Animal Care Associate

Maricopa County; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 26,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition reimbursement

Exceptional work‑life balance

Opportunities for growth and develop.

Healthcare for you and dependents

Paid vacation, sick time and parental

Arizona State Retirement System

Job summary

Maricopa County Animal Care & Control is seeking an Animal Care Associate to provide daily care and support for shelter dogs, promoting health, safety, and welfare for people and animals in the community.

Work environment includes indoor and outdoor duties, with customer-facing hours. The role requires working all shifts, including early mornings and evenings, and may involve assignment to other shelter locations as needed.

Qualifications

• Six months of experience working with animals in a veterinary hospital, humane society, or other animal facility.
• Six months of in-person customer service work experience is preferred.
• Six months of kennel cleaning experience is valued.

Responsibilities

• Clean indoor and outdoor dog kennels by picking up animal waste, scrubbing and sanitizing walls and floors, and replacing soiled animal beds.
• Provide appropriate food and water and perform general housekeeping of the shelter.
• Record and address medical and behavior concerns within set time frames.
• Conduct daily shelter welfare rounds and assist with movement of animals.
• Update animal records and perform data entry at the shelter, including kennel cards and medical records.
• Follow feeding, handling and care policies with positive reinforcement and fear‑free methods.

Skills

Customer service

Kennel cleaning

Canine handling

Working in heat

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Posting Date

10/15/26

Application Deadline

10/20/26

Pay Range

Anticipated Hiring Range: $19.00 - $25.75 hourly

Full Pay Range: $19.00 - $32.50 hourly

Salary offers are based on the candidate's equivalent experience and internal equity with other employees within the same job classification. The position is eligible for overtime compensation for all hours worked over 40 in the designated workweek.

Job Type

Unclassified

Department

Animal Care and Control

About the Position

Are you a passionate animal advocate who is motivated to care for animals by providing a clean and caring kennel environment for the dogs in our care?

As one of the largest animal shelters in the Nation, we need your support to make a difference! We want you to be our next diligent Animal Care Associate to provide daily care and support for our shelter dogs. You'll be an advocate for the dogs and promote the health, safety, and welfare of the people and animals of Maricopa County.

This position requires the employee to work on campus, both indoors and outdoors, and be customer-facing for all hours worked.

About Us

Maricopa County Animal Care & Control employees are committed to animal welfare and strengthening the human-animal bond in our community, and we are always looking to add talented individuals to our team, either at our West or East Valley Animal Care Centers. As one of the nation's largest open‑admission shelters, we work with our community to serve the animals and people of Maricopa County. Our adoptions, shelter, clinic, and animal services officer teams learn first‑hand about the proper care of homeless and stray animals and work hard to help find them new homes.

Proud to Offer

• Work with a greater purpose
• Tuition reimbursement
• Exceptional work‑life balance
• Opportunities for growth and development within Maricopa County
• Low‑cost, high‑value healthcare for you and your qualifying dependents
• Child care benefits, including access to the Maricopa County Kids Club, dedicated to serving Maricopa County families
• Paid vacation, sick time, and parental leave
• Extensive wellness program, including an incentive
• Enrollment in the Arizona State Retirement System, a defined retirement benefit requiring an 11.98% per paycheck contribution rate that includes a 100% employer match on Day 1
• Want to learn more about the County's Qualifying and Compensation Philosophy? Follow this link to learn more! Work With Us | Maricopa County, AZ

We Require

• Six months of experience working with animals in a veterinary hospital, humane society, or other animal facility
• High school diploma or GED

Other Requirements

• Candidates must be flexible and able to work all shifts, including starting as early as 6 AM and finishing as late as 7 PM. Weekends and holidays are required. Animal Care Associates are assigned on any shift, with any combination of days off, determined by the needs of the Department. May be assigned to work at other shelter locations based on operational needs
• Must complete department-required animal handling training within 30 days of hire
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions, which includes but is not limited to heat and cold

We Also Value

• Six months of in‑person customer service work experience
• Six months of kennel cleaning experience
• Hands‑on experience working with canines of all sizes
• Experience working in high temperatures

Job Contributions

• Clean indoor and outdoor dog kennels by picking up animal waste, scrubbing and sanitizing walls and floors, and replacing soiled animal beds, while meeting established productivity and time expectations
• Perform other animal care duties by restocking essential supplies and maintaining clean, organized, and fully prepared kennel areas
• Responsible for providing appropriate food and water, performing general housekeeping of the shelter, and ensuring medical and behavior concerns are documented and addressed within the set time
• Conduct daily shelter welfare rounds, assist with the movement of animals, and record and address concerns following standard protocols
• Ensure shelter areas are maintained throughout the day. Keep supply areas stocked and clean, and ensure tools and equipment are kept in good working order. Report broken items in a timely manner
• Update animal records and perform data entry at the shelter, ensuring all animal information, including kennel cards, medical records, and behavior records, is accurate. Ensure animal records are updated throughout the shelter stay process
• Follow all feeding, handling, and care policies and expectations within the guidelines of the five domains of animal welfare, and ensure that positive reinforcement training and fear‑free methods are utilized
• Other job duties as assigned

Working Conditions

• Work is performed in an animal shelter with exposure to extreme and varying temperatures, excessive noise, dogs and cats with unknown temperaments or behaviors, animal waste and fluids, deceased animals, cleaning chemicals, and zoonotic diseases
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand and walk on all types of surfaces, some of which are slippery, uneven, or rough
• Employees are required to adapt quickly to shifting priorities
• Stand, walk, bend, and stoop for up to 8 hours per shift. Reach, push, and pull objects using hands and arms. Maintain steady stamina during fast‑paced shifts.
• Exerting 50-100 lbs. occasionally, 10-25 lbs. frequently, or up to 10-20 lbs. constantly

Selection Procedure

• Consideration will only be given to candidates who submit online applications
• Candidates will be contacted primarily through email and their Workday online application profile
• Must pass a pre-employment background and/or fingerprint investigation as required by statute or policy, including drug and alcohol testing requirements for positions designated as safety-sensitive

Maricopa County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application process or to perform the essential functions of the position under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact [e-mail] to initiate the interactive process.