Animal Shelter Specialist

Forsyth County; Cumming (GA); On-site; USD 26,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Basic Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

401K Retirement Plan

Job summary

Forsyth County is seeking an Animal Shelter Assistant to care for animals and maintain shelter cleanliness. The role includes supporting veterinary staff, assisting with adoptions, and handling routine shelter duties. A valid Georgia driver’s license is required, and weekend shifts (4-10 hours) are part of the schedule.

The position emphasizes team collaboration, attention to animal health indicators, and following shelter procedures to ensure a safe, humane environment for all animals in care.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required or equivalent experience.
• Experience with animals in veterinary or shelter settings preferred.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Georgia driver's license.

Responsibilities

• Care for shelter animals: bathing, grooming, exercise, feeding per schedule.
• Assist veterinary staff during examinations and procedures.
• Clean and disinfect animal areas and equipment; report maintenance needs.
• Assist with animal adoptions and supervise introductions.
• Communicate with team members and the public to ensure smooth shelter operations.
• Operate shelter equipment and basic office tools as needed.

Skills

Animal care

Animal handling

Teamwork

Driving

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Squeegee

Microchip scanner

Leashes

Job description

Position Information: The purpose of this classification, under the guidance of the Animal Shelter Specialist, is to perform manual and semi-skilled work involving the care for animals and maintain cleanliness and upkeep of the animal shelter in support of the County’s animal shelter operations. This position operates on a 4-10 hour day work week, with one of those days being Saturday or Sunday.

Essential Functions

• Maintains the welfare of the animals in the shelter: provides general care to animals by bathing, groom, exercising, treating for fleas/ticks as needed, etc.; observes all animals for signs of illness or injury and reports any changes to the Team Leader, Veterinary Technician, the Veterinarian or the Shelter Manager; provides fresh food daily to all animals housed at the facility and according to feeding schedule and dietary needs; and transports live animals as needed.
• Provides unskilled assistance and manual labor support to veterinarian staff with the medical care of animals in the shelter: assists the Team Leader, Veterinarian and/or Veterinary Technician during examinations by securing and controlling animals.
• Cleans and maintains the shelter: cleans and disinfects all animal areas and related equipment in accordance with the shelter’s standard operating procedures; makes minor repairs to equipment and facility and reports any problems to the Team Leader, Veterinary Technician or Shelter Manager.
• Assists with animal adoptions; supervises introduction of potential adoptions.
• Interacts and communicates comfortably with various groups and individuals such as Team Leader, Veterinary Technician, Animal ShelterManager and the general public; coordinates work activities with other team members to ensure smooth operation of the facility.
• Operates vehicle, and a variety of equipment such as washer, dryer, computer, printer, scanner, laminator, fax machine, etc.; uses specialized tools such as squeegee, scrub brushes, microchip scanner, scooper, syringes, needles, catch pole, leashes, etc.; utilizes variety of supplies such as paper, stainless steel food pans, stainless steel buckets, cleaning chemicals, pet food, general office supplies, etc.

Additional Functions

This classification is designed as a safety sensitive position which is subject to random drug and alcohol testing and any other drug testing methods as stated in policies adopted by Forsyth County concerning drug and alcohol.

Minimum Qualifications

Performs other related duties as required.

High School Diploma or GED; previous experience working with animals in a veterinary hospital, animal shelter, kennel or similar environment is preferred; or any combination of education and experience which provides the skills and abilities for this job. Required to possess and maintain a valid Georgia driver's license.

Benefits Provided By Forsyth County To Full-time Employees

Personal Leave Accrual

Personal Leave Shall Be Accrued As Follows

• 0 - 4 Years - 20 days per year - 6.16 hours per pay period
• 5 - 14 Years - 25 days per year - 7.70 hours per pay period
• 15+Years - 30 days per year - 9.24 hours per pay period

Observed Holidays

New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving (2), and Christmas (2).

Medical Insurance

• Aetna Choice POS II - $2000 Individual Deductible (Basic Plan)
• Aetna Choice POS II - $1000 Individual Deductible (Plus Plan)
• Kaiser Permanente HMO- $0 Individual Deductible

Dental Insurance

• Base $1,000 Plan
• Buy-Up $1,500 Plan

Vision Insurance

The vision plan offered by Forsyth County Board of Commissioners is administered by Aetna and will offer office visit copays for exams, as well as copays for lenses, frames, and contacts.

Basic Life & AD&D Insurance

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners recognizes the importance of basic life insurance for all of its employees. The Board provides term life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) protection for each full-time employee. This is a County-paid benefit.

Disability Insurance - Short Term and Long Term

100% paid by Forsyth County. Eligibility begins date of hire.

Short Term Disability

60% of weekly earnings to a maximum of $1,000.00 a week. Eligibility begins 14 days after an accident or sickness and has a benefit period of 24 weeks.

Long Term Disability

60% of monthly earnings to a maximum of $5,000.00 a month. Eligibility begins at 26 weeks to coordinate with the end of Short Term benefits and continues 24 months (Own Occupation).

Additional Life Insurance And AD&D

Rates vary based on amount of coverage selected. Additional life insurance may be purchased for employee, spouse, and children.

Retirement Plan (401K)

Fully vested at five years of employment - 20% graduated vesting annually. Eligible to begin contributions immediately upon hire.

Six Months through One Year of County Service

Forsyth County matches your contributions, dollar for dollar, up to 5% of your pay. That’s a 100% return on the first 5% of pay you save.

Years One through Five

Forsyth County “seeds” your account with 5% of your pay each year, and matches 100% of what you contribute, up to 5% of your pay.

Years 5 through 10

The County continues its automatic “seed” contribution of 5% of pay, matches up to the first 5% of pay that you contribute, then adds a 50% match up to the next 5%.

After 10 Years of Service

You continue to receive a 100% County match on the first 5% of pay you contribute, and 50% on the next 5% of pay you save. But now, the automatic contribution the County makes to “seed” your account each year increases to 7.5% of your pay.