Kennel Technician

Position Overview:

This position will work in collaboration with various teams to provide basic technical support to the animal care operations. The candidate will ensure that all shelter animals are provided quality care. This includes feeding, conducting well-being assessments, administering medications, and assisting with basic health monitoring. This position requires strong observational skills, a detail-oriented approach, and a passion for animal welfare.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

Feeding:

• Provide daily meals to all animals, ensuring each animal receives the proper amount of food and any special dietary requirements.
• Monitor and document each animal’s eating habits, noting any changes in appetite or refusal to eat.
• Ensure access to clean water at all times.

Health Monitoring:

• Monitor defecation and urination habits of animals, noting any irregularities or concerns (e.g., diarrhea, constipation, frequency).
• Report any issues to the veterinary team for further evaluation.
• Perform daily health checks for all animals, assessing general well-being, behavior, and physical condition.
• Observe for signs of illness or injury (e.g., limping, coughing, lethargy, vomiting) and report findings to the veterinarian or shelter manager immediately.
• Monitor post-op incision sites daily
• Monitor the mental and physical health of animals, ensuring they are comfortable and stable.
• Ensure that all shelter animals have accurate kennel cards and are identifiable.
• Conduct and document weekly weight checks and report any significant weight changes to the shelter medical team.
• Document appropriately within shelter animal databases.

Medication Administration:

• Administer medications (oral, topical, or as directed by veterinarians) to animals as prescribed and document accurately within the appropriate database.

Assisting with Animal Enrichment:

• Collaborate with the shelter training and enrichment team to provide activities to improve the animals physical and mental well-being.
• Monitor the safety of the pets during enrichment activities.

Requirements:

• High School Diploma or equivalent (previous animal care experience preferred)
• Able to demonstrate a basic understanding of animal care, behavior, and common health concerns
• Ability to administer medications as prescribed by the veterinarian
• Strong observational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work well both independently and as part of a team
• Physical ability to lift and move animals and perform other physically demanding tasks
• Compassionate and patient approach to working with animals in a shelter environment
• Excellent communication skills for reporting to veterinarians and shelter management
• Other duties as needed

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in an animal shelter, veterinary clinic, or similar environment
• Previous experience with animal health monitoring, medication administration, or weight management
• Familiarity with basic animal behavior and medical terminology