Animal Care Dog Behavior Specialist

Position Summary: Under the direction of the Animal Care Supervisor and guidance of the Animal Care Behavior Lead and Animal Care Lead, the Animal Care Behavior Specialist provides a high standard of animal care to ensure the welfare of animals at ARL. S/he creates a healthy environment for all animals by monitoring their behavior, maintaining the cleanliness of kennels and surrounding areas, and providing exercise and socialization. S/he helps with the behavior plan for all animals with behavior modification, behavior evaluations, and enrichment plans.

Supervisor: Animal Care Supervisor

ARL Culture:

Working at the ARL requires a positive attitude and high emotional intelligence. We have an inclusive, mission-driven, people-first culture of compassion in adherence with our organizational values (www.berksarl.org/values) and the animal-sheltering industry’s human-animal support services model (www.humananimalsupportservices.org). Advocacy of the ARL and animal welfare as it relates to animal sheltering is central to organizational goals and community/stakeholder conversations.

Staff members at all levels are expected to be ARL mission ambassadors. This person will be devoted to assisting the organization accomplish the necessary philanthropic duties that will assist in raising funds and spreading positive awareness of the organization to the community. These duties include, but are not limited to:

-Providing needed information for stories and promotions.

-Ensuring the needs of the animals and public are met whenever possible.

-Assisting with events or fundraising as needed.

Examples of Duties and Responsibilities:

• Maintain a high standard of animal care and welfare, which includes providing scheduled feedings, medications, clean water at all times, proper bedding and enrichment toys
• Properly clean and sanitize kennels, rooms, cages, equipment and areas of shelter as assigned, according to ARL’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
• Bathe or clean animals on a regular schedule or immediately if they become soiled
• Exercise and socialize with animals on a regular basis
• Observe and document unusual behavior, signs of illness and any injury of an animal on a daily basis. Communicate vital information to medical, behavior, and adoptions departments as needed
• Restrain, confine, and handle animals, including those which are ill, injured, quarantined, and aggressive
• Make sure all animal rooms are appropriately stocked at all times for morning cleaning, daily care, and enrichment
• Work with the Behavior and Enrichment Supervisor to maintain and support programs that provide behavioral and environmental enrichment, exercise, socialization, behavior modification and care, with a focus on the population of dogs with more challenging behaviors
• Facilitate and perform playgroups between dogs approved to join play group sessions
• Conducts our behavior evaluation process, our behavior modification techniques, and enrichment programs for sheltered animals according to established ARL protocols and standards.
• Carefully monitor, notate, and communicate behavior and body language for current residents in the shelter
• Be knowledgeable and conversational on ARL’s policies and common animal welfare practices
• Provide excellent customer service to individuals utilizing ARL’s services
• Work cooperatively with ARL’s volunteers and partners
• Perform other duties as assigned

Skills and Requirements:

• High School Diploma or GED
• Minimum one year of animal care experience, can be with personal pets
• Minimum of 18 years of age
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds
• Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills with the ability to multi-task
• Love of animals and ability to interact with them in a calm, non-threatening manner
• Compassion for animals and human beings, commitment to ARL’s mission, values and goals
• Ability to work effectively, both independently and in team environment
• Ability to positively interact with colleagues, coworkers, and community members from widely varied backgrounds with integrity and honesty throughout all facets of the position, maintaining confidentiality at all times
• Reliability, high level of integrity and punctuality are essential
• Good communication skills and ability to work in a team environment and follow directions

Work Environment:

• Exposure to odors and airborne particles including animal fur and toxic chemicals
• High levels of noise
• Can be fast-paced and stressful, working with emotional clients
• Department Hours of operation between 8am and 8pm seven days a week, flexible work hours will be required (including holidays, weekends, and overtime)
• Physical requirements include being able to withstand prolonged periods of sitting or standing; lifting or moving up to 50 pounds.

Overtime: This position is eligible for overtime.

Full-time, non-exempt, competitive salary, education opportunities, plus benefits, including medical, prescription, vision and dental insurance, sick leave, annual leave, and IRA plan. Will require nighttime, weekend and holiday work.

Note: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may be required to perform other related duties to meet the on-going needs of the organization.

Animal Rescue League is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate because of race, color, creed, gender, religion, national origin, disability, age, pregnancy, genetic predisposition or carrier status, marital status, citizenship status, or sexual orientation. Accommodations will be provided to qualified individuals requiring them. EOE/M/F/D/V/SO.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $15.00 - $15.50 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Weekends as needed

Education:

• High school or equivalent (Preferred)

Experience:

• Dog Handling: 2 years (Preferred)

Language:

• Spanish (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $15 - $16