Kennel Technician

Works primarily without direction to provide on-boarding, assessment and treatment of animals residing at the city shelter.

Facility Maintenance & Sanitation (40%)

• Performs necessary contamination control to prevent the spread of infection/disease across animals.
• Without supervision, sanitizes and disinfects kennels, cages, and animals.
• Scrubs walls, mops floors, empties litter boxes, and handles animal excretions.
• Performs light maintenance and repairs on the facility and grounds.
  
  

Animal Health & Care (35%)

• Provides initial and daily triage and health assessments on all animals to include providing recommendations for veterinary service.
• Ensures health and safety conditions of animals to meet required ASPCA and local protocols.
• Administers appropriate treatments and medications as required.
• Works directly with veterinary staff to perform euthanasia, vaccinations, examinations, and worming of animals.
• Feeds and waters animals; walks dogs.
  
  

Administrative & Customer Service (25%)

• Performs daily input to update medical treatment sheets relating to animal history and medical triage.
• Updates individual resident binders (animal records) to provide management and prospective adopters and owners quick reference information on each animal.
• Photographs animals for medical and marketing purposes.
• Provides customer service to shelter visitors by answering questions about the animals and showing animals to potential adopters.
• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Coursework in animal behavior or related field.
• Six months experience handling animals in a professional environment (animal shelter, veterinary clinic, etc).
  
  

Necessary Special Qualifications

Possession of a valid Montana driver’s license.

• Working knowledge of medical terms, abbreviations and treatments used for animal care.
• Working knowledge of communicable diseases and how they are spread among animals.
• Working knowledge of the principles and proper practices of animal control and care.
• Works primarily in an independent status, but cohesively as part of a team environment.
• Escorts and safeguards visitors and responds appropriately to inquiries consistent with AnimalShelter protocols.
• Utilizes appropriate bleach and other chemicals for cleaning and disinfecting purposes.
• Practices safety and animal handling procedures using snaring and restraining devices as needed.
• Ability to recognize, assess and deal with aggressive and fearful animal behavior.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with peers, supervisors and the general public.
  
  

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Time Management
• Thoroughness
• Teamwork
  
  

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

This position does not supervise any other positions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed primarily in a kennel environment. Use of chemicals and disinfectants and exposure to animal excrement occurs daily. Risk of animal bites or scratches occurs frequently.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, crouch, sit, bend, twist, kneel, reach, ride and perform similar body movements. Must have the ability to perform heavy physical work and to lift and carry up to 75 pounds at a time; the possession of hand/eye coordination sufficient to operate office equipment including computers, printers, cameras, copiers, telephones, fax, etc.; utilize squeegees, mops and various cleaning equipment; the ability to talk and hear in person and on the telephone; and the ability to see, read and comprehend instructions and reports.

EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK

The work schedule is a 40-hour work week, Sunday through Saturday. Schedule will vary. This position is a non-exempt and eligible for overtime. Any overtime must be authorized prior to working.

TRAVEL

Travel is primarily local during the business day.