licenses, microchips, and vaccination/license tags.
• Assist with licensing, inoculations, vaccination records, and adoption screenings.
• Transport animals within the facility as needed and respond to public inquiries about lost animals.

Skills

Physical fitness

Stamina

Animal handling

Observation/record keeping

Education

High school diploma or GED

State Euthanasia and Crematory Certification

Job description

Animal Care Assistant

Location: 12450 Ulmerton Rd., Largo, FL

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 6:30 AM - 3:00 PM, with a late shift of 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM.

How would you like a rewarding career in the animal care field where you can make a real difference? If you answered yes, Animal Services may the place for you! Come be a part of a rewarding and fun work environment. We are a state-of-the-art facility that takes great pride in the work we do. We care for over 12,000 animals a year and have one of the best adoption programs around. We are seeking a highly motivated and compassionate individual to join our team.

What Would You Do?

The Animal Care Assistant performs responsible animal care and animal services maintenance work at a large animal control shelter operation, cares for impounded animals, assists the public on animal control-related matters, feeds and observes the condition of animals held in the kennel. This position is responsible for implementing and following through with sanitary policies to ensure humane conditions are met. Performs a variety of independent tasks and assists with euthanasia tasks on animals.

• Checks for licensing and inoculation of animals admitted to kennel; records animal history, weight, food intake, and license tags, microchips, or vaccination/license tags.
• Assists Veterinary Technicians to constrain animals, prepares animals for surgery, and does post-surgery examination.
• Assists with euthanasia and cremation processes.
• Cleans and sterilizes operating room, instruments, and equipment.
• Prepares dead animals for delivery to Health Department for laboratory analysis.
• Feeds and waters animals according to established schedules; cleans and disinfects cages, pens and walking yards.
• Inspects animals for signs of illness and/or injuries; reports health problems to supervisor or medical personnel.
• Assists veterinary staff in screening animals for adoption.
• Transports animals to and from the surgical area and between quarters.
• Responds to in-person or telephone requests for information concerning lost animals, admission of strays or unwanted animals, and licensing laws.
• Performs custodial and housekeeping tasks, preventative maintenance, and equipment repair.
• Cleans and maintains animal’s quarters in a sanitary and humane way. May perform preventative maintenance and equipment repair.
• Performs routine work in shelter maintenance operations.
• Performs related work as assigned or required.

What Do You Need To Have?

• Graduation from high school or possession of GED Certificate
• At least 1 year of animal care/training or handling experience or coursework in veterinary technology; or
• An equivalent combination of education, training, and/or experience.
• Possession and maintenance of a valid State of Florida driver's license upon hire with eligibility based upon evaluation of a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) driving report.
• Assignment to work a variety of work schedules including compulsory work periods in special, emergency, and/or disaster situations.
• Physical strength and agility to lift heavy animals, equipment, and supplies up to 50 pounds on a frequent basis.
• Ability to take animals on walks and be on feet for long periods of time.
• Exposure to personal risk during assignments causing periodic contact with hostile or diseased animals.
• Possession of State Euthanasia and Crematory Certification; or equivalent credentials recognized by the Florida Animal Control Association with 6 months of hire.
• Ability to work weekends, weekdays, and holidays. The schedule is rotating with multiple shifts for weekdays and weekends. Weekday shifts are 6:30 AM - 3:00 PM and 9:45 AM to 6:15 PM. Weekend and holiday shifts are 5:30 AM - 2 PM.
• Ability to work at the Animal Services facility located at 12450 Ulmerton Rd., Largo, FL 33774.

Why Choose Pinellas County?

When you join Pinellas County, you're not just taking on a job- you're investing in your future. We believe in supporting our employees with exceptional benefits that help you thrive both professionally and personally. Here is why our benefits stand out as some of the best in the area:

• Comprehensive Benefits Package: Enjoy affordable medical, dental, vision, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, and more that meet the needs of you and your family.
• Florida Retirement System (FRS): Secure your financial future with a robust retirement plan that gives you peace of mind as you plan for tomorrow.
• Generous leave time: Take advantage of time off to recharge and enjoy life outside of work.
• Wellness Program: Access to county gyms 24/7 and wellness programs as part of our commitment to employee wellness.
• Deferred compensation: Build your savings and plan for the future with flexible deferred compensation options tailored to your financial goals.
• To learn more, see What We Offer

Want to Learn More?

Please review the full classification description with the Physical/Mental Demands, Working Conditions, and Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities at the below link.

Animal Care Assistant