What are the responsibilities and job description for the Animal Rescue Coordinator position at Animal Samaritans Society?
ANIMAL RESCUE COORDINATOR
JOB DESCRIPTION:
The Animal Rescue Coordinator for our Adoption Alliance Animal Rescue Program acts as a primary point of contact between Animal Samaritans, the Coachella Valley Animal Campus (CVAC), and roughly three hundred animal rescue groups in an effort to save the lives of animals at risk of euthanasia at the Riverside County Animal Shelter in Thousand Palms.
Candidates for this position must have a proven ability to work in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment against tight, life-dependent deadlines. Typically, the Animal Rescuer works with dozens of animals needing rescue at one time, requiring attention to detail and a demonstrated ability to multitask and prioritize.
As Animal Samaritans’ liaison with rescues, CVAC staff and officers, and the Animal Samaritans Clinic Managers, candidates will also need exceptional interpersonal communication skills. The Rescuer must often facilitate hundreds of emails and correspondence with CVAC staff, rescuers, and animal transporters on a daily basis. A growing knowledge of each rescue’s strengths and weaknesses can be key in the day-to-day placement of animals, so the position depends on someone who can constantly assess rescue partners. Rescue can be a deeply personal career path and developing relationships with the rescue groups you commonly work with will build a relationship of trust, which is imperative in being successful in this position.
To broaden the Adoption Alliance Program and save more lives, the Rescuer shall also actively seek out new rescue partners and monitor current approved rescue partners for changes or revocation of 501 3 C nonprofit status.
The Rescuer may actively participate in a “Rescue Roundtable” email group wherein established and reputable rescuers from various shelters within Southern California discuss new potential rescue partners in order to determine whether or not to approve a potential rescue application, and discuss any concerns that may be brought to attention regarding a possible rescue partner. This group meets in person once a year to discuss problems and trends in shelter rescue. It is the responsibility of the Animal Samaritans’ Rescuer to notify the group of any rescues within their own jurisdiction that may become under investigation so that other shelters are aware of the rescue in question and may revoke pull rights if so desired.
Animal Samaritans’ Rescue Coordinator may attend Coachella Valley Association of Governments Animal Commission meetings, as well as Animal Welfare Coalition of Riverside County meetings, when required.
The Rescue Coordinator shall take videos and photos to better assist rescues in assessing behavior or medical issues in rescue candidates. Oftentimes the Rescue Coordinator works with fearful dogs being housed in isolation to socialize them and determine whether or not to seek rescue. Focus and a calm demeanor are a requirement when working with behaviorally challenged dogs.
You may be required to do emergency transports when an animal is in urgent need of medical care and will be expected to follow all applicable laws when doing so.
The Rescue Coordinator may facilitate the volunteer transport program and its volunteers.
SKILLS & REQUIREMENTS:
- Basic animal care knowledge and experience
- Ability to evaluate and identify animals needing rescue.
- Maintain a clean driving record
- Experience in Canine Behavior and body language a plus, must attend conferences/webinars to keep current with the most up to date knowledge and information available
- Computer knowledge including Microsoft Office and Database administration
- Animal transport experience
- Persistence
- Compassion
- Empathy
Experience working with animals and working in an animal shelter environment desired. Experience and training in animal behavior desired. Continued training in this area provided by Animal Samaritans.