York County SPCA Intake Counselor

Intake Counselor

Part-Time| 40 hours per week (Tuesday - Saturday; Hours are 7am - 3:30pm)

York, PA
$17 - $19 per hour based on professional experience

What Were Looking For

An ideal candidate would have a few years of experience working in animal care and handling, specifically for dogs and cats. Experience with cat/dog restraint, medication administration, and vaccine administration are needed. Are you someone with these qualifications, who thrives in a fast-paced, emotionally charged, mission-driven environment? If youre compassionate, calm under pressure, and eager to help both pets and people, detail-oriented, organized, and not afraid to get your hands dirty - we are looking for you!

We live by our CIRCLE Values:
Compassion for pets and people
Integrity doing the right thing, always
Resilience bouncing back stronger
Collaboration working together to save lives
Lifesaving it's what we do
Excellence not a goal, but our standard

Position Summary

As an Intake Counselor, you are the first and most critical connection between animals in need and the shelter. While we believe that a pet is better in a home than in the shelter, and we will offer services aimed at keeping pets and people together, there are times when the situation may warrant intake. Whether its a stray animal, a pet whose family is in crisis, or a case involving law enforcement, youll compassionately guide every intake decision and be the voice for animals who cant speak for themselves.

Youll provide emotional support and resources to the public, evaluate animals upon arrival, process paperwork, administer initial treatments (vaccinations and medications), and help reunite lost pets with their families. Intake Counselors are detectives, problem solvers, and compassionate counselorsoften all in one interaction.

Responsibilities

Client Services & Counseling

• Serve as the main point of contact for animal surrenders, stray drop-offs, and agency intakes (animal control, police, etc.)
• Provide diversion counseling and explore options to help owners keep their pets
• Offer rehoming guidance, pet pantry access, and emergency referrals
• Educate the public on responsible pet ownership, behavior basics, and local ordinances

Animal Intake & Processing

• Conduct initial behavioral and health assessments of each animal
• Administer vaccines and preventatives upon intake
• Scan animals for microchips and gather essential information
• Complete accurate intake records and lost/found reports in our database (Shelterluv)
• Process admissions and provide compassionate, respectful customer service
• Provide morning transportation for animals from our partner Mason Dixon Animal Emergency & Referral Center

Shelter Operations Support

• Maintain cleanliness and organization of intake and lobby area
• Safely handle and move animals of various species, sizes and temperaments
• Cross trained to support other departments (adoptions, customer service, and animal care) as needed

Professionalism & Teamwork

• Represent the YCSPCA with empathy, professionalism, and respect
• Handle emotionally challenging or sensitive situations with composure
• Able to deescalate tense situations
• Participate in community outreach and assist with special programs such as Safe Pet

Qualifications

Required:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Minimum one year of customer service experience in a fast-paced setting
• Minimum one year of cat/dogprofessional animal handling(vet clinic, shelter, etc.)
• Experienced in cat/dog restraint and handling
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Valid drivers license and clean driving record

Preferred:

• Bilingual (English/Spanish)
• Experience using Shelterluv or similar software
• Training or experience in animal behavior and intake procedures
• Veterinary assistant or technician experience (especially vaccine and medication administration)

Physical & Schedule Requirements

• Ability to lift and carry 50 lbs, and stand or walk for extended periods
• Must be comfortable handling large, fearful, or fractious animals
• Work schedule includes weekends and holidays (minimum of three shifts per year)
• Exposure to cleaning chemicals, animal waste, loud environments, and emotional situations

Why Join the York County SPCA?

• Meaningful, life-changing work every day
• Opportunity to grow your skills in animal care, crisis counseling, and public service
• A supportive team environment committed to saving lives