Animal Care Specialist - Part Time

Humane Fort Wayne; Fort Wayne (IN); On-site; USD 17,000 - 22,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) matching

Employee discounts

Job summary

Humane Fort Wayne is seeking an Animal Care Specialist to provide compassionate care for shelter animals, support adoptions, enrichment, and daily shelter operations.

You will monitor animal health, assist with intakes, medications, and daily care, while ensuring accurate records and a clean, safe environment for all animals. Experience in animal welfare and strong teamwork are assets.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to safely handle animals and understand behavior.
• Experience with shelter operations is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Monitor health and behavior of shelter animals and report concerns to medical team.
• Assist with intakes, medical procedures, medications, and daily care.
• Maintain accurate records using shelter management software.
• Keep kennels and spaces clean, safe, and enriching.

Skills

Animal handling

Communication

Computer skills

Leadership or team training

Shelter experience

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Shelter management software

Job description

Benefits

• 401(k) matching
• Employee discounts

Why Join Humane Fort Wayne?

Do you have a passion for animal welfare and enjoy making a difference every day? Humane Fort Wayne is looking for an Animal Care Specialist to provide compassionate care for shelter animals while supporting adoptions, enrichment, and daily shelter operations. In this hands‑on role, you'll help ensure every animal receives the care, attention, and support they need on their journey to a loving home.

What You'll Do

Animal Care & Welfare

• Monitor the health and behavior of shelter animals and report concerns to the medical team.
• Assist with animal intakes, medical procedures, medication administration, and daily care.
• Maintain accurate records using shelter management software.
• Ensure kennels and animal spaces are clean, safe, and enriching throughout the day.

Behavior & Enrichment

• Perform behavior evaluations and document observations.
• Support behavior modification plans, enrichment activities, and playgroups.
• Assist with dog introductions, adoption meet‑and‑greets, and behavior support for adopters.

Feeding & Daily Care

• Prepare and distribute meals according to each animal's individual needs.
• Monitor special diets, medications, and pre-surgical feeding requirements.
• Help oversee volunteers assisting with feeding and daily care.

Adoptions & Customer Service

• Create a welcoming experience for visitors and adopters.
• Help families find the right pet by sharing information about each animal's personality and care needs.
• Support adoption appointments and send‑home processes.

Shelter Operations

• Maintain a clean, organized, and sanitary shelter environment.
• Monitor supplies, assist with inventory, and report maintenance concerns.
• Collaborate closely with medical, behavior, intake, adoption, and volunteer teams to provide exceptional animal care.

What You Bring

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Valid driver's license.
• Leadership or team training experience; shelter experience is a plus.
• Previous animal handling experience preferred.
• Strong communication, organization, and computer skills.
• Ability to safely handle animals and recognize animal behavior.
• Compassion, adaptability, and a commitment to Humane Fort Wayne's mission.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, climb, and lift 50+ pounds throughout the day.
• Comfortable working in an active shelter environment with animals, cleaning products, and common allergens.