Animal Care Assistant (Veterinary Services)

Job Duties

Performs duties involving the daily care of dogs and cats in care at Pet Resource Center (PRC). This entry-level full-time position is a unique and rewarding employment opportunity with Hillsborough County and an introduction to Veterinary Medicine.

Salary

$32,760 - $42,588

Benefits

Click HERE to view our Benefits at a glance

• Generous PTO & Holiday Plan
• Health Plans
• Health Savings Account
• Dental & Vision Plans
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Healthcare Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Cafeteria Benefit
• Life Insurance
• Short & Long-Term Disability Insurance

Minimum Qualifications Required

• Graduation from high school or possession of GED Certificate; AND
• One year of experience in animal care in a shelter environment, veterinary clinic, or animal care facility; OR
• An equivalent combination of education, training and experience that would reasonably be expected to provide the job-related competencies noted below; AND
• Possess a valid Florida Driver License (Class E); AND
• Selected candidates must obtain Florida Animal Control Association (FACA) Euthanasia Certification within the first six months of employment.

NOTE: Preventative rabies shots are available and encouraged.

The Ideal Candidate:

• Enjoys interacting with customers to facilitate positive outcomes for animals.
• Is willing to work outside in all seasons and weather conditions.
• Is eager to treat every animal and person as an individual and without judgement.
• Can provide for the basic needs of the pets in the care and custody of PRC, assuring the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare are maintained. Includes, but not limited to, feeding, cleaning, exercising, and providing enrichment.
• Maintains a judgement-free, empathetic, understanding of members in the community that may be experiencing challenges in their lives and with their animals.
• Works well with a team but also is confident and comfortable enough to work independently, including under pressure and changing conditions.
• Able to work with both dogs and cats and their various behaviors in a shelter environment.
• Is understanding of, or open-minded to learn and embrace, the importance of sterilization, returning community cats home, behavioral euthanasia, and other emotionally charged topics.
• Is eager to always grow and expand their knowledge and skills, understanding that animal welfare is an ever-changing field.
• Can communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, with members of the public, team members and management.
• Is willing and able to work a varied, occasionally rotating, schedule that frequently includes weekends and holidays.
• Provides daily observation and triage of pets in the care of PRC, recording changes as appropriate and reporting changes or concerns to a veterinary technician or veterinarian in a timely manner with accurate & complete observations noted in the shelter software system.
• Performs euthanasia in accordance with the laws of the state of Florida. Responsible for accurate records, drawing and administration of drugs, and all other aspects from selection of the animal through death verification.
• Maintains inventories of food, cleaning materials and equipment. Provides food and water to animals. Cleans animal kennels, cages, and shelter areas to provide a sanitary and disease-free environment.
• May assist veterinary staff with care and medical treatment of sick, injured, feral and abused animals.

Core Competencies

• Customer Commitment - Proactively seeks to understand the needs of the customers and provide the highest standards of service.
• Dedication to Professionalism and Integrity - Demonstrates and promotes fair, honest, professional, and ethical behaviors that establishes trust throughout the organization and with the public we serve.
• Organizational Excellence - Takes ownership for excellence through one's personal effectiveness and dedication to the continuous improvement of our operations.
• Success through Teamwork - Collaborates and builds partnerships through trust and the open exchange of diverse ideas and perspectives to achieve organizational goals.

Emergency Management Responsibilities

In the event of an emergency or disaster, an employee may be required to respond promptly to duties and responsibilities as assigned by the employee’s department, the County’s Office of Emergency Management, or County Administration. Such assignments may be for before, during or after the emergency/disaster.

Additional Job Requirements

A department, depending on the nature of its mission and operations, may require that employees in all or certain positions in this job classification:

• Criminal History Background Check using Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS)
• Level 1 and Level 2 Background screening (Ch. 435 Florida Statutes)
• Child Abuse, Abandonment and Neglect Record Check using the State Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS)
• Sex Offender and Sexual Predator record check using the list maintained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)

2. Possess the necessary job-related license(s) or certification(s) that may include possession of a Florida Driver License (Class E).