Shelter Animal Care Technician

Do you have a passion for the care of animals? Do you enjoy interacting with all animals, including dogs, cats, critters, and birds? 🐾 Come work as a part-time Animal Care Technician for Animal Humane Society, where caring for animals isn’t just a job – it’s our passion. We are on a mission to compassionately and responsibly create a more humane world for animals and their people.

Purpose: The Animal Technician is responsible for providing humane and compassionate care to all types of shelter animals, ensuring that animals have a safe and clean environment, drinking water, and food.

Pay Rate: $16.75/hour

Benefits (see additional benefits below):

• Paid Time Off
• 4 Floating Holidays (per full calendar year)
• 401k Retirement Plan with a 4% company match

Schedule: Part-time; up to 29 hours/week

• Weekend availability required (Saturday and/or Sunday)
• Shifts will between the hours of 7am-8pm Tuesday-Friday and 7am-6pm Saturdays-Mondays

Location: Golden Valley, MN

Essential Functions

Animal Care:

• Prepare and distribute food and water to all animals per dietary needs.
• Perform daily cleaning and sanitization of transfer cages, litter boxes, kennels and animal areas including cleaning up animal feces, urine, vomit and other debris.
• Monitor animals’ wellbeing, including appearance, appetite, hydration, stools, vomit and activity, reporting any health concerns or behavioral changes.
• Safely handle animals of varying sociability in a variety of ways including walking, restraining, placing in transport crates, etc. using appropriate PPE procedures.
• Handle animals who may have transmittable illnesses to other animals and humans, following proper handling, quarantine and PPE procedures.
• Move animals throughout the shelter as needed.
• Interpret animal body language, read animal cage cards and communication boards.
• Escalate animal concerns and communicate directly with appropriate department regarding concerning animal appearance or behavior in a timely manner.

Shelter Support:

• Assist in enrichment programs for animals in shelter.
• Assist Veterinary Services with fecal/urine collection of animals.
• Assist with animal restraint for transportation, medical procedures, collection of animal waste and euthanasia as required.
• Collaborate with other departments and assist as needed.

General Cleaning:

• Utilize approved chemicals to clean animal and non-animal areas.
• Operate dishwasher, washing machine and dryer.
• Remove garbage and recycling as needed.
• Sweep and mop animal areas.

Communication and Culture:

• Communicate in a positive and professional manner with customers, other employees, and volunteers.
• Promote a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion to make AHS a more welcoming environment for employees, volunteers, customers, and the community.

Technology:

• Accurately update animal records in PetPoint.
• Manage and view work schedule in Makeshift.
• Clock in and out of shifts using ADP.
• Monitor AHS email and other messaging software.

Other duties as assigned.

Additional Information:

Schedule and Attendance

• Required to be on time to scheduled shifts during operational hours which may include evenings, weekends and holidays.
• May be required to work at a different site based on department needs.
• May be required to attend occasional off-site meetings and events.
• Attend and participate in regular team meetings and one-on-one meetings with direct leader.

Work Environment

• Environment can be dirty, wet, warm and humid.
• Exposure to zoonotic diseases and pests such as fleas and ticks.
• Possibility of being bitten or scratched.
• Exposure to unpleasant odors, chemicals and noises, including barking.
• May be exposed to extreme weather conditions including but not limited to cold, heat, rain and snow when outside.

Requirements

Experience:

• Animal handling experience preferred.

Skills:

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong attention to detail, multi-tasking and time-management skills.
• Proficient with computers, specifically a working knowledge of Microsoft products.

Physical Demands:

• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. unassisted and 100+ lbs. assisted.
• Prolonged periods of standing and walking.

Emotional Demands:

• Ability to be emotionally resilient while working in a shelter setting.
• Must be comfortable handling a variety of animals with a wide range of behavioral and medical needs, including the use of humane euthanasia.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required for this role. Duties, responsibilities and requirements may change at any time with or without notice.

Benefits

About AHS

Every year, Animal Humane Society provides direct care and services to help thousands of animals in need across Minnesota. 

As one of the nation's leading animal welfare organizations, AHS is transforming the way shelters care for animals and engage their communities. From innovative medical and behavior programs to investments in outreach and advocacy, we’re advancing animal welfare and creating a more humane world for animals everywhere. 

Why Work Here  

• Make a difference in the lives of animals and people  
• Join a team of coworkers who love animals as much as you do  
• Work-life balance  
• Unique animal adoption benefits and discounts on veterinary care and pet supplies
• Health insurance coverage for full time staff includes the following: medical, dental, vision, health savings account, flexible spending account for health care expenses and dependent care, voluntary accident insurance; critical illness insurance; hospital indemnity insurance; employee- paid supplemental life; employee-paid accidental death & dismemberment; and long term disability insurance.
• Employer-paid benefits for full time staff includes the following: basic life insurance, basic accidental death and dismemberment insurance.
• Support for student loans: we are a Public Service Loan Forgiveness qualified employer 
• Mental Health and Counseling Support: all employees have access to our Employee Assistance Program with 3 free counseling sessions per year  
• 401k with 4% company match for part-time and full-time staff  
• Nine paid holidays for full-time staff  
• Paid floating holidays for part-time and full-time staff (up to 4 days per year based on start date)  
• Paid Time Off for part time and full time staff (amount is based on hours worked and FTE status)  
• Paid parent leave for full-time staff  

Our Organizational Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: 

As an organization dedicated to making the world a more humane and compassionate place for animals, we know that people are at the heart of all that we do. Animal Humane Society’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusivity is essential to our mission and shapes our culture, our work, and the services we provide. 

At AHS we embrace and honor the inherent dignity and diverse experiences of our team members, volunteers, board members, partners, clients, and visitors, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, or income. Working together to instill equity and inclusivity within our organization will allow us to better serve the people and animals of Minnesota, and ultimately have a positive impact on animals in our care.