Kennel Technician I

The purpose of this classification is to support Animal Shelter operations by ensuring proper hygienic, dietary, and basic medical care of impounded animals, cleaning and upkeep of the Animal Shelter, providing behavioral assessment and socialization to the animals in the Animal Shelter.

• Handles, lifts, and carries animals, restraining as appropriate; handles frightened, fractious, and injured animals; checks animals for signs of disease, or other illnesses; ensures humane and ethical treatment of impounded animals.
• Provides appropriate medical care to animals including administering medication and performing minor medical treatment under the direction and supervision of a veterinarian. 
• Provides care for animals while in custody of the Animal Shelter; performs cleaning, feeding, and watering of animals as needed and according to feeding schedule and dietary needs; ensures animals are socialized daily to increase their potential for adoption.
• Assists with animal shelter operations as needed; opens/closes animal shelter facilities; answers telephone calls and assists visitors; shows animals to visitors and processes animal adoptions.
• Ensures proper cleaning, sanitation, and maintenance of shelter kennels, cages, equipment, and facilities in accordance with the shelter’s standard operating procedures. Launders all bedding and cleaning materials. 
• Scans animals for microchip to ensure that they get back to their owners.
• Picks up supplies for animal care; loads and unloads supplies from truck; transport animals to veterinarian, rescue group, etc. as needed.
• Attends adoption events and interacts with the public, providing information about each animal to assist with the adoption process. 
• Operates various equipment and tools associated with animal control activities, which may include an animal control truck, animal restraint equipment, hand tools, personal computer, general office equipment, or other equipment as necessary to complete essential functions, to include the use of word processing, spreadsheet, database, e-mail, Internet, or other computer programs.
• Follows safety procedures, utilizes safety equipment, and monitors work environment to ensure safety of employees and other individuals.
• Maintains accurate and complete records of animal care including physical and behavioral condition and medical treatments.
• Monitors the health and wellbeing of the animals on an ongoing basis, rapidly identifies medical or behavioral concerns and immediately reports these concerns to the Animal Shelter Manager.
• Receives various forms, reports, correspondence, payments, animal complaints, laboratory reports, policies, procedures, laws, codes, ordinances, maps, directories, manuals, reference materials, or other documentation; reviews, completes, processes, forwards or retains as appropriate.
• Interacts with supervisor, law enforcement personnel, court officials, veterinarians, other animal agencies, and the general public as needed to provide information, coordinate activities, discuss problems, or receive advice/direction.
• Maintains a current knowledge and awareness of applicable laws, codes, and ordinances; maintains an awareness of new procedures, trends, and advances in the profession.
• Performs other related duties as assigned. 

• Knowledge of basic arithmetic functions.
• Knowledge of basic laws, codes, ordinances, and new procedures.
• Skill in operating, maneuvering and/or controlling the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions.
• Ability to calculate and/or tabulate data. Includes performing subsequent actions in relation to these computational operations.
• Ability to provide guidance, assistance, and/or interpretation to others regarding the application of procedures and standards to specific situations.
• Ability to utilize a wide variety of reference and descriptive data and information.
• Ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
• Ability to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagrammatic form.  Involves semi-routine standardized work with some latitude for independent judgment concerning choices of action.
• Ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving a variety of generally pre-defined duties which are often characterized by frequent change.

Education and Experience:
High school diploma or equivalent; supplemented by little or no previous experience or training in animal handling or animal control; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.
Licenses or Certifications:
Valid State of Alabama driver’s license.

PHYSICAL DEMANDSThe work is medium work which requires exerting up to 50 pounds of pressure. Work requires balancing, climbing, crawling, crouching, feeling, grasping, handling, hearing, kneeling, lifting, mental acuity, pulling, pushing, reaching, repetitive motion, standing, stooping, and walking. Tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors, sounds, depth, texture, and visual cues or signals. Tasks may require the ability to communicate orally.

WORK ENVIRONMENTWork is performed in an outdoor environment.  Essential functions may require exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as dirt, dust, pollen, odors, wetness, humidity, rain, temperature and noise extremes, heights, traffic hazards, bright/dim light, toxic agents, disease, pathogenic substances, animal/wildlife attacks, animal/human bites, or rude/hostile citizens.

Salary : $15 - $20