Dog Walker (Animal Caregiver)

St. Louis County department of Public Health is hiring an Animal Caregiver to provide support for the daily health and welfare of animals in the shelter.

The typical starting salary is $18.07 hourly depending on the candidate's qualifications and experience as well as budgetary considerations. Additionally, we offer a competitive benefits package and a generous Paid Time Off (PTO) policy. To learn more about these and other County benefits, please visithttps://stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-departments/administration/work-for-us/benefits/ St. Louis County Government is a qualified agency for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program managed by the Federal Government. For more information regarding this program, please visit https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service.

Examples of Duties

• Walk dogs daily to ensure they receive adequate exercise, socialization, and stress relief.
• Provide enrichment activities such as playtime, treat puzzles, and positive interaction to support animals’ mental and emotional health.
• Perform cleaning of kennels, including removing waste, refreshing bedding, and sanitizing as needed.
• Monitor animal behavior and report any signs of illness, injury, or distress to the supervisor immediately.
• Assist with feeding, watering, and general care of animals as directed.
• Follow all safety protocols and shelter policies regarding animal handling and sanitation.
• Provide excellent customer service and act as a positive representative of the shelter when interacting with visitors, volunteers, and community partners.

Minimum Qualifications

Equivalent to six months of experience working with animals in a veterinary or similar environment.

Additional Information

SELECTION AND APPOINTMENT: A selection committee will evaluate the qualifications of each applicant which will include recentness and appropriateness of the applicant's education and experience, answers to the supplemental questions, results of employment references investigated and any other appropriate information available. The selection committee will admit to the interview only those persons who possess the most job-related qualifications and may establish admittance criteria beyond the minimum qualifications stated above. The interview will comprise 100% of the applicant's earned grade. A candidate must earn a qualifying grade of 70 or more on the interview to be eligible for appointment. After initial interviews with the selected candidates are conducted, an email will be sent to the address on file with instructions on how to complete and submit a Conviction Questionnaire. Candidates have 3 days to complete the required questionnaire. The five top ranking candidates, based on the final grade, will be certified to the Department Director/Appointing Authority who will make the final decision.

All applicants conditionally offered a merit position will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Screening will be performed by a reputable clinical laboratory. The cost of screening will be covered by the County.

COVID-19 VACCINATION POLICY: In support of commitment to the health, safety, and wellness of all staff and to be compliant with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination Rule (Download PDF reader)it is the policy of the Department of Public Health that all newly hired employees are required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Acceptable forms of proof include CDC COVID-19 vaccination cards (or legible photo), documentation from a health care provider, electronic health record, or state immunization information system record. New employees must be fully vaccinated prior to starting service for the Department, and adherence to this policy is a condition of employment. Full vaccination means having received a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) approved vaccine or vaccine series, consisting of two doses of either of the two-dose vaccines or one dose of the single-dose vaccine. For moderately or severely immunocompromised individuals, a primary series consists of a 3-dose series of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine or a single dose of Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine. Individuals are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after the second dose in a two-dose series, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine. At this time, full vaccination does not require a booster shot. The meaning of “fully vaccinated” is subject to change in accordance with the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. For applicants with aCMS clinical contraindication (Download PDF reader)to the vaccine or sincerely held religious beliefs, which prohibit them from receiving a vaccine, you may contact the Department of Public Health Office of Human Resources (DPH HR) during the hiring phase to request an exemption or reasonable accommodation. Employees granted exemption for medical or religious reasons will be required to wear facial coverings to reduce the risk of transmission to at-risk individuals in DPH facilities and submit to weekly COVID-19 testing. All prospective employees must read and acknowledge the Policy during the application process.