Animal Caregiver / Adoption Counselor

Second Chance Animal Adoption Center is a nonprofit, no-kill shelter dedicated to the care and welfare of animals in Danville, Illinois. Our mission is to provide safe shelter for animals in transition, advocate for animals and their people, work to end animal overpopulation, and educate the public about compassion and responsibility toward all animals.

Who Are You?

You have hands-on animal care experience and understand the responsibility, physical work, and consistency required to keep animals healthy, safe, and comfortable. You are comfortable cleaning kennels, handling animals with different temperaments, recognizing changes in behavior, and following established care procedures.

You are dependable, patient, and welcoming to people as well as animals. You can help prospective adopters make thoughtful decisions while providing clear information and compassionate customer service. You also understand that animals need care every day, making flexible availability and reliable attendance essential to this position.

Position Overview

The Animal Caregiver / Adoption Counselor provides direct daily care for shelter animals and helps connect them with appropriate adoptive homes. Responsibilities include feeding, cleaning, exercise, safe handling, adoption counseling, and adoption processing.

This is an active, hands-on animal care position. A love of animals is important, but applicants must also bring practical animal care experience and a willingness to perform the routine and demanding work that shelter care requires.

Key Responsibilities

Daily Animal Care

● Feed animals and provide fresh water according to established schedules and individual care instructions.

● Clean and disinfect kennels, cages, litter boxes, feeding supplies, and animal care equipment.

● Walk dogs and provide appropriate exercise, enrichment, and social interaction.

● Handle animals safely, following established procedures and individual handling instructions.

● Observe animals for changes in appetite, behavior, appearance, or activity and promptly report concerns.

● Follow feeding, sanitation, disease prevention, and safety procedures.

● Maintain accurate daily care notes and communicate concerns or updates to staff.

Facility Cleaning and Safety

● Clean and maintain animal areas, adoption spaces, common areas, and other facility spaces.

● Complete laundry, waste disposal, and other routine cleaning tasks.

● Keep supplies organized and report shortages, damaged equipment, or safety concerns.

● Maintain secure animal housing and follow procedures to prevent escapes and injuries.

Adoption Counseling and Processing

● Welcome visitors and provide friendly, respectful customer service.

● Talk with prospective adopters about their household, lifestyle, expectations, and animal care experience.

● Share accurate information about available animals, including known care needs and behaviors.

● Facilitate safe meet and greets between animals and prospective adopters.

● Review adoption applications and process adoptions according to organizational procedures.

● Complete adoption paperwork and maintain accurate records.

● Explain care instructions and help adopters prepare for an animal’s transition into their home.

● Refer placement concerns or decisions outside established guidelines to the Executive Director.

Events and Additional Support

● Assist with fundraising events and related animal care or public interaction needs.

● Help with future vaccination and spay/neuter events, including setup, animal handling, participant assistance, and cleanup as assigned.

● Transport animals to veterinary appointments when assigned, following organizational transportation and animal safety procedures.

● Work cooperatively with staff and volunteers to maintain consistent animal care.

Qualifications and Skills

● Prior hands-on animal care experience in a shelter, veterinary practice, boarding facility, rescue organization, or comparable setting is required. Relevant volunteer experience may qualify.

● Demonstrated ability to safely handle and care for animals with varied sizes, needs, and temperaments.

● Understanding of routine feeding, cleaning, sanitation, and animal care practices.

● Strong observation skills and the ability to recognize and report potential concerns.

● Friendly, patient communication and customer service skills.

● Ability to follow instructions, maintain accurate records, and work independently and with a team.

● Dependability, sound judgment, and the ability to remain calm in challenging situations.

● Flexible availability to meet daily animal care and scheduling needs.

● If assigned animal transportation duties, a valid driver’s license and ability to meet the organization’s driver requirements.

Work Schedule and Environment

This position requires 20–25 hours per week and substantial flexibility in working hours. Availability for morning, evening, weekend, and holiday shifts is essential. Scheduled days and times may vary based on animal care needs, staffing coverage, adoption appointments, veterinary appointments, and events.

Employees must reliably report for assigned shifts and be able to adjust their availability as scheduling needs change. Scheduling will be coordinated with the Executive Director.

Work involves frequent standing, walking, bending, kneeling, cleaning, and handling animals and supplies. The environment includes animal noise, odors, waste, cleaning products, and animals that may be fearful or unpredictable. Essential duties must be performed safely, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Why Join Us?

Your experience and dependable care will make a daily difference in the lives of shelter animals. You will help keep them safe and comfortable while supporting successful adoptions into caring homes.

Equal Employment Opportunity

At the Second Chance Animal Adoption Center, we’re all about creating a welcoming space where everyone feels at home. We’re committed to building a team that’s as diverse as the community we serve, and we want you to bring your whole self to work every day. We’ll support you in balancing work and life, growing your skills, and enjoying new opportunities. Here, what matters most is your passion and talent, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds—no matter your gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability status, or caring responsibilities.

Pay: $16.00 - $18.00 per hour

Expected hours: 20.0 – 25.0 per week

Work Location: In person

Salary : $16 - $18