NEWTON COUNTY, GEORGIA
Classification Specification

KENNEL MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN (1313)
FLSA: Non-Exempt

Purpose of Classification:

The purpose of this classification is to provide routine care for animals in the shelter and provide customer service
to shelter visitors.

Essential Functions:

The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude
them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other
duties may be required and assigned.

Cares for shelter animals: feeds, waters, and exercises animals; administers vaccines and medications and draws
blood as needed; applies flea treatments; washes bedding and toys; and performs temperament tests for
appropriate adoption matches.

Maintains animal control shelter: mixes cleaners to disinfect dog runs, cat cages, and small animal cages; scrubs
equipment; cleans the yard; cleans and sanitizes runs, cages, floors, treatment rooms, and reception area; removes
trash and processes recycling; and performs other maintenance duties as assigned.

Assists citizens with their pets or shelter animals: assists the public at the counter with adoptions, reclaiming their
pets, and providing general information; traces microchips, rabies tags, I.D. tags, and tattoos to locate owners of
stray animals; assists owners with intake of animals that are being surrendered to shelter; and prepares and enters
adoption records and monies into the assigned computer system.

Assists with related animal care duties: sanitizes equipment; administers medications and routine first aid;
restrains animals; obtains blood, stool and swab samples for medical testing; performs observational check-ups in
kennels/cages to monitor animal well-being and safety; and assists with euthanasia procedures.

Performs customer service functions: greets and directs visitors and answers phone calls; answers questions and
provides information regarding adoption, shelter policies and procedures, fees, and related issues; dispatches Field
Officers as needed; and educates visitors regarding responsible pet ownership and animal shelter activities.

Performs other miscellaneous duties in the daily operation of the shelter: monitors and replenishes inventory of
food and supplies; makes deliveries to the landfill; cleans office and kitchen areas; and maintains shelter grounds.

Newton County, Georgia Kennel Maintenance Technician

Processes a variety of documentation associated with department/division operations, within designated
timeframes and per established procedures: prepares, completes, receives, reviews, processes, forwards or retains,
as appropriate, various forms, reports, correspondence, and other documentation, such as adoption contracts,
vaccine forms, microchip forms, animal complaints, and animal cage cards; compiles data for further processing or
for use in preparation of department reports; and maintains computerized and/or hardcopy records.

Operates a personal computer to enter, retrieve, review or modify data, utilizing word processing, database, or
other software; and operates general office or other equipment as necessary to complete essential functions.

Communicates with supervisor, other County employees, the public, and other individuals as needed to coordinate
work activities, review status of work, exchange information, or resolve problems.

Additional Functions:

Performs other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications:

High school diploma or GED required; supplemented by one year of work experience that shows an ability to
maintain steady employment in any field; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.

Specific License or Certification Required: Must possess and maintain a valid Georgia driver’s license.

Specific Knowledge, Skills, or Abilities: Must be able to demonstrate proficiency in performance of the essential
functions and learn, comprehend, and apply all County or departmental policies, practices, and procedures
necessary to function effectively in the position.

Performance Aptitudes:

Data Utilization: Requires the ability to compile, assemble, copy, record and/or transcribe data according to a
prescribed schema or plan. Includes judging whether readily observable functional, structural or compositional
characteristics are similar to or divergent from prescribed standards, procedures or routines.

Human Interaction: Requires the ability to provide guidance, assistance, and/or interpretation to others regarding
the application of procedures and standards to specific situations.

Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization: Requires the ability to start, stop, operate and monitor
the functioning of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions.

Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference data and information.

Mathematical Aptitude: Requires the ability to perform addition and subtraction. May include counting, recording
of counts, and basic measuring.

Functional Reasoning: Requires the ability to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagrammatic
form. Involves semi-routine standardized work with some latitude for independent judgment concerning choices
of action.

Situational Reasoning: Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving

Newton County, Georgia Kennel Maintenance Technician

evaluation of information against measurable or verifiable criteria.

ADA Compliance:

Physical Ability: Tasks require the ability to exert heavy physical effort in heavy work, with greater emphasis on
climbing and balancing, but typically also involving some combination of stooping, kneeling, crouching, and
crawling, and the lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling of moderately heavy objects and materials (20-50
pounds); may occasionally involve heavier objects and materials (up to 100 pounds).

Sensory Requirements: Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors,
sounds, odor, depth, texture, and visual cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.

Environmental Factors: Performance of essential functions may require exposure to adverse environmental
conditions, such as dirt, dust, pollen, odors, wetness, fumes, temperature and noise extremes, confined spaces,
machinery, traffic hazards, bright/dim lights, toxic agents, animal/wildlife attacks, animal/human bites, disease,
pathogenic substances, or rude/irate customers.

Newton County, Georgia is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act,
the County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both
prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.