Animal Care Specialist (Part-Time)

POSITION TITLE: Animal Care Specialist (Part-Time) DEPARTMENT: Health DIVISION: Animal Services SALARY: $19.2125 Hr. CLOSING: Until Filled Job Summary/Scope Cleans and maintains animal housing and animal care areas of the shelter. Assists in the feeding, care, and enrichment of shelter animals. Admits owner-surrendered animals and conducts redemptions of impounded animals and adoptions of shelter animals.

Assists the veterinarian with medical procedures, including euthanasia. No supervisory or budgetary responsibilities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Clean, disinfect, and maintain animal housing, animal care rooms, and other areas where animal care and handling occur to provide a clean and safe living environment for shelter animals. General facility cleaning is handled by custodial staff. Admit owner-surrendered animals, including conducting relinquishment interviews and animal assessments; process redemptions of impounded animals; and conduct adoptions, including adoption interviews and counseling.

Track animal inventory and monitor shelter animals for medical or behavioral concerns. Administer preventive vaccinations and antiparasitic medications upon intake; perform wellness assessments on incoming shelter animals. Complete blood draws on dogs and cats to test for diseases such as heartworm and feline leukemia.

Assist the veterinarian with medical exams, medical record keeping, euthanasia, surgery, and other procedures. Prepare rabies specimens for the State Laboratory. Maintain accurate records of shelter animals, including intake and outcomes (adoption, redemption, transfer, or euthanasia). Reconcile daily revenue reports.

Issue legal notices, summons, and other documents as requested by Animal Control Officers. Communicate with rescues, satellite adoption facilities, and foster homes regarding animal care. Operate the incinerator in accordance with Missouri Department of Natural Resources regulations. Deliver animals to veterinary appointments and other destinations as needed.

Assist Senior Animal Care Specialists with programs as assigned. Participate in outreach and community events, including off-site adoption events and vaccine clinics. Provide daily enrichment for shelter animals as scheduled. Facilitate playgroups as scheduled Train and work with volunteers on-site. Report supply needs and building maintenance issues to a supervisor.

Schedule veterinary appointments as needed. Relieve office staff during breaks and meals and assist in reception duties as assigned. Assist in giving tours to special visiting groups. Perform all other related duties as assigned. Employee Behavior and Conduct City employees shall conduct themselves in a professional manner and shall exhibit and extend such professional conduct appropriate for the circumstances to those with whom they come into contact both internally and externally during the performance of their duties.

Examples of professional conduct include, but are not limited to, being communicative, informative, fair, honest, and respectful. Required (Essential) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Knowledge of animal-related diseases, various animal breeds, and animal behaviors. Skill in feeding, care, and handling of various species of animals.

Skill in assisting with veterinary procedures, including vaccinations, blood draws, and euthanasia. Knowledge of cleaning and disinfection practices and operation of cleaning equipment. Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written form. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, community groups, and the public, including occasionally irate citizens.

Skill in data entry and basic computer applications. Valid driver's license required. Material and Equipment Directly Used Routinely uses a variety of cleaning equipment and tools such as pressure washers, mops, brooms, scrub brushes, shovels, and hoses. Uses catch tools to control animals. Uses syringes and related veterinary supplies to administer vaccinations and medications, perform blood draws, and assist with euthanasia.

Operates incinerator. Office work involves use of telephone and computer. Occasionally operates a light truck. Use of a personal vehicle may occasionally be required. Working Environment/Physical Requirements Work is performed primarily indoors in a controlled shelter environment. Subject to prolonged standing, lifting, carrying, climbing, bending, and stooping; lifts up to 50 pounds to shoulder height and up to 75 pounds to waist height.

Work is performed in the presence of foul odors and loud noise associated with animals. Exposed to environmental conditions including dirt, dust, heat, cold, and sudden temperature changes. Must be available to work various schedules including evenings, weekends, and holidays; some overnight or day travel may be required.

All Animal Services staff are subject to on-call duty in the event of a man-made or natural emergency. Any employee who voluntarily leaves the Animal Services Division within eighteen (18) months of employment shall be required to reimburse some or all costs associated with the following training and equipment: Missouri Animal Control Association Humane Investigator Certification ($450.

1. and Uniforms ($200.00).

Education

High school diploma or equivalent required. Ability to obtain Missouri Animal Control Association (MACA) Humane Investigator Certification within eighteen (18) months of employment. All applicants must pass a drug screening and criminal background check prior to employment. Any job offer made by the City is contingent upon the applicant passing the drug screening and background check.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER The City is a governmental entity subject to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which requires that otherwise qualified handicapped individuals be protected from discrimination.