Animal Care Technician (Animal Caretaker)

Full Job Description

The City of Norfolk’s Department of General Services is seeking a Full Time Animal Care Technician who will be responsible for the daily care and maintenance of shelter animals. Duties include daily feeding, cleaning, watering, and socializing of various animals, assisting customers with the pet adoption process, and helping customers look for a lost pet.

Provides daily care for stray, impounded, or surrendered animals, including cleaning, disinfection, medical triage, behavioral assessment, and enrichment. Also vaccinates and medicates animals as directed by the Supervising Veterinarian. Assists the public with adoptions or finding lost pets.

Requirements

• Cleans and maintains animal enclosures in a sanitary manner.
• Maintains overall shelter organization and cleanliness throughout the workday.
• Ensure that outside walkways and runs are clean.
• Provides the highest quality animal care through feeding, watering, socializing, and offering various forms of enrichment.
• Observes animals for signs of illness; monitors sick or injured animals and assists with vet- prescribed treatment.
• Assist the public with animal surrender or locating a lost pet.
• Assists the public with selecting a companion animal for adoption.
• Requires the ability to read and understand standard operating procedures.
• Ability to stand for long periods; to bend, crouch, and/or kneel repeatedly; to lift an carry a minimum of 50 pounds.
• Ability to read adoption contracts, registration cards, cage or kennel cards, and medical sheets or prescription dosage on medications for the animals.
• Ability to write adoption contracts, quarantine and euthanasia paperwork, complete registration cards and time slips.
• Ability to perform general math calculations.
• This is an essential position; incumbent will be required to report to work during inclement weather when the City is closed.
  
  
  

Qualifications

Work requires the ability to read and understand written instructions, to understand animal care protocols and the routine operation of animal handling and restraint equipment. Level of knowledge equivalent to high school or equivalency. Level of knowledge equivalent to high school or equivalency.

Required:

• Minimum six months volunteer or paid experience in animal care environment.

Additional Information

• Valid Driver's License required.
• Certified in Animal Euthanasia within one year of employment is required.

Work Schedule:

• Hours are scheduled Saturday through Friday, 40 hours per week.
• Hours may require additional flexibility, nights, holidays, and weekends.