Customer Service and Animal Care

Multiple Positions Available – Animal Care & Customer Service

Hancock County Animal Shelter – A JCHS Foundation

Do you want a career where the work you do each day directly impacts the lives of animals and the people in your community?

Hancock County Animal Shelter, a JCHS Foundation program, is currently hiring for multiple full-time and part-time positions within our Animal Care and Customer Service teams.

We are looking for compassionate, dependable, hardworking individuals who want to be part of a team dedicated to improving the lives of shelter animals and helping them find their way into loving homes.

Previous animal shelter experience is not required. We are willing to train the right candidates who come to us with a positive attitude, strong work ethic, and willingness to learn.

Animal Care Responsibilities

Our Animal Care team is responsible for providing consistent, compassionate daily care to the animals residing at the shelter. Responsibilities may include:

• Providing daily care for dogs and cats, including feeding and watering
• Cleaning and disinfecting kennels, cages, animal areas, and common spaces
• Walking dogs and providing appropriate daily exercise
• Providing enrichment and socialization
• Safely handling and restraining animals when needed
• Monitoring animals for changes in health, behavior, appetite, or overall condition
• Accurately documenting medical and behavioral observations
• Assisting with adoption introductions and interactions
• Completing laundry, dishes, and general shelter cleaning
• Taking photos and videos and helping market adoptable animals on social media
• Working with the shelter team to help animals become healthy, happy, and adoption-ready
• Assisting with other shelter duties as needed

Customer Service Responsibilities

Our Customer Service team plays an important role in connecting our shelter, our animals, and our community. Responsibilities may include:

• Greeting and assisting visitors to the shelter
• Answering phones and responding to questions from the public
• Providing adoption counseling and helping families find the right match
• Processing adoptions and completing required paperwork
• Assisting with owner surrenders and stray animal intake
• Scheduling appointments and maintaining accurate shelter records
• Entering and updating information within shelter management software
• Communicating professionally and compassionately with members of the public
• Helping customers navigate difficult or emotional situations
• Assisting with adoption introductions and animal handling as needed
• Supporting the Animal Care team and overall daily shelter operations

What We're Looking For

The right candidate doesn't necessarily need years of animal shelter experience. We are looking for people who are:

• At least 18 years of age
• In possession of a valid driver's license
• Dependable and able to work as part of a team
• Compassionate toward both animals and people
• Comfortable working with dogs and cats of different sizes, breeds, personalities, and backgrounds
• Able to communicate professionally with coworkers and members of the public
• Willing to learn proper animal handling, sanitation, shelter procedures, and safety protocols
• Comfortable working in a physically active environment
• Able to remain professional and compassionate during difficult or emotional situations
• Willing to jump in and help wherever needed

We are willing to train the right candidate.

Schedule

Both full-time and part-time opportunities are available.

Typical working hours are 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Because animals require care 365 days a year, applicants must have availability to work weekends and holidays as scheduled.

Full-Time Benefits

Full-time employees are eligible for:

• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid holidays

More Than "Working With Animals"

Working in an animal shelter can be incredibly rewarding, but it also takes dedication. A large part of providing excellent animal care involves cleaning, disinfecting, documenting, communicating, and completing the daily work necessary to keep our shelter operating safely and effectively.

Some days are fun and exciting. Other days can be physically and emotionally challenging.

Every part of the job matters.

Whether you're cleaning a kennel, helping a nervous dog learn to trust people, assisting a family with an adoption, answering a community member's questions, taking photos of an animal who needs a home, or simply making sure every animal has a clean and comfortable place to sleep—you are contributing to our mission.

Join Our Team

If you are dependable, compassionate, hardworking, and looking for an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in your community, we would love to hear from you.

Apply today to join the Hancock County Animal Shelter team and help us continue building better outcomes for the animals and people we serve.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• Paid time off

Work Location: In person