JOB SUMMARY
The Animal Shelter Technician performs a variety of animal handling, care, cleaning, and customer service duties at the animal shelter. Responsibilities include feeding and caring for animals, maintaining sanitary and safe shelter conditions, assisting with adoptions and licensing, completing records, and providing high-quality service to the public. The position may provide limited assistance to Animal Control Officers when trained.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
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Maintains a clean, safe, and healthy environment for all impounded animals, including cleaning and disinfecting the animal shelter and grounds around the facility; ensures all cleaning procedures follow disease-control and safety standards.
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Feeds, waters, and observes animals for signs of illness, stress, or behavioral changes; isolates sick animals and reports concerns to supervisory staff.
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Assists with basic medical care under supervision, including administering medications, vaccines, treatments, and monitoring animals following supervisor’s instructions.
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Exercises animals and helps perform basic temperament and behavior assessments to support adoption placement decisions.
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Assists the public with adoption processes, reunification of lost pets, and pet licensing; provides courteous and helpful customer service in person and by phone.
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Receives animals surrendered by the public and documents all required information.
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Provides customer service for walk-ins, phone calls, emails, and adoption counseling.
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Receives complaints and calls from the public.
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Helps match impounded animals with lost animal reports and coordinates reunification with owners.
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Collects and records fees for services including adoptions, licenses, and impounds.
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Oversee and/or participate in community outreach activities, including presentations to schools, civic groups, and adoption events.
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Maintains accurate and timely records of work performed: treatments, intakes, adoptions and other activities.
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Supports data entry, filing, and administrative tasks related to shelter operations.
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Monitors, stocks, and maintains inventory of shelter supplies, including food, cleaning products, medical items, and equipment; ensures all areas are adequately supplied and report needs to the supervisor in a timely manner.
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May assist Animal Control Officer’s in the field; may occasionally investigate complaints of animals.
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Supports the relationship between the City of Commerce and the public by demonstrating courteous, cooperative, and professional behavior when interacting with other city staff, citizens of Commerce, and visitors. Maintains confidentiality of work-related issues and City information, consistent with City employee ethics training.
- This position may be required to respond after hours, including holidays and weekends, in the event of a city or department emergency. This position may involve working occasional weekends.
18. Performs other duties as required or assigned.
PERIPHERAL DUTIES
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May assist Animal Control Officers in the field or respond to calls when trained and directed.
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After obtaining certifications, may assist with and perform humane euthanasia in compliance with state law and departmental procedures.
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May assist in responding to complaints involving animal welfare concerns, aggressive animals, or animals running at large.
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Assist in emergency situations such as animal cruelty calls, bites cases, and containment of dangerous animals.
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May be called to remove deceased animals from roadways and dispose of them appropriately.
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May assist with enforcement activities under supervision.
DESIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience:
- High school diploma or GED equivalent.
- An equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the necessary skills and abilities.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Basic knowledge of animal care, handling, restraint techniques, and diseases that can be transferred between animals and humans.
- Ability to learn applicable laws, ordinances, and departmental procedures related to the city, animal control, and shelter operations.
- Ability to communicate clearly and professionally, both orally and in writing.
- Ability to follow verbal and written instructions and maintain accurate records.
- Ability to establish cooperative working relationships with coworkers, volunteers, and the public.
- Skill in operating standard animal care equipment and tools.
- Ability to use computers and shelter software applications.
- Ability to maintain safety standards, use PPE appropriately, and follow sanitation protocols.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment and make decisions in emotionally or physically stressful situations.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Must have a valid driver's license or the ability to obtain one by the date of hire. The suspension or revocation of a driver's license during employment may result in termination of employment.
Must complete bloodborne pathogen training and required safety training within established timelines.
Factors such as regular attendance at the job are not listed under essential duties but are a critical function to the operations of the City’s Animal Services Department. Consistent, unplanned and unexcused absences may result in termination of employment.
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED
Animal control vehicles, animal capture equipment, radio, PPE, first aid equipment, phone, computer, printer, scanner, cleaning and disinfecting equipment.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Work involves standing, using hands to manipulate, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls and repetitive reaching with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to walk, talk, hear, sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl and smell.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
The employee may frequently push, pull, lift and/or carry up to 50 pounds, and occasionally exert force while pushing, pulling, lifting and/or carrying more than 50 pounds.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in a variety of outside-weather conditions. Some of these weather conditions can be extreme. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or extreme heat, humid or cold conditions. The employee occasionally works in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to inclement weather conditions. The employee is routinely encountering animals, including unvaccinated animals. This comes with the threat of being potentially bitten, scratched or exposed to blood borne pathogens. The City provides the proper protective clothing and equipment to prevent unnecessary or unsafe contact with animals.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
A copy of the City’s Step & Grade/Pay plan regarding compensation can be found online at:
https://www.commercetx.org/media/4626
The City of Commerce offers a competitive benefits package including a contributory retirement plan, medical, dental and vision insurance for City employees paid for 100% by the employer, life and disability insurance, and paid time off.
SELECTION GUIDELINES
Formal application, rating of education and experience; oral interview and reference check; job related tests may be required; drug screen; final selection and pre-employment medical examination. NOTE: Appointees will be subject to completion of a standard probationary period which will last for six (6) months. Appointees have access to paid, vacation time following the completion of their probationary period. Appointees have access to health, vision and dental insurance benefits on the first of the month following the first full month of employment.
The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.
The City of Commerce is an "at will" employer. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.
The City of Commerce is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing fair and equal treatment of all applicants for employment without regard to age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
By submitting an application, candidate agrees that he/she has been provided access to this job description.