Animal Care Technician - Full Time April 2026

Description

DEPARTMENT: Animal Care

FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt

COMPENSATION:  $35,360 ($17 per hour) to start. Higher starting pay is commensurate with experience. Full employer paid benefits. 

JOB SUMMARY: Do you love animals? Do you have a drive to ensure that all animals have the care and respect they deserve? If the answer is yes, then we have a dynamic entry level position that may be right for you. This position is responsible for the daily cleaning, feeding, and enrichment of the animals in our shelter. Additionally, this position is asked to assist in the handling of animals for medical procedures and to provide assistance in showing animals to potential adopters. This is a chance to make a real difference in the lives of animals and gain experience in humane animal handling and care. 

The starting pay for this position is $17.00 per hour but is negotiable based on experience.  

• Weekend work will be required; Saturday or Sunday availability is required.

Requirements

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB INCLUDE:

Animal Care:

• Ensure that all animal areas are clean, sanitary and comfortable
• Clean animal enclosures every morning
• Feed, water, and groom animals on a daily basis, while monitoring the physical condition and behavior of each animal
• Under guidance of the Animal Care Manager, administer booster medications
• Provide affection and socialization to all animals on a regular basis, including walking dogs as needed
• Assist in showing animals to potential adopters and effectively communicating an animal’s behavior 
• After appropriate training, assist with the examination and vaccination of animals entering the shelter
• After appropriate training, assist with the evaluation of the medical status of an animal to determine whether it is stable and can remain in the shelter
• Participate in dog playgroups as needed
• Assist in keeping the office areas where animals are housed neat and clean
• Communicate regularly with supervisors and coworkers to ensure that they are aware of any issues pertinent to their areas of responsibility
• Participate in staff meetings to share ideas and suggestions for improving animal care and the quality of the organization as a whole

Administrative:

• Ensure that paperwork and records are maintained accurately and that database information is updated
• Learn and use the descriptive identification used by AWLA, and develop a current working knowledge of all American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized breeds and other commonly seen dog breeds, as well as commonly seen cat breeds
• Develop a basic working knowledge of the AWLA’s procedures, guidelines, and protocols for the safe handling of animals
• Legal and statistical reporting procedures, and veterinary protocols
• Federal and Commonwealth of Virginia substance regulations, and Commonwealth of Virginia and municipal animal regulations
• Understand and comprehend AWLA’s Animal Care Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Assist on an as needed basis with AWLA inventory and report necessary product orders
• Assist with the intake exams of stray, injured and owner-relinquished animals
• Accurately complete all animal intake paperwork
• Maintain accurate animal intake information in database
• Retrieve general voicemail messages and respond to calls and/or forward them to the appropriate department

POSITION SPECIFICATIONS:

Required:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Proven ability to handle multiple tasks in a busy workplace environment
• Ability to accurately perform basic mathematical calculation
• Understanding of humane care and treatment of animals
• Valid Driver’s License
• Fluent in English
• 6 months of experience in working in an animal kennel environment.

Preferred:

• Spanish language skills
• Previous experience working in animal sheltering.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Indoors in a high noise, air-conditioned/heated building, outdoors at shelter in various weather conditions, or on-location for various activities

Equipment use:

• Includes use of PC, laser printer, copy machine, fax machine, telephone, power washer, industrial dish washing machine, laundry machine, dryer, and cleaning supplies

Work hours: 

• Work hours will vary
• Early morning, evening, weekend and holiday hours will be required
• Schedule will be four 10 hour days - Sunday thru Wednesday or Wednesday thru Saturday

MENTAL, PHYSICAL AND COMMUNICATION DEMANDS:

• Regular exposure to animals, cleaning chemicals, fumes, dust, animal feces, bites, scratches
• The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds; 100lbs with assistance
• The employee must frequently bend, grip and be flexible to do so
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus
• Ability to work around pet dander, dust and other allergens without issue
• Regularly required to stand and walk
• Strong data entry skills and the ability to maintain accurate records in a database, currently Chameleon
• Requires working alone or with minimal supervision - must be self-motivated
• Requires patience and tact when working with difficult, emotional, or angry people
• Must have the ability to effectively communicate; verbally and written, over the phone and radio, with a wide variety of both internal and external individuals, including the Directors, Managers, Coordinators, the staff, a volunteer workforce, partner organizations, and private citizens
• Requires treating people and animals in a pleasant, courteous and professional manner
• Adherence to AWLA’s policies and philosophies
• Must be willing to receive Rabies vaccine and/or titers test upon request
  

