Animal Care Technician

Job description

Job DescriptionJob DescriptionAnimal Care Technician

Happy Life Animal Rescue is a 501(c)3 based out of Pawling NY. Happy Life is committed to helping rescue dogs and cats not just from the local area but also helping alleviate animal overpopulation all over the country through participating in several animal transport and relocation programs.

The Animal Care Technician position ensures animal care at Happy Life Animal Rescue is timely, exact, and thorough for dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens. They work together to help the system run smoothly when it comes to essential daily tasks like cleaning and feeding, but they also pause when appropriate to recognize individual animals and their unique needs in that system. While some aspects of care are broken down into a science, care workers are also encouraged to explore it as an art when they become more advanced and trained.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Perform basic observations and report the general behavior and health of animals in all departments of the program

Adhere to strict sanitation protocols specific to each program

Ability to clean animal habitats including

scooping litter boxes

removing feces

replacing soiled bedding

disposing of litter/debris

scrubbing and sanitizing rooms and/or kennels

replenishing water bowls

sanitizing play yards

Perform deep clean tasks on a regularly scheduled basis

Sweep and mop floors daily

Empty trash in all assigned areas

Wash and sanitize dirty litter boxes

Wash and sanitize dirty food and water bowls

Wash dirty laundry

Restock essential supplies

Maintain special feeding protocols for certain animals

Work collaborative and in a positive manner with all volunteers and staff

Walk dogs as needed and rotate into play yards

Set up dog and cat kennels, with fresh water, food, and bedding

Meet transporters bringing dogs and cats to APA and assist with loading/unloading

Customer service and helping potential adopters, volunteers, and visitors

Walk dogs and take cats to their appropriate kennels, and ensure they have kennel cards

Assist with van and kennel cleaning and preparation for transport

Assist with transport load-ups for events, vetting

OTHER FUNCTIONS:

Attend and participate in all required training sessions and meetings

Maintain open and consistent communication with Program Manager or designee, supervisor, and other colleagues

Able to react to change productively and perform other related duties as assigned

Able to work mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed

Able to work in a high-volume, fast-paced, high-stress environment

Comfortable working both autonomously when given goals and deadlines

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, & EXPECTATIONS:

Must be able to handle all animals with kindness at all times without exception

Act with integrity at all times

Must be able to work in a high-volume, fast-paced, high-stress environment. Self-motivated, great attitude, and team-oriented

Work efficiently with minimal oversight to complete all duties and responsibilities

Safely work with and around animals of varying temperaments

Attention to detail, ability to follow directions

Timely and good attendance

Effectively communicate with others in person, on the phone, and through email

Basic experience in animal handling and care

Basic knowledge of common animal health conditions

Basic knowledge of animal behavior

Attend and participate in all required training sessions and meetings

Maintain open and consistent communication with the Program Manager or designee, supervisor,

and other colleagues

Willing and committed to working well with volunteers and staff in all roles

Desire to engage in regular networking and partnership-building

Solution-oriented, positive attitude when encountering challenges or barriers

Interest in growing and expanding a program on a state and national level

PHYSICAL JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Must be able to routinely lift 40-50 pounds

Must be able to work around animals (including diseased, injured, and/or potentially aggressive animals), loud noises, chlorine or other chemicals, and inclement weather

Must be able to comfortably interact with cats/dogs of various health levels, including zoonotic diseases such as ringworm, scabies, intestinal parasites, etc.

Be able to bend and use your arms in a repetitive manner

Can be on your feet for an entire 3-5 hour shift

Must have physical strength to perform cleaning duties quickly and on schedule

Must be able to walk big dogs that pull and jump

Must be able to visually observe people and animals from up to 150 feet away

Ability to hear normal speech at close contact and shouting up to 150 feet away with the ability to hear and discern dog vocalizations both soft and loud

periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer

Must be able to focus in a loud and busy environment despite distractions

Must be able to walk around the rescue as needed - on uneven ground, keeping a safe distance from dogs and handlers

Will sit, stand, walk, talk, hear, stoop, bend, stretch, squat, kneel, grasp, grip, put fingers together firmly and reach above and below shoulder level, lift and/or carry up to 50 pounds, and push and pull up to 50 pounds for situations of moving supplies and setting up for events; repetitively use hands to operate computers; flex the neck upward and downward; twist the neck and the waist.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Rapid pace with exposure to potential hazards including animal waste, disinfectants

High levels of noise, dogs barking

Potential for animal bites and scratches and diseases that can be transmitted from animals to people

Occasional after-hours or weekend work will be required to support program needs

Exposure to unpleasant odors.

TIME COMMITMENT: This is a part-time position of up to 32 hours per week.

COMPENSATION: $16.00/hr Starting

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS: This position reports directly to the Animal Care Lead.

LOCATIONS:

Happy Life Animal Rescue Adoption Center - 550 Route 22 Pawling NY 12564

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCOMMODATIONS STATEMENT

Happy Life Animal Rescue is an equal employment opportunity employer and we value having staff who come from communities that are most impacted by the issues we engage on. We especially encourage people of color, LGBTQ people, women, transgender and gender non-conforming people, and people with disabilities to apply.

Happy Life Animal Rescue does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Happy Life Animal Rescue is committed to creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion, respect and integrity, community focus, and innovation.

Worksite address

pawling, NY, 12564, US

Who can apply

Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.