Animal Care Technician

Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter; Tuscaloosa (AL); On-site; USD 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

An animal care facility in Tuscaloosa seeks a responsible individual to maintain hygiene and care for animals. You'll be cleaning, providing care, and ensuring a sterile environment. Candidates must be able to work under pressure and potentially handle stressful situations with animals. This role requires a strong work ethic and ability to lift heavy objects. Flexible scheduling may be required.

Qualifications

• Able to learn basic veterinary concepts.
• Must work under stress and effectively cope with difficult situations.
• Experience in a shelter or veterinary environment is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Clean cages and public areas to ensure hygiene.
• Provide care for animals including walking dogs.
• Maintain cleanliness of the facility and organization.

Skills

Communication skills

Ability to lift up to 50 pounds

Ability to cope with stressed animals

Good vision and hand-eye coordination

Ability to work independently and in a team

Job description

JOB SUMMARY

Responsible for maintaining proper disease control protocols, including cleaning of kennels/facility, laundry, providing care to the animals, and general maintenance of the facility.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS (but not limited to)

· Clean cages and public area following disease control protocols to ensure a sterile environment.

· Wash dishes following protocols

· Wash laundry

· Wash portable carriers

· Keep floors clean

· Walk dogs

· Maintain cleanliness of organization (keep yard scooped, take out trash, and spot clean throughout the day)

· Other duties assigned.

EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES

· Will be asked to communicate with the public daily in a professional manner.

· Must be able to learn basic veterinary concepts such as vaccine protocols, deworming protocols, and information about diseases prevalent in animals.

· Must be able to stand or sit for 8 or more hours.

· Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds repeatedly throughout the day.

· Must be able to bend and kneel repeatedly.

· Must be able to work in potentially extreme environmental temperatures.

· Must have good range of motion, have good vision, and possess good hand-eye coordination.

· Must be able to work under stressful situations and work efficiently and effectively under those conditions.

· Must be able to cope with varying degrees of injured animals and with euthanasia.

· Ability to cope with frustrating situations and remain calm.

· Ability to rapidly and accurately process information.

· Ability to recognize the need for assistance and ask for help.

· Ability to work independently and work as a team.

POTENTIAL FOR PROLONGED EXPOSURE

· Prolonged exposure to various aqueous solutions, including but not limited to, dish soaps, laundry detergents, bleach, etc.

· Prolonged exposure to various zoonotic diseases.

PREFERRED

Experience working in an animal shelter environment or veterinary clinic preferred. Candidate should be a highly motivated, enthusiastic self-starter with a positive, professional attitude.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The offices and operations of an animal shelter can be high stress and very busy at times. This position can have a changing schedule based upon need. The schedule may require evening, weekend, holiday, and over-time work if necessary. We are flexible with schedules, but we must be able to accommodate what we need.