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB INCLUDE:

Animal Care:

• Ensure that all animal areas are clean, sanitary and comfortable
• Clean animal enclosures every morning
• Feed, water, and groom animals on a daily basis, while monitoring the physical condition and behavior of each animal
• Under guidance of the Animal Care Manager, administer booster medications
• Provide affection and socialization to all animals on a regular basis, including walking dogs as needed
• Assist in showing animals to potential adopters and effectively communicating an animal’s behavior 
• After appropriate training, assist with the examination and vaccination of animals entering the shelter
• After appropriate training, assist with the evaluation of the medical status of an animal to determine whether it is stable and can remain in the shelter
• Participate in dog playgroups as needed
• Assist in keeping the office areas where animals are housed neat and clean
• Communicate regularly with supervisors and coworkers to ensure that they are aware of any issues pertinent to their areas of responsibility
• Participate in staff meetings to share ideas and suggestions for improving animal care and the quality of the organization as a whole

Administrative:

• Ensure that paperwork and records are maintained accurately and that database information is updated
• Learn and use the descriptive identification used by AWLA, and develop a current working knowledge of all American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized breeds and other commonly seen dog breeds, as well as commonly seen cat breeds
• Develop a basic working knowledge of the AWLA’s procedures, guidelines, and protocols for the safe handling of animals
• Legal and statistical reporting procedures, and veterinary protocols
• Federal and Commonwealth of Virginia substance regulations, and Commonwealth of Virginia and municipal animal regulations
• Understand and comprehend AWLA’s Animal Care Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Assist on an as needed basis with AWLA inventory and report necessary product orders
• Assist with the intake exams of stray, injured and owner-relinquished animals
• Accurately complete all animal intake paperwork
• Maintain accurate animal intake information in database
• Retrieve general voicemail messages and respond to calls and/or forward them to the appropriate department

POSITION SPECIFICATIONS:

Required:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Proven ability to handle multiple tasks in a busy workplace environment
• Ability to accurately perform basic mathematical calculation
• Understanding of humane care and treatment of animals
• Valid Driver’s License
• Fluent in English
• 6 months of experience in working in an animal kennel environment.

Preferred:

• Spanish language skills
• Previous experience working in animal sheltering.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Indoors in a high noise, air-conditioned/heated building, outdoors at shelter in various weather conditions, or on-location for various activities

Equipment use:

• Includes use of PC, laser printer, copy machine, fax machine, telephone, power washer, industrial dish washing machine, laundry machine, dryer, and cleaning supplies

Work hours: 

• Work hours will vary
• Early morning, evening, weekend and holiday hours will be required
• Schedule will be four 10 hour days - Sunday thru Wednesday or Wednesday thru Saturday

MENTAL, PHYSICAL AND COMMUNICATION DEMANDS:

• Regular exposure to animals, cleaning chemicals, fumes, dust, animal feces, bites, scratches
• The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds; 100lbs with assistance
• The employee must frequently bend, grip and be flexible to do so
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus
• Ability to work around pet dander, dust and other allergens without issue
• Regularly required to stand and walk
• Strong data entry skills and the ability to maintain accurate records in a database, currently Chameleon
• Requires working alone or with minimal supervision - must be self-motivated
• Requires patience and tact when working with difficult, emotional, or angry people
• Must have the ability to effectively communicate; verbally and written, over the phone and radio, with a wide variety of both internal and external individuals, including the Directors, Managers, Coordinators, the staff, a volunteer workforce, partner organizations, and private citizens
• Requires treating people and animals in a pleasant, courteous and professional manner
• Adherence to AWLA’s policies and philosophies
• Must be willing to receive Rabies vaccine and/or titers test upon request
  
  This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related duties required by their supervisor.  This document does not create an employment contract implied or otherwise, other than an “at-will” relationship.

COMPENSATION:

 $35,360 ($17 per hour) to start. Higher starting pay is commensurate with experience. Additionally the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria offers an excellent benefits package and competitive compensation. The AWLA provides health care, dental, and vision coverage, a retirement plan, and additional employee benefits. Pay will be commensurate with experience.

The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, results of genetic testing, service in the military, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions.

Equal employment opportunity applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation and training. 

Salary : $17