Canine Caretaker

Humane Society of Delaware County; Delaware (OH); On-site; USD 17,000 - 22,000; Part time

Job summary

Humane Society of Delaware County is seeking a Canine Caretaker to provide daily care for shelter dogs and support a welcoming environment for adopters and staff.

Responsibilities include feeding, enrichment, safety handling, and accurate record-keeping, with a focus on humane animal care and excellent customer service in a fast-paced shelter setting.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
• Background check clearance is required.
• Experience with dogs in shelter, veterinary, boarding, daycare, or training is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Clean, sanitize and maintain kennels and housing areas.
• Provide daily care for shelter dogs including feeding, watering, exercise and enrichment.
• Safely handle dogs using low-stress techniques and safety procedures.
• Observe and document canine body language, health, and welfare changes.
• Communicate concerns to supervisors and team members promptly.
• Assist adopters and visitors with information about animals and adoption processes.
• Maintain records related to animal care and daily operations.
• Support volunteers and foster caregivers and contribute to a positive team environment.

Skills

Canine body language awareness

Customer service

Physical stamina

Independent & team work

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Position: Canine Caretaker

Reports to: Canine Manager

Classification: Part-time, non-exempt

Schedule: Monday - Friday 1:00PM - 6:00PM

Position Summary

The Canine Caretaker is responsible for providing daily care to shelter dogs while ensuring a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for animals, adopters, volunteers, and staff. This position plays a critical role in supporting animal welfare through proper husbandry, safe handling, behavior observation, sanitation, and customer service.

Essential Responsibilities

• Clean, sanitize, and maintain kennels, housing areas, enrichment items, and related shelter spaces according to established protocols.
• Provide daily care for shelter dogs, including feeding, watering, exercise, enrichment, and monitoring overall health and well-being.
• Safely handle dogs of varying sizes, ages, breeds, and temperaments using low-stress handling techniques and established safety procedures.
• Observe, accurately interpret, and document canine body language, behavior, and any changes in physical or emotional condition.
• Communicate behavior, health, and welfare concerns promptly to supervisors and other appropriate team members.
• Assist adopters and visitors by providing information about available animals and supporting positive adoption experiences through excellent customer service.
• Maintain accurate records and documentation related to animal care, behavior, and daily operations.
• Support volunteers and foster caregivers as directed and contribute to a positive, team-oriented work environment.

Qualifications

• Experience working with dogs in a shelter, veterinary, boarding, daycare, training, or similar animal care setting preferred.
• Ability to recognize and appropriately respond to canine body language and behavior.
• Commitment to humane animal care, workplace safety, and excellent customer service.
• Ability to perform physically demanding work, including standing, walking, bending, lifting, and handling animals throughout the workday.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation required.
• Ability to maintain a professional appearance, attitude, and demeanor when interacting with staff, volunteers, adopters, and the public.
• Dependable attendance and punctuality required.
• Must successfully pass a background check.
• Direct deposit (ACH) required.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, emotionally demanding animal welfare environment.
• Work is performed in an animal shelter and may involve exposure to animal waste, noise, odors, zoonotic diseases, cleaning chemicals, and unpredictable animal behavior.
• Ability to work assigned schedules, including weekends, holidays, and emergency situations as needed.
• Ability to remain active for extended periods; frequently walk, stand, bend, kneel, crouch, push, pull, and perform repetitive physical tasks.
• Ability to safely lift and carry animals, equipment, and supplies weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to multitask and adapt to changing priorities while maintaining a high standard of animal care and customer service.

The Humane Society of Delaware County is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment for people and animals alike.

This is an at-will position.