Kennel Technician

Job Title: Kennel Technician

Job Status: Full-Time, Non-Exempt

Reports to: Campus Manager

Location: Falmouth, MA

Company Overview:

Recognized nationally as a premier nonprofit organization, Dogs for Better Lives’ mission is to professionally train dogs to help people and enhance lives while maintaining a lifelong commitment to all dogs rescued or bred and all people served. Dogs for Better Lives trains and places Assistance Dogs with clients throughout the United States and is supported by a nationwide donor base.

Job Summary:

The Kennel Technician primarily works with purpose bread dogs. Responsible for their kennel maintenance, hygiene, proper feeding, environmental care, exercise, education and development in residence at Dogs for Better Lives facilities. Additionally, this position maintains accurate medical and behavior records.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides general daily kennel care: scooping, cleaning, laundry, etc.
• Provides general daily dog and cat care: feeding, watering, grooming, playing and exercising – accurately medicating, inoculating and maintaining general health of dogs.
• Provides service dog education and development.
• Takes dogs to the vet whenever necessary, verifying the charges on the vet bills.
• Maintains dogs' medical records by accurately entering medical procedures and activities in individual files.
• Coordinates medical appointments.
• Ensures and participates in regular cleaning of kennel facility.
• Ensures that feces are being scooped and that urine is being sprayed regularly in apartments, run areas and each kennel.
• Ensures supplies are being stocked in Kennel (towels, paper towels, bleach, dog food, treats, chewies, trash bags, refill shampoo, hand soap, bleach solution, betadine, etc.)
• Ensures that all counters are clean, free of clutter and unused medications.
• Ensures that drawers are kept clean and well organized.
• Ensures that all floors are swept in kennel areas, vet and bathing rooms, office areas, apartments, and laundry room.
• Ensures that floor in freezer room is swept and that the room is kept organized.
• Ensures that laundry is being done in a timely manner and that the laundry room is being kept clean and organized.
• Ensures that dogs are being exercised as per instructions.
• Ensures that kennels are cleaning protocols are followed.
• Runs miscellaneous errands.
• Meetings with public who are onsite for tours demonstrations as needed.
• Assures volunteers are helping in ways that are beneficial to the dogs.
• Perform other duties as required by the organization and the breeding and puppy coordinators.

Essential Qualifications:

• High School diploma or GED certificate required.
• Must pass a criminal background and DMV check.
• For the safety of the employee, other employees, and the dogs, an employee must have hearing within normal limits (for an adult, hearing thresholds no greater than 25 dB HL from 500 Hz through 4000 Hz, for both ears, with or without hearing aids, implants or other devices. Employees must be able to hear the wide variety of sounds at different levels and pitches from a variety of directions and distances that dogs make while interacting with people and each other. This includes:
• Detect barking at all levels and tones
• Determine direction barking is coming from
• Detect change in type of bark, tone, volume
• Detect low growl, direction
• Hear a dog running behind them
• Hear talking in a normal range
• When training a dog, the trainer must be able to hear all the sounds and tones that he/she is training the dog to hear in order to reward behavior and ensure successful outcomes.
• Physically capable of lifting dogs up to 65 pounds, the agility to move quickly, climb stairs, operate office equipment and computers with ease, and the ability to get up and down easily while working and playing with the dogs.

Essential Requirements:

• Comfortable being exposed to animal body fluids and medical procedures.
• Comfortable administering medications and utilizing medical equipment.
• Enjoys building and maintaining relationships with staff.
• Enjoys a great deal of interaction with the public.
• Ability to meet and greet the public in a friendly and courteous manner.
• Successfully able to lead self and others through a process and adhere to timelines.
• Shares in the passion for the mission of Dogs for Better Lives.
• Self-starter and independent with limited supervision yet works collaboratively.
• Ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks.
• Highly skilled in interpersonal and written communication.
• Respects and maintains privileged confidential information.
• Values continuous learning and seeks ongoing training and development.

Note: This is a job description, not an employment contract. This job description does not state or imply 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 management.

Dogs for Better Lives is an Equal Opportunity Employer.