KENNEL TECHNICIAN - PART-TIME

Town of Yucca Valley; Yucca Valley (CA); On-site; USD 34,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Town of Yucca Valley is seeking a dedicated Animal Shelter Care Technician to assist with the daily care of animals, shelter upkeep, and public assistance with reclaim and adoption processes.

You will handle animals, maintain records, and support veterinary-related tasks as needed, in a municipal shelter setting with weekend shifts likely.

Qualifications

• Experience handling domestic and wild animals in a shelter setting.
• Ability to maintain records and complete forms.
• Knowledge of basic health and safety related to animals.
• Good English communication and customer service skills.
• Familiarity with office software for records management.

Responsibilities

• Receive stray and owned animals from officers and the public.
• Feed, water, bathe, and care for animals.
• Clean kennels and maintain shelter facilities.
• Explain shelter policies and assist in adoption and reclaim.
• Maintain and file records on animal intake, care and disposition.
• Assist in medical exams, vaccinations, and euthanasia as needed.
• Open and close shelter facilities.
• Provide routine clerical support.

Skills

Animal care

Customer service

Record keeping

English communication

Basic math

Safety awareness

Computer skills

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Training in animal care and control

Job description

DEFINITION:

Under general supervision, cleans and maintains the Town's animal shelter facility; feeds, monitors and handles domestic and wild animals held at the shelter; assists the public in locating and handling animals; assists Animal Control Officers in the field as necessary; performs general clerical functions as needed; and performs related duties as required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED:

Receives general supervision from the Animal Care and Control Manager or designee. Exercises no direct supervision over staff.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS:

This is a journey-level classification that performs a variety of duties related to the care of animals and the maintenance and cleaning of Town animal shelter facilities. This class is distinguished from Animal Shelter Specialist Animal/Control Officer I in that the latter class has responsibility for enforcing state and local laws related to the control of animals, and is empowered with limited peace officer authority in the conduct of official duties.

EXAMPLES OF TYPICAL FUNCTIONS (Illustrative Only)

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Receives stray, unwanted and other domestic and wild animals at the Town animal shelter from Animal Control Officers and the public.

• Monitors animals for signs of illness or injury and reports symptoms to appropriate staff.
• Places animals in appropriate shelter areas according to species and special requirements, such as isolation pending identification of diseases.
• Scrapes, washes, disinfects and dries kennel runs; cleans, changes and disinfects cage linings.
• Feeds and provides water for animals; bathes animals and performs related animal grooming and care.
• Provides effective customer service; explains shelter policies and procedures.
• Assists the public in claiming lost animals or selecting pets for adoption.
• Assists in maintaining records and completes forms regarding the location, care, feeding and disposition of shelter animals.
• Assists staff with medical exams, vaccinations, and euthanasia.

• Performs routine custodial and grounds maintenance work in the cleaning and maintenance of shelter buildings and grounds.
• Stocks animal food and shelter supplies.
• Assists in opening and closing shelter facilities at designated times of day.

• Performs general clerical work as required.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge of:

• Basic health and safety issues related to handling and caring for animals.
• Basic species and breed identification of a variety of domestic and common wild animals.
• Symptoms and behavior associated with rabies and other common diseases of animals.
• Methods and techniques of animal capture.
• General custodial and grounds keeping methods and equipment.
• Modern office practices and technology, including the use of computers for records maintenance.
• English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Records maintenance and report writing techniques.
• Basic mathematics.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors and Town staff.

Ability to:

• Learn, interpret and apply federal, state and local laws, codes and ordinances pertaining to the care, keeping, treatment and impounding of animals.
• Learn and apply policies and procedures related to shelter operations and animal care, feeding, handling, adoption, euthanasia and disposal.
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Handle animals humanely and effectively under stressful circumstances.
• Respond calmly and effectively in emergency situation.
• Prepare accurate and complete records.
• Deal tactfully and effectively with the public, both in routine contact and under difficult circumstances.
• Perform basic mathematical computations with accuracy.
• Learn to operate various equipment and tools used in shelter operations.
• Use computers for office and records management.
• Perform work safely following all rules and regulations.
• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and applications related to the work.
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience:

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be: Equivalent to completion of the twelfth (12th) grade supplemented by training in animal care and control and six (6) months of experience working with animals in a humane care setting, or other experience providing a basic understanding of animal care and handling. Graduation from a Veterinarian Technician program may be substituted for the required experience.

Licenses and Certifications:

Valid California Class C Driver's License and possess a satisfactory driving record.

Possession of a current CPR and First Aid certification.

Veteran's:

To Establish Eligibility for Veteran's preference for open recruitments, applicants must attach a DD214 or other documentary evidence to this application.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

May be required to work weekends and holidays.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Must possess mobility to work in a standard animal control facility and office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer, and to walk on uneven terrain; strength, stamina, and mobility to perform medium physical work; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone. Incumbents are primarily assigned to an animal control facility with frequent standing in work areas and walking between work areas. Wrist flexion and lateral rotation are necessary in combination with grasping to handle a snare and leash. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull animals up to 100 pounds, as necessary to perform job functions.

ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS:

Employees primarily work in an animal control facility with exposure to loud noise levels and may be exposed to animal hair, dust, and potentially hazardous physical substances. Employees may also be exposed to cold and hot temperatures, and inclement weather conditions. Work involves potential exposure to wild, dangerous, and/or diseased animals, animals known to cause allergies, animal waste, and animal bites. Employees may interact with upset residents and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

DISASTER SERVICE WORKER:

All Town employees are, by State and Federal law, Disaster Service Workers. The roles and responsibilities for Disaster Service Workers are authorized by the California Emergency Services Act and are defined in the California Labor Code. In the event of a declaration of emergency, any employee of the Town may be assigned to perform activities which promote the protection of public health and safety or the preservation of lives and property. Such assignments may require service at locations, times, and under conditions that are significantly different from the normal work assignments and may continue into the recovery phase of the emergency. If a "Local Emergency" is declared during the employee's shift, the employee will be expected to remain at work due to the emergency needs of the community. If a "Local Emergency is declared outside of the employee's shift, the employee must make every effort to contact his/her direct supervisor or department head to obtain reporting instructions as a Disaster Service Worker.