Shelter Specialist

Position Summary

Rescue Village is seeking an experienced, compassionate, and dependable Shelter Specialist to provide excellent daily animal care while supporting adoptions, client service, and overall shelter operations.

Shelter Specialists are cross‑trained frontline employees who work with dogs, cats, small animals, and barn animals. Responsibilities include cleaning and disease control, feeding, enrichment, safe handling, health and behavior observation, documentation, animal movement, adoption counseling, introductions, and customer service.

This active, hands‑on role requires strong judgment, teamwork, communication, and reliable follow‑through.

Essential ResponsibilitiesAnimal Care and Shelter Operations

• Provide daily care, feeding, fresh water, enrichment, exercise, socialization, observation, and attention to shelter animals.
• Safely handle animals of varying species, sizes, health conditions, and temperaments.
• Clean and disinfect kennels, cages, animal rooms, barn areas, public spaces, equipment, and other assigned areas.
• Follow sanitation, disease‑control, safety, PPE, and approved animal‑handling procedures.
• Complete laundry, dishes, waste removal, restocking, spot cleaning, opening and closing duties, and required checklists.
• Maintain clean, organized, functional, and safe work areas and equipment.
• Monitor supplies and report shortages before they affect animal care or operations.
• Assist with emergency needs, special projects, and other Shelter Services responsibilities as assigned.

Animal Observation, Records, and Movement

• Observe animals for changes in health, behavior, appetite, comfort, mobility, and other relevant conditions.
• Document animal‑care information accurately and promptly in ShelterLuv.
• Report medical, behavioral, safety, or welfare concerns through the appropriate channel.
• Maintain accurate animal locations, stages, statuses, restrictions, and records.
• Move animals safely and promptly between approved locations; verify identity, destination, and restrictions when information is incomplete.
• Protect confidential animal, client, investigation, and organizational information.

Adoptions and Client Service

• Provide respectful, professional service to adopters, visitors, callers, volunteers, and other clients.
• Support Rescue Village’s barrier‑free, counseling‑based adoption model through individualized conversations about the adopter’s household and the animal’s needs.
• Provide complete and understandable disclosure of known medical, behavioral, and care information.
• Conduct safe animal introductions and complete adoption paperwork, ShelterLuv entries, payments, licensing, and related records accurately.
• Assist with post‑adoption communication, returns, and follow‑up according to approved procedures.
• Use professional communication and de‑escalation practices during difficult interactions.
• Answer questions within the position’s responsibilities and provide a clear handoff when another department must respond.
• Support the welcome desk, public hours, adoption events, telephone response, and related client‑service functions as assigned.

Teamwork and Professional Conduct

• Work across animal populations and shelter functions according to daily operating needs.
• Follow assignments and direction from authorized supervisors and coordinators.
• Communicate respectfully and through approved Rescue Village systems.
• Share animal‑care knowledge, participate in cross‑training, and assist with orientation of employees or volunteers when assigned.
• Work professionally with volunteers while maintaining staff responsibility for core shelter functions.
• Maintain confidentiality, professional boundaries, and cooperation across departments.
• Demonstrate reliability, sound judgment, teamwork, attention to detail, and consistent follow‑through.
• Complete assigned work, reset the area for the next operating period, or clearly communicate and escalate unfinished responsibilities.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Minimum of two years of relevant paid work experience, including at least one year of hands‑on experience in animal care, sheltering, veterinary care, boarding, kennel operations, farming, or a comparable environment. Substantial, sustained volunteer experience may be considered with paid experience.
• Animal shelter, veterinary, rescue, boarding, or other high‑volume animal‑care experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated customer‑service or comparable public‑facing experience required.
• Working knowledge of animal behavior, health observation, safe handling, sanitation, disease control, feeding, enrichment, and daily care.
• Ability to safely handle animals presenting medical or behavioral challenges.
• Ability to explain information clearly, manage expectations, follow instructions, accept direction, and remain professional during emotionally charged interactions.
• Strong communication, teamwork, organization, judgment, documentation, and computer skills; ShelterLuv experience preferred.
• Valid Ohio Driver’s License, reliable transportation, and insurable driving record required.
• Ability to pass a background check and drug screening required.

Physical and Work Environment

Work is performed in an active animal shelter operating seven days per week, with exposure to animals, noise, odors, cleaning agents, outdoor weather, zoonotic disease risk, and animal bites or scratches.

The role requires frequent standing, walking, bending, reaching, kneeling, lifting, carrying, cleaning, and animal handling. Must be able to lift or move animals, supplies, and objects weighing up to 50 pounds with assistance.

Schedule and Benefits

This full‑time, hourly position includes regular weekend coverage and may include evenings, holidays, overtime, emergency coverage, and adjusted hours based on operational needs.

Benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k) with employer match; life insurance; Employee Assistance Program; and paid time off.

Rescue Village is an equal opportunity employer.

Pay: From $20.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $20