Animal Care Specialist

Animal Care Specialist

Who We Are

ACC is one of the nation’s largest open-admission animal shelters, whose mission is to End Animal Homelessness in NYC. We touch the lives of nearly 30,000 animals each year. ACC is more than an animal shelter; we are a resource to the community, always seeking ways to keep the human-animal bond intact. With a 90% placement rate, our progressive, life-saving initiatives contribute to the successful placement of our animals. We strive to find loving homes for homeless and abandoned cats, dogs, guinea pigs and rabbits, both by adopting animals directly to the public and by partnering with more than 200 dedicated animal placement organizations (our New Hope partners). We also help keep NYC communities safe and rescue animals in need, responding to emergencies that involve animals as well as keeping our doors open 24/7 for people and animals in need.

Summary: 

The Animal Care Specialist provides a high standard of animal care to ensure the welfare of animals at the ACC Care Centers. With a primary responsibility to provide and maintain a clean, healthy living environment for each animal, the Animal Care Specialist has extensive, close interactions with those animals, empowering them as a source of vital information on the health, behavior, and needs of each animal. By taking note of and responding to this information, as well as through communication with others, the Animal Care Specialist ensures that ACC’s animals are provided with an environment and experience that supports both their physical and mental/emotional health.  

Essential Job Functions:

• Maintain a high standard of animal care and welfare, which includes providing scheduled feedings, clean water at all times, proper bedding and enrichment toys.
• Properly clean and sanitize kennels, wards, cages, equipment and areas of shelter as assigned, according to ACC policy and procedure. 
• Exercise and socialize with animals on a regular basis while abiding to ACC’s dog walking guidelines

Salary and Benefits:

This position will pay $20.00/Hour

ACC values work/life balance and offers a generous paid-time-off (PTO) package that includes vacation time, birthdays off, personal days and sick pay. We also value physical and mental health by offering a great open access Cigna medical, dental and vision insurance at a low premium to our employees as well as 401K and Pension, Life Insurance. We also have on-the-job training for 2-4 weeks, periodic all staff trainings to include safety, DEI, cross training, and other growth opportunities.  

Because ACC is a nonprofit, employees may be eligible for loan forgiveness, cancellation, and/or consolidation under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF). Created under the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, PSLF allows borrowers who work full time for nonprofits and government agencies to have their outstanding debt forgiven tax-free on Federal Direct Loans, after making 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan.

Please see the attached Job Description and Benefits Flyer for more details. 

Qualifications:

Ability to excel in a fast-paced, often high stress environment; treats animals and people with respect; has attention to detail and a strong work ethic to complete tasks correctly; is a confident communicator; is a people person and a team player, willing to pitch in to help others and ensure the needs of the animals are met; available to modify schedule as needed to meet the needs of the organization, this position also includes forced overtime including with little notice; possesses a love of animals and is able to interact with them in a calm, non-threatening manner; bilingual preferred; Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds and work standing for 8 hours or more.

Education and Work Experience:

Must have a high school diploma or GED, This is an entry level position. While previous animal care experience is a plus.