Animal Care Specialist Jobs

Maintains the animal shelter and grounds, provides quality care for the animals in our custody, and assists the public and other animal control personnel.

• Processes animals brought to the animal shelter by providing health evaluations, parasitic controls, scanning for microchips, and placing them in the proper holding area.
• Assists visitors.
• Performs preventative maintenance on equipment, building, and grounds.
• Micro-chips animals that leave animal control custody.
• Maintains and operates the animal cremation system for mass disposal and private cremations.
• Assists in euthanasia and the disposal of animals as required.
• Picks up large quantities of dead animals from veterinarians for disposal by cremation.
• Maintains the sanitation and environment of kennel areas, cat facilities, quarantine areas, wildlife facilities, and sick/injured animal rooms.
• Unloads dead and live animals from the public, veterinarians, and animal control offices.
• Operates a vehicle to pick up dead livestock and supplies, and other machinery.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Ability to sit, stand and drive a vehicle to and from various work sites. Employees may be exposed to seasonal temperatures while maintaining kennels and grounds, traffic hazards, chemicals, mild acids, detergents, and noise. Employees also may be exposed to animal bites and animal-transmitted diseases—the ability to lift bags of materials such as dog food or animals regularly.

Employee communicates with other employees in the workgroup and may respond to questions from the general public regarding services or animals that may be in the kennel. Employees may have direct contact with other animal control personnel such as the SPCA, various humane societies, and animal rescue organizations.

Ability to deal with the public and provide humane care for the animals. Some knowledge in the recognition of animal diseases is needed. The ability to follow both written and oral instructions is also necessary.

High school diploma or equivalent preferred. A valid Texas driver's license is required. Must obtain Department of State Health Services Basic Certification within one year of employment. Must be able to obtain euthanasia certification within six months of employment.