Animal Shelter Attendant

Franklin County Government; Louisburg (NC); On-site; USD 37,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

The Franklin County Department of Animal Services is seeking an Animal Shelter Attendant to join our frontline care team. You will provide daily care, maintain a clean environment, and deliver social enrichment to keep animals happy and healthy.

The role includes assisting with adoptions, coordinating with rescues, feeding and caring for animals, and maintaining records. A high school diploma and a valid NC driver’s license are required; on‑the‑job training for euthanasia and vaccination

Qualifications

• Completion of high school and some experience with animals.
• Knowledge of animal handling skills and animal care.
• Ability to maintain cleanliness and safety in shelter environment.
• Ability to interact tactfully with the public.

Responsibilities

• Cleans and maintains animal confinement areas and cages.
• Feeds and waters animals; monitors health and safety.
• Assists with adoptions and coordinating with rescues.
• Provides customer service to visitors and adopters.
• Administers medications and vaccinations as needed.
• Maintains records of impounded animals.
• Assists with euthanasia of un-adoptable animals when required.
• Reports health or behavioral concerns to supervisors.

Skills

Animal care

Customer service

Communication

Teamwork

Observation

Education

High school diploma

Driver's license

Job description

The Franklin County Department of Animal Services is looking for a compassionate, hardworking, and dedicated Animal Shelter Attendant to join our frontline care team. In this vital role, you are much more than a staff member—you are the heartbeat of our shelter, providing the essential daily care, a clean environment, and the crucial social enrichment that keeps our animals happy and healthy.

Compensation

$37,065-$38,918 – To Be Determined Based on Experience and Qualifications

Benefits

Franklin County offers a competitive benefit package designed to encourage and support your health, well-being and productivity. Benefit options include medical and dental insurance; elective supplemental insurance options such as short-term disability, vision, and voluntary term life; local government retirement; 401(k) with a 4% employer contribution (no employee match required); generous paid leave that includes 13 county-observed paid holidays per year; an employee wellness program inclusive of a county sponsored gym and an employee assistant program.

An employee in this class performs duties associated with the care and maintenance of the animal shelter. The employee will be responsible maintaining the cleanliness and inventory of the Animal Shelter and the care and health of the animals in it. The employee will also assist with adoptions and coordinating with rescues to attempt to prevent euthanasia of shelter animals. The employee is subject to indoor environmental conditions; conditions which may affect the respiratory system and the skin such as fumes, poor ventilation, or carbon monoxide gas; and working around significant noise. Work in the animal services field is also subject to the final standards of OSHA on blood borne pathogens. Work is performed under the direct supervision of the Animal Shelter Supervisor and is evaluated through observation, conferences, and the quality and effectiveness of work completed.

• Cleans and maintains animal confinement area, cleans, and disinfects cages; feeds and waters confined animals; makes routine inspections of animals and their cages to monitor health, safety, cleanliness of cages, etc.
• Washes food and water bowls, shelter laundry, any shelter utensils and keeps facility sanitary.
• Encourages adoptions of sheltered animals; assists interested parties in claiming or adopting confined animals, processing required paperwork, collecting fees, and providing receipts, etc., as necessary.
• Provides customer service to visitors of the animal center looking for their lost pet or looking to adopt a pet.
• Ensures the safety and health of animals within the facility.
• Provides food and daily care for animals in the Animal Shelter
• Administers medication and vaccinations to animals in the Animal Shelter
• Maintains records of impounded animals
• Assists with destroying diseased, vicious, and unclaimed animals in a prescribed manner.
• Reports to the Animal Care Technicians any potential health or behavioral problems involving the animals in the Animal Shelter
• Maintains supply inventories.
• Performs and/or assists in euthanasia of un-adoptable or diseased animals, and decapitation of animals for the purpose of rabies testing.
• Performs necessary weekend, after hours work and holiday schedule work as needed. May be scheduled to rotate weekends with other staff members to feed animals and clean Animal Shelter. During a county disaster, inclement weather or emergency, employees will be scheduled to work at the shelters to care for pets and abandoned animals.

Additional Job Duties

• Administrative duties when needed.
• Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Working knowledge of principles, practices, methods, techniques, and equipment used in the maintenance and operation of animal shelters to include care and feeding of animals and the methods of cleaning and sanitizing animal quarters.
• Knowledge of relevant laws, rules and regulations pertaining to sheltering of animals.
• General knowledge of physical and behavioral characteristics of common breeds of domestic animals.
• Knowledge of common disease symptoms and behaviors domestic animals display.
• Knowledge of the practices and techniques in the welfare and humane treatment of animals.
• Working knowledge of department policies, rules, regulations, and procedures.
• Ability to deal tactfully, courteously, and firmly with the public.
• Ability to deescalate irate citizens while maintaining a professional manner.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with other employees.

Qualifications

• Completion of high school and some experience with animals; requires knowledge of animal handling skills, animal behavior, and animal care; or equivalent combination of education, experience, and training.
• Possession of a valid NC driver’s license.
• Must be able to obtain certification in animal euthanasia techniques.
• Must be able to obtain certification in vaccinating animals for rabies.