Lead Animal Care Specialist

Maintains the animal shelter and grounds, provides quality care for the animals in our custody, assists in the surgical suite, and assists the public and other Animal Services personnel. Assists the vet(s) in achieving greater efficiency by relieving them of technical work and administrative detail.

• Provides compassionate care to animals.
• Prepares and maintains the surgical suite.
• Completes performance tracking within Chameleon Software.
• Performs physical examinations and records observations on animals.
• Assists the vet(s) in medical and surgical procedures, prepares animals for surgery, assists the vet(s) in administering anesthesia, monitors patients during surgery and recovery, and administers fluids.
• Gives injections and administers oral medications in accordance with policy.
• Performs emergency procedures such as control of bleeding, resuscitation with oxygen, and opening airways.
• Assists in restraining animals when necessary.
• May perform clinical laboratory procedures such as fecal flotation exams, heartworm checks, skin scrapings, urinalysis, and fungal cultures; draws blood for laboratory analysis; and ensures that test results are recorded in patient records.
• Admits and discharges patients on the vet's orders, ensuring that animals are well groomed and in a medically appropriate state. Counsels customers on various aspects of animal care; reinforces the proper care and procedures that should be followed at home; and makes follow-up calls to clients.
• Properly cleans all surgical materials after they are used, keeps the operating room properly stocked and prepared for surgery.
• Maintains an appropriate inventory of all medical supplies.
• Assists other staff members as required.
• Understands and carries out oral and written directions.
• Processes animals that are brought to the animal shelter by providing health evaluations, parasitic control, scanning for microchips, vaccinating, and placing in the proper holding area.
• Maintains the sanitation and environment of kennel areas, cat facilities, quarantine areas, wildlife facilities, and sick/injured animal room.
• Assists in euthanasia and disposal of animals as required.
• Maintains and operates the animal cremation system for mass disposal cremations.
• Picks up large quantities of dead animals from veterinarians for disposal by cremation.
• Microchips animals that leave Animal Services custody.
• Unloads dead and live animals from the public, veterinarians, and the Animal Services Facility.
• Performs preventative maintenance on equipment, building, and grounds.
• Operates a vehicle to pick up dead livestock, supplies, and other machinery.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Ability to sit, stand and drive a vehicle to and from various work sites. Employee may be exposed to seasonal temperatures while maintaining kennel and grounds, traffic hazards, chemicals, mild acids, detergents and noise. Employee also may be exposed to animal bites and animal transmitted diseases. Ability to lift bags of materials such as dog food, cat litter, or animals regularly.

Salary : $38,534