Animal Care Technician

Vanderburgh Humane Society, Inc.; Evansville (IN); Hybrid; USD 26,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Vanderburgh Humane Society, Inc. in Evansville, IN is seeking an Animal Care Associate to maintain kennels, feed and care for shelter animals, and provide enrichment. You will monitor animal health, report concerns, and assist with grooming and daily operations to ensure a clean, safe shelter environment.

Prior animal handling experience is preferred; ability to lift up to 75 lbs with accommodations is required. This on-site role supports humane animal care and adoption readiness.

Qualifications

• Experience with animal handling preferred.
• Ability to lift up to 75 lbs with reasonable accommodations.
• Basic Windows computer knowledge preferred.

Responsibilities

• Cleans and maintains kennels and facilities.
• Provides animals with food and water daily.
• Observes animals and reports illness or behavior concerns.
• Socializes and enriches all animals.
• Cleans and sanitizes kennels for disease control.
• Walks dogs daily with positive reinforcement training.
• Addresses grooming needs for all dogs.
• Maintains grooming room and kennel areas.
• Keeps public areas clean at all times.
• Reports behavior or medical concerns immediately.
• Communicates disposition information for shelter animals.
• Adapts to protocol changes and follows policies.

Skills

Animal handling

Lifting up to 75 lbs

Windows basics

Job description

Description

Primary Responsibilities

• Cleans and maintains the kennels and facilities
• Providing animals with adequate food and water on a daily basis
• Observes animals to ensure proper feeding and report any signs of illness or behavior problems
• Socializes and provides optimum enrichment for all animals
• Cleans and sanitizes animal kennels during morning and evening cleanings for disease control.
• Conducts routine “spot” checks and cleaning throughout the day.
• Ensures daily walking with positive reinforcement training techniques to increase adoptability for all dogs.
• Ensures grooming needs are addressed for all dogs
• Cleans and maintains grooming room
• Maintains laundry/dishes/trash in kennel areas
• Stocking/keeping kennel rooms, supply rooms, and laundry rooms clean and organized
• Keep public areas clean at all times
• Empty trash cans in all kennel areas
• Report behavior (fearful, aggressive) or medical concerns immediately
• Communicates (verbal & written) all information relating to disposition of shelter animals
• Cleans and maintains dog porches
• Cleans and maintains all outdoor yards
• Cleans and maintains cat cages or cageless housing areas
• Assists/trains in other areas of the shelter as needed (small/exotic animals, etc.)
• Adapts to and complies with all changes in protocol
• Adheres to company policies & procedures at all times

Requirements

Education/Experience Required:

• Previous animal handling experience preferred
• Ability to lift up to 75 lbs. with reasonable accommodations.
• Basic computer knowledge in a Windows environment preferred

Work Conditions

Works in a high noise level area. Exposure to cleaning agents, fumes, animal feces, bites, scratches, extreme heat & cold, etc. Potential for exposure to zoonotic conditions such as ringworm, intestinal parasites, rabies, etc. Physical efforts to require constant bending, standing, and frequent lifting up to 75 lbs. with reasonable accommodation, rotating assignment schedules when necessary. Safety procedures must be adhered to at all times.