HOURS: Sunday, Monday and Thursday 8:00AM-5:00PM

POSITION SUMMARY: Animal Care Associates have one of the most important jobs within the shelter. These essential employees are responsible for providing daily care to the homeless pets at Lake Humane Society (LHS). Dedication, self-motivation, and compassion are key components to an effective Animal Care Associate who provides love and care to animals in need. The ACA is responsible for daily feedings of all shelter residents. The ACA is responsible for maintaining a clean, safe, and calm environment for all shelter residents. This includes cleaning their bedding, removing waste, sanitizing their cage, etc. The ACA is responsible for bathing, walking, enrichment, working on obedience and compassionate care for the homeless animals at LHS.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of high school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience in handling animals in a shelter or veterinary clinic setting is strongly preferred.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while remaining focused, driven, and on task.
• Organized and detail oriented. Must be able to effectively prioritize duties.
• Must recognize the importance of observation, prioritization of tasks, and staying on schedule.
• Knowledge of animal breeds, disease, medical conditions, behavior, and handling.
• The ability to treat both animals and people with respect and compassion.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Responsible for ensuring that all animals are properly cared for and looked after daily.
• Daily feedings of all shelter residents.
• Maintaining a clean, safe, and calm environment for all shelter residents. This includes cleaning their bedding, removing waste, sanitizing their cage, etc.
• Bathing, walking, enrichment, working on obedience, and caring for dogs.
• Responsible for doing rounds to observe any medical concerns and ensure quality care for all animals in shelter.
• Keeping accurate records/files and maintaining Pet Point database as needed.
• Creating and adding animal bios to the database as needed.
• Abiding by all quarantine protocols and the use of Personal Protective Equipment.
• Effectively work alongside volunteers in animal care department.
• Animal Care staff may be responsible for holding volunteer trainings and shadowing for cage cleaning, dog walking, cat TLC, and/or general shelter maintenance.
• Animal Care staff must support all volunteers and treat them with respect.
• Ensure all volunteers in the Animal Care department abide by quarantine protocols.
• Representing LHS professionally and assisting potential adopters
• Responsible for always representing LHS in a professional manner.
• Assist potential adopters during the adoption process by introducing them to adoptable pets and answering questions about the pet and the adoption process.
• Report any medical findings to the medical team.
• Assist in guest services role(s) as needed.
• Assist in promoting Lake Humane Society’s programs, services, and events as needed.

SCHEDULE REQUIREMENTS: This position is part-time, requiring at least 24 hours per week. Flexibility is a must, and Animal Care Associates may be required to work nights, weekends, and holidays. LHS is a 365 day a year operation. The Animal Care Associate may also need to work nights and weekends for events, trainings, shelter meetings, and other special circumstances as directed by the Shelter Manager and/or Executive Director.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Performs work in a shelter setting. Exposure to animals, animal waste, bites, scratches, fumes from cleaning/disinfectant solutions, airborne particles, zoonotic diseases and moderate to high noise levels when in animal areas.

MENTAL, PHYSICAL AND COMMUNCIATION DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• This position is regularly required to use hands to fingers, handle, and talk and hear. The incumbent is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms, and stoop, kneel or crouch. The position holder must be able to regularly lift and/or move up to 60 pounds or more.
• Specific vision abilities required for this position include close vision, distant vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to focus.
• Requires working alone or with minimal supervision. Must be self-motivated.
• Requires patience and tact when working with difficult, emotional or angry people.
• Requires patience when working with fearful animals.
• Requires speaking and writing effectively and clearly in a professional manner.
• Requires clear verbal communication over the telephone and intercom to internal or external individuals.
• Requires treating people and animals in a pleasant, courteous, compassionate, and professional manner.
• Requires ability to work in a team environment and to provide team leadership to volunteers.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: Lake Humane Society is actively seeking to build a diverse and experienced team of shelter professionals. We do not discriminate based on race, color, gender, handicap, age, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin and are an equal opportunity employer.

Apply Now!