Animal Care Technician

CHARLES COUNTY GOVERNMENT; Hughesville (MD); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Charles County Government’s Animal Care Center is seeking an Animal Care Technician to perform technical and routine care, vaccinate animals, conduct health exams, and assist with intake and adoption processes. The role requires walking, lifting up to 70 pounds, and maintaining accurate records.

Weekend and holiday schedules apply; a valid driver’s license and humane euthanasia certification are required. Work is at the County Animal Care Center, with exposure to chemicals and zoonotic risks.

Qualifications

• Vaccination procedures knowledge and skills.
• Ability to handle animals safely and effectively.
• Accurate data entry and record keeping for animal intake/health information.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment in routine care scenarios.
• Compliance with safety and humane handling standards.

Responsibilities

• Vaccinate animals, perform health exams and administer first-aid as needed.
• Perform humane euthanasia and handle cremation/disposal.
• Care for kennels, feed animals, and maintain clean care areas.
• Prepare adoption and reclaim paperwork; coordinate transfers.
• Transport animals to veterinarians and to/from shelters.

Skills

Vaccination procedures

Animal handling

Data entry / record keeping

Independent judgment

Safety compliance

Education

High school diploma or GED

Two years related experience

Job description

Performs technical and routine animal care and related duties at the County’s animal care center. Administers vaccines, intakes examinations, temperaments testing and performs humane euthanasia. Assists in cleaning and maintaining kennel areas and performs related care center duties. Workers carry out daily assignments, follow through on matters, and use independent judgment and training to take appropriate actions to deal with standard recurring situations.

• Receives, examines and vaccinates animals. Administers medicines, conducts health exams and administers first-aid when necessary.
• Performs humane euthanasia and disposes of dead animals.
• Operates animal crematorium.
• Maintains and updates data files with pertinent information on animal intake, health information etc. on animals received and in the care center.
• Handles animals safely and makes determinations regarding their disposition.
• Cleans kennels, feeds animals and performs related housekeeping duties.
• Performs care center duties including taking reports from the public, receiving animals brought to the shelter, preparing adoption paperwork, reclaiming animals to their owners, preparing paperwork to transfer animals to other organizations, and transporting animals to veterinarians.
• Decapitates animals for rabies testing.
• Performs humane education at schools and at the care center.
• Maintains proper inventory levels of cleaning and other supplies. Informs supervisor when reordering is necessary.
• Performs behavior assessments on all adoptable/rescuable animals prior to placement.
• Transports animals to/from vet offices as assigned.
• Performs other related job duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

High school diploma or an acceptable equivalency diploma (GED). Two (2) years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education, experience and training.

Licenses or Certifications:

Must possess a valid driver’s license.

Certification in humane euthanasia.

Special Requirements/Qualifications:

Must be willing to receive Rabies pre-exposure and Tetanus vaccinations

PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A SAFETY SENSITIVE POSITION, AND EMPLOYEES IN THIS POSITION ARE SUBJECT TO RANDOM DRUG AND ALCOHOL SCREENING.

Work is subject to frequent interruptions.

Subject to work weekends, holidays and beyond the normal scheduled hours of work.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of basic technical procedures used in giving vaccines, medications, and euthanizing animals.
• Knowledge of basic animal care and identification of various animal species.
• Ability to carry out daily assignments, follow through on matters, and use independent judgment and training to take appropriate actions to deal with standard recurring situations.
• Ability to handle animals safely and effectively
• Ability to properly administer vaccinations, perform health exams and humane euthanasia.
• Ability to clean kennels and other areas of the care center.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Typical positions require workers to walk or stand for long periods; lift and carry up to 70 pounds; climb stairs, bend, reach, hold, grasp, and turn objects; use fingers to operate computer or keyboards; and requires the ability to speak normally and to use normal or aided vision and hearing.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work is performed in office and care center surroundings and the worker is subject to work outside in a variety of weather conditions. Worker is continuously exposed to chemicals, zoonotic diseases, and subject to injuries at any given time.

Department/Division: Department of Emergency Services/Animal Care Center

Pay Grade: 108

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Telework Eligible: No

Reports To: Animal Care Manager

Supervises: None