Foster Care Assistant

Job description

Our Foster Care Team is vital to the success of our adoption program, providing hands-on care, treatment, and communication to the hundreds of our animals that are in foster homes. The ideal candidate is passionate about creating the best experience for fosters, the public, adopters, and volunteers who visit Midcoast Humane, all while making a difference for the community’s most vulnerable pets. This is a part-time, non-exempt position and reports to the Foster Care Manager. This position typically works 3 days a week with an 8-hour shift each day. Weekends and some holidays are required.

• Providing information, guidance, and support for foster parents as they navigate foster procedures, get their foster pets ready for adoption, resolve or manage medical issues, and work through behavior concerns in conjunction with animal care, training and behavior, and medical departments
• Match pets in need of foster homes with fosters, accounting for their expressed fostering parameters and skills
• Communicate with foster parents in a timely fashion, with consideration to the foster’s experience level and emotional investment and honoring their feedback
• Supporting foster parents through emotional decisions and events in their foster pets’ care including unexpected illness, death, or euthanasia
• Problem-solving concerns with foster parents and adopters who encounter challenges or have questions
• Organizing and completing foster care records in the database, including foster parent information and demographics as well as scheduling exams and completing pet stays in foster homes
• Gathering and organizing materials for fosters such as food and medication
• Maintaining supply back stock and tracking supply lending
• Facilitating the handing off of pets to fosters and the return of foster pets to the shelter
• Scheduling necessary on- and off-site veterinary visits such as rechecks and specialist consultation appointments
• Asking questions of fosters and staff to get objective information and sharing relevant resources and information
• Leading with compassion in each interaction with fosters and members of the public, including visitors to the adoption centers, potential foster parents or adopters, recent adopters, and donors as well as clinic clients, people inquiring about our services, and surrendering owners
• Promoting a humane and caring attitude towards pets and treating all animals with compassion at all times, including those who are sick, injured, feral, or aggressive
• Assist with other organizational needs, such as cleaning of pet enclosures, data entry, adoptions and admissions and tasks as assigned to ensure a positive public image, enhance the operation of the organization, and improve the quality of life for animals
• All other duties as assigned

ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS AND AFFINITIES

• Empathy for people and pets
• Clear verbal and written communication skills
• Exceptional ability to keep track of information in a fast-paced setting
• Positive, progressive mindset

NECESSARY SKILLS

Technical Skills:

• Administer initial intake examination
• Administer subcutaneous injections and microchips
• Administer oral and topical medications and treatments

Client Care Skills:

• Clearly and accurately communicate with fosters, volunteers, and members of the public
• Professional and courteous presence when working with stakeholders in person or on the phone

Animal Care Skills:

• Abide by protocols of safe animal handling, disease control, and prevention
• Meticulously clean and sanitize assigned areas efficiently and effectively, including but not limited to cages and kennels, floors, walls, litter pans, transport crates, offices, common areas, laundry and food prep area
• Administer medications and treatments, per treatment reports
• Meet the Fear Free standards of animal handling and interacting with pets on leash and in their housing

Administrative Skills:

To perform this job successfully an individual should have knowledge of shelter database software or ability to become proficient within the first month from hire date. Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office and computer keyboarding skills (typing and data entry) are required.

• Accurately and quickly enter animal intakes in the database
• Accurately and quickly enter medical records into the database
• Accurately and quickly enter medications into the database and administer medications per the prescriptions from the veterinarians

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Prior shelter or veterinary practice experience preferred; high school diploma or equivalent required; demonstrated ability in oral and written communication skills; demonstrated ability for hard, physical work in an emotional and stressful environment; ability to lift 50 pounds unassisted; climb stairs unassisted multiple times each day; lift, scoop, drive, bend and twist and walk as part of essential job functions; spend long stretches of time driving; possess a valid State of Maine driver’s license.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Most work is performed in normal animal shelter setting; potential for exposure to zoonotic diseases; frequent exposure to odors or airborne particles including animal fur, dander, hay, peanuts, and toxic chemicals; potential for exposure to dangerous and fractious animals; exposure to high noise levels when in kennel area; potential for animal bites and scratches while handling animals.

BENEFITS

Up to 72 hours of paid time off; 6 paid holidays; Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance; reduced cost veterinary care for owned pets; access to reduced cost pet supplies

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $19.00 - $21.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $19 - $21