Shelter Technician - Dog Shelter

Full Job Description

Requirements

Animal Care and Safety

1. Maintains a clean, sanitary and safe environment for animals and people.
2. Provides basic animal care and enrichment based on “The Five Freedoms”: freedom from hunger and thirst, discomfort, pain, injury or disease, to express normal behavior and from fear and distress.
3. Assists management in evaluating, improving, developing, and implementing standard operating procedures and protocols.
4. Trains and oversees inmate workers in daily kennel cleaning and sanitizing, dog care (feeding, enrichment, exercise, etc.), and other assigned duties.

When Adult in Custody (AIC) crew is utilized: Exercises direct oversight of inmate workers; including inmate orientation, job assignments, scheduling, reviewing work, and providing training in procedures and protocols.

Evaluates work performance: provide direction to inmate workers and implement appropriate discipline and conflict resolution procedures when necessary.

Organizes work schedules for all assigned inmate workers based on skill level, training, and ability. Reports inmate behavior, conduct and injuries to the proper authorities.

5. Identifies adoptability based on established protocols.
6. Provides daily mental and physical exercise to dogs through direct interaction and by training inmate workers (when utilized) and volunteers to provide enrichment activities such as food puzzles, environmental enrichment, training and toys.
7. Works safely and follows all applicable health and safety rules.
8. Maintains and cultivates professional relationships.
9. Reports unsafe conditions to supervisor.
10. Perform humane euthanasia as directed by management.

Animal Intake and Customer Service

1. Assists customers searching for lost dogs and those bringing stray dogs into the shelter.
2. Counsels’ owners as needed regarding medical or behavioral concerns identified during their dog’s stay at the shelter.
3. Collects and documents relevant data at intake. Intakes dogs, prepares them for disposition (also known as, Advanced Animal Care duties), receives lost dogs, and administers routine medications, vaccinations, microchips, and other necessary treatments.
4. Safely and humanely examines, weighs, handles, and observes dogs.
5. Works with dogs of all sizes, ages, temperaments, and needs in a safe and humane manner.
6. Observes and documents on the health of dogs to quickly identify any illness, injury, or status changes and reports concerns to veterinary staff and supervisors.
7. Provides professional and compassionate customer service by demonstrating empathy and professionalism to all internal and external customers.
8. Use good judgment and acts on opportunities to educate; approve or deny adoptions; remain calm in difficult situations; creates solutions to meet the needs of the customer and the organization.

SPECIALTY PROGRAMS

1. Ensures authorized specialty programs provide value to the community, citizens, and animals,
2. Coordinates internal and external training and education for staff, inmate workers, volunteers and the community.
3. Maintains and updates program materials, including orientation materials, manuals, and handouts.

Behavior, Training & Dog Walking Program: Ensures all dogs are behaviorally evaluated in accordance with established guidelines and protocols. Develops behavior plans for dogs with behavioral challenges and ensure proper implementation. Provides daily enrichment, including playgroups. Safely intervenes in dog fights, when necessary, provides behavioral guidance via phone and email, and conducts dog handling and body language classes for staff, volunteers, customers, and inmates. Assists in developing content and provide hands-on instruction to volunteer staff. Provides immediate feedback, addresses concerns, and offers guidance regarding dog handling. Assists with ongoing volunteer training, orientations, and meetings.

Transfer Partners: Communicates effectively with internal and external customers to manage outgoing transfer requests. Maintains and cultivates relationships and serves as the primary contact with shelter and transfer partners within and outside of Marion County. Remains current on available shelter dogs, assess dogs for transfer eligibility, and follow policy and procedures. Networks to expand rescue and shelter partnerships. Reviews medical and behavior records and coordinates with partners regarding individual dog needs. Contacts partners regarding dogs requiring special assistance.

Foster Care: Collaborates with the Volunteer Coordinator to recruit, train, mentor, and serve as primary contact for foster volunteers. Monitors foster placements and provides feedback and support. Facilitates movement of shelter dogs in and out of foster care. Coordinates with Veterinary Team to ensure foster dogs receive timely medical care, vaccinations, and treatments. Advises foster homes on basic animal care. Maintains accurate records of foster placements in the shelter database and manages foster information using Volgistics and Shelter Buddy software. Maintains and updates Foster Facebook Page and contributes to other social media in coordination with the Volunteer Coordinator.

Adoption: Reviews adoption applications and actively engages the public in the adoption process. Creates profiles for adoptable dogs. Conduct adoption meets with prospective adopters and educates adopters about proper care and individual needs of various dogs.

Other Duties

1. Performs related work as assigned and willingly follow instructions, including, but not limited to transports sick or seriously injured dogs to the veterinarian as needed, runs errands, delivers paperwork, and attends meetings from remote locations.
2. Drives to various sites to make deliveries and pick up supplies.
3. May work flexible hours including weekends.
4. Maintains inventory of shelter supplies such as cleaning chemicals and equipment; personal protection equipment; and other supplies needed to operate the shelter and provide appropriate care for dogs.
5. Provide exceptional customer service.
6. Other duties as assigned by your supervisor.

Qualifications

EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING

1. Graduation from high school, or equivalent; AND
2. One year of experience in customer service, basic computer skills, and record keeping; AND
3. One year of experience in an animal-related field such as veterinarian assistant, animal training facility or shelter work; OR
4. Any satisfactory combination of work, education, training, or experience relevant to the position, as determined by Marion County.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Must possess a current driver's license in the applicant's state of residence and an acceptable driving history.

Marion County will obtain a copy of the driving record for all qualified applicants from Driver and Motor Vehicle Services and review the driving record according to the Marion County policy and procedure for Driving on County Business.

The policy can be found at:http://apps.co.marion.or.us/APAP/.

Must pass a criminal history background investigation; however, conviction of a crime may not necessarily disqualify an individual for this classification.

Obtain Euthanasia Certification with the State of Oregon, or be able to obtain within 6 months of employment.

This is a safety sensitive/special needs position. Final candidates selected for this position will be required to pass a pre-employment drug screen, including testing for marijuana.

The Marion County Drug and Alcohol Use and Testing Policy can be found at:http://apps.co.marion.or.us/APAP/policy.aspx?p=policy&pid=518.

This assignment is represented by a union.

This is a full-time position which is eligible for overtime.

Typical Work Schedule: 40 hours/week with a rotating schedule which could include weekends and holidays.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIESWorking knowledge of animal behavior and basic animal health; safe and efficient animal handling; paperless record keeping; use of specialized computer software.

Some knowledge of state and county laws, ordinances, local regulations, and policies and procedures governing the control, impoundment, retention, and release of dogs.

Skills and abilities to safely and compassionately, handle and care for dogs of varying temperaments in stressful situations and environments.

Safe and effective use of specialty equipment, along with appropriate maintenance of equipment.

Establish and maintain cooperative, respectful, and positive working relationships with internal and external customers; provide customer service in a friendly and effective manner.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTSOperates a motor vehicle; sees using depth perception; distinguishes colors and shades; stands; sits; moves about the work area; bends forward; stoops; climbs 1 floor of stairs; crawls; reaches overhead; lifts up to 50 lbs.; pushes and pulls up to 60 lbs.; moves carts weighing up to 175 lbs.; carries up to 30 lbs.; operates a keyboard; utilizes rapid mental/hand/eye coordination; speaks clearly and audibly; reads 12 pt.

font; hears a normal speech level.