Animal Care Technician

Pets In Need; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Pets In Need in California seeks an Animal Care Technician to provide daily care for shelter animals, including feeding, exercise, and enrichment. Duties include administering medications under Medical Team guidance, maintaining clean living areas, and assisting with transport between Palo Alto and Redwood City locations.

A valid CA driver’s license and a flexible schedule are required. The role emphasizes humane animal handling and teamwork while supporting the rescue and adoption mission of

Qualifications

• Must have and maintain a valid California driver's license with a good driving record.
• Ability to lift and move objects and animals weighing up to 50 pounds for short distances and to humanely restrain animals when necessary.
• Ability to walk and handle large dogs up to 100 pounds, as well as socialize with cats.
• Must understand and support Pets In Need's No Kill mission.
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule including weekends, evenings and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily care, feeding, exercise, and enrichment for Pets In Need's shelter animals.
• Administers and dispenses animal medications as prescribed by the Medical Team.
• Prepares and provides edible enrichment for animals, including stuffing kongs and handing out chews.
• Clean and maintain animal living areas, bedding, furniture, equipment, staff and public areas.
• Observe shelter animals for unusual symptoms and report to proper channels.
• Transport animals as needed.
• Crosstrain and assist at both locations with animal care duties when needed.
• Always promote a humane and caring attitude toward all animals.
• Follow procedures to ensure safety of animals, yourself, and others.

Skills

Valid California driver's license

Lifting up to 50 pounds

Teamwork & communication

English proficiency

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

About Pets in Need

Our mission is to provide animals with loving care and lasting homes, to partner with communities striving to do the same, and to advance our no-kill legacy.

About the role

Under the supervision of the Foster and Animal Care Manager, the Animal Care Technician (ACT) is responsible for providing infrastructure support for Pets In Need’s rescue and adoption efforts. This position will provide the daily care of animals in our care, including but not limited to, feeding, cleaning, medicating, exercising, and enriching the shelter animals’ lives, while following all proper handling protocols. This is a full time position located in both Palo Alto and Redwood City locations and travel between the two locations may be required. The pay scale for this role is $22 per hour to $26 per hour, based upon experience.

What you'll do

• Provide daily care,feeding,exercise,andenrichmentfor PetsInNeed's shelter animals.Assistswith walking and rotating dogs from kennels throughout the day.Mayparticipatein showing dogsand orcats to members of the publicorvolunteers, oncetrained tobehaviorally handle different “levels” of animals.
• Administers and dispenses animal medications(vaccinations and oral treatments)as prescribed bythe Medical Team.
• Prepares and provides edible enrichment for animals, including but not limited to stuffingkongsand handing out chews.
• Clean andmaintainanimal living areas, animalbedding&furniture,all animal/shelter equipment,staff,andpublicareas.
• Observe shelter animals for any unusual symptoms that may be indicative of a medical or behavioral problem and report toproper channels.
• Transport animals asneeded.
• Cleans public areas as needed (i.e.restrooms)
• Crosstrain andassistatbothlocationswith animal care duties whenneeded.
• Always promote a humane and caring attitude toward all animals
• Follow established procedures governing safe work practices; to perform duties in a manner which assures the safety of the animals,oneself,andothers.
• Perform duties in a manner which encourages contributions and business for PetsInNeed
• Always treat people and animals with respect, contribute to effective teamwork, promote staff cooperation, and foster public relations beneficial to PetsInNeed
• Perform other duties asassignedby the manager.Describe the specific responsibilities and job functions of the role

Qualifications

• No allergicconditions thatwould be aggravated when animals are present in theworkplace.
• This position is consideredmoderatelytohighlyphysical and requires standing, bending,liftingand walking.
• Ability to lift and move objects and animals weighing up to 50 pounds for short distances and to humanely restrainanimals,when necessary
• Ability to walkand handle largedogsup to 100 pounds,as well associalize withcats.
• An understanding and willingness to work with potentially dangerous and/or fractious animals.

COMMUNICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Must be able to effectively read, write, and express information verbally in English.
• Ability tocomprehendand follow written and/or verbal instructions.
• Communicate with the public and co-workers in a pleasant,courteous,and tactful mannerat all times.

EXPERIENCE, ABILITIES AND QUALITIES REQUIRED

• Must have andmaintaina valid California driver's license witha good drivingrecord.
• Maturity, goodjudgment,and professional personal appearance.
• Be comfortable and skilled in working with a culturally diverse staff,volunteersand community.
• Affection for animals, concern for their welfare and a willingness to accommodate animals in the workplace.
• Relevant experiencerequired.
• Must understand and support PetsInNeed's No Kill mission.
• Must be able toworka flexible schedule including weekends,eveningsand holidays.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

At least ahigh schooldiplomaorGEDisrequired; preference will be given to candidates that have some work experience in ananimal shelter and/or non-profit organization.Describe the experience and attributes of the ideal candidate.