Animal Care Technician

Guilford County Government; Greensboro (NC); On-site; USD 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Guilford County Government is seeking an Animal Care Technician to provide daily care for animals in the shelter, including feeding, cleaning, and housing. You will work as part of a team and may handle adoptions and community outreach.

The role requires ability to lift up to 50 pounds, work weekends/holidays, and follow sanitation standards. Training and meetings may be required.

Reporting to the Animal Care Supervisor, you will help maintain records and assist veterinary staff as needed.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of basic cleaning, disinfectant, and animal husbandry procedures.
• Ability to read and comprehend instructions.
• Ability to work in variety of temperatures and conditions.
• Knowledge of disease management/recognition, general animal care and safe, humane animal handling skills
• Knowledge of various breeds of dogs, cats and other animals.
• Knowledge of animal shelter policies and procedures.
• Ability to work as part of a team to accomplish tasks
• Ability to keep accurate, and detailed records and enter them into computerized animal management system
• Ability to perform math.
• Ability to effectively communicate to clients, staff and management both verbally and in writing

Responsibilities

• Performs animal care duties such as preparing food, feeding and providing water, cleaning and disinfecting food and water bowls.
• Cleans and disinfects animal areas, including but not limited to: sweeping and mopping floors, washing, sweeping and scrubbing debris from walls, beds and any other areas, as well as cleaning and disinfecting litter pans, small animals cages and livestock pens.
• Meets, greets, and interfaces with members of the public visiting the shelter whether it be to visit the animals or for adoption.
• Assists in matching animals to potential adopters. Introduces animals to the potential adopters and provides information regarding that particular animal's behavior, responsible pet-ownership tips and shelter operations information.
• Monitors all animals in their designated area on a daily bases and provides observations for them for any unusual physical and/or behavioral conditions.May assist the veterinarian or staff with vaccinations and minor medical treatments.
• Keeps a record on the disposition and daily habits of animals, performs a daily count of animals and is responsible for reporting any condition or inconsistencies to the supervisor or veterinary staff as appropriate
• Completes various records and forms such as medical cards, daily observation sheets, and observation memos in the animal management system
• Assists in maintaining inventory of food and other animal supply needs by reporting when items need to be ordered

Skills

Cleaning and disinfection procedures

Animal care and husbandry knowledge

Reading and following instructions

Temperatures and conditions handling

Record keeping and data entry

Math skills

Communication with clients and staff

Teamwork

Education

High School Diploma or GED and animal care/customer service experience

Job description

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES

Cleans, feeds and houses animals in the shelter facility. Maintains sanitary conditions in the cages and kennel areas.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS

Animal Care Technicians are responsible for the daily care and feeding of the animals within our organization. In this fast paced environment, they will clean, feed and maintain the animal population. They will assist with the daily enrichment of the animals in our care as well as facilitate adoption with various members of our community. Incumbents will be expected to work as part of a team but also be able to work independently to achieve organizational goals. Incumbents must be available and willing to work weekends, holidays and to attend any mandatory training or meetings the employer determines are necessary to meet business needs. Reports to the Animal Care Supervisor.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Performs animal care duties such as preparing food, feeding and providing water, cleaning and disinfecting food and water bowls
• Cleans and disinfects animal areas, including but not limited to: sweeping and mopping floors, washing, sweeping and scrubbing debris from walls, beds and any other areas, as well as cleaning and disinfecting litter pans, small animals cages and livestock pens.
• Meets, greets, and interfaces with members of the public visiting the shelter whether it be to visit the animals or for adoption.
• Assists in matching animals to potential adopters. Introduces animals to the potential adopters and provides information regarding that particular animal's behavior, responsible pet-ownership tips and shelter operations information.
• Monitors all animals in their designated area on a daily bases and provides observations for them for any unusual physical and/or behavioral conditions.May assist the veterinarian or staff with vaccinations and minor medical treatments.
• Keeps a record on the disposition and daily habits of animals, performs a daily count of animals and is responsible for reporting any condition or inconsistencies to the supervisor or veterinary staff as appropriate
• Completes various records and forms such as medical cards, daily observation sheets, and observation memos in the animal management system
• Assists in maintaining inventory of food and other animal supply needs by reporting when items need to be ordered

RECRUITMENT STANDARDS

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of basic cleaning, disinfectant, and animal husbandry procedures.
• Ability to read and comprehend instructions.
• Ability to work in variety of temperatures and conditions.
• Knowledge of disease management/recognition, general animal care and safe, humane animal handling skills
• Knowledge of various breeds of dogs, cats and other animals.
• Knowledge of animal shelter policies and procedures.
• Ability to work as part of a team to accomplish tasks
• Ability to keep accurate, and detailed records and enter them into computerized animal management system
• Ability to perform math.
• Ability to effectively communicate to clients, staff and management both verbally and in writing

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

High School Diploma or GED and some animal care experience in a veterinary hospital, animal shelter, humane society or other animal care facility, AND some customer service experience.

Preferred Qualifications

One year of experience in a fast-paced animal and customer-oriented field.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands of Work

The following physical activities described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and expectations. While performing the functions of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear; frequently required to stand, walk, sit, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds; frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds; frequently push and/or pull up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

Working conditions are in a kennel environment with frequent exposure to laboratory conditions including hazardous materials, unfavorable fumes and odors, and working with animal body fluids and infectious diseases, and loud noises.

May Require Driving

This position may require driving for this position whether driving a County owned or personal vehicle to conduct county business such as but not limited to attending conferences, meetings, or any other county related functions. Motor Vehicle Reports may be verified for valid driver's license and that the driving record is compatible with the county's driving criteria.

If a personal vehicle is operated for county business proper insurance is maintained as per Guilford County's vehicle use policy.

Special Note

This generic class description gives an overview of the job class, its essential job functions, and recommended job requirements. However, for each individual position assigned to this class, there is available a completed job questionnaire with a physical abilities checklist, which can give further details about that one specific position. Those documents should be reviewed before initiating a selection process. They can provide additional detailed information on which to base various personnel actions and can assist management in making legal and defensible personnel decisions.