Animal Caretaker (Part-time)

Are you passionate about being a champion for companion animals? Do you embrace optimism and compassion, meeting everyone with an open mind, kindness, and respect? Want to join a growing team dedicated to bringing people and companion animals together for a lifetime of love? Become a part of the Humane Animal Partners family! We are looking for animal lovers who want to make a lasting difference for needy pets in our area. Humane Animal Partners, located in Wilmington, Stanton/Christiana and Rehoboth Beach, is a private, nonprofit organization that is Delaware’s oldest animal welfare agency, founded in 1873. (Formerly Delaware SPCA and Delaware Humane Association)

Position Summary: The Animal Caretaker is responsible for the overall care of the dogs and cats within our adoption center by providing food, water, and a clean environment. The role requires physically strenuous custodial activities and routine maintenance duties, including: cleaning kennels and cages; providing food and water for the animals; animal handling; and maintaining a safe and secure environment for the animals. The Animal Caretaker also provides customer service to guests seeking to adopt animals, oversees meet-and-greets when busy, and provides animal socialization. Candidates must be able to work independently, follow protocol, be comfortable working with animals, and have reliable transportation. Weekend and holiday availability required. Stamina is a must due to prolonged hours of walking and/or standing, scrubbing, and holding and/or lifting animals. Previous professional animal care experience a plus. Salary starts at $13.50/hourly. This is a union position.

Location:
Our Rehoboth Beach adoption center is hiring! Located just ten minutes from the beach, our adoption center is in a bustling strip mall off of Route 1. Join our team and help homeless dogs and cats by day; relax with your feet in the sand after work.

Responsibilities:

• Clean and maintain kennels and animal living areas on a daily basis
• Provide each animal with food and water, following feeding protocols
• Assist other employees, guests, and volunteers in a cheerful and respectful manner as a representative of Humane Animal Partners
• Oversee meet-and-greets, answer questions about specific animals, and offer advice/education to potential adopters to ensure the best outcome for animal and adopter
• Inform Supervisor of any health issues with the animals
• Clean other shelter areas: sweep, take out garbage, wash windows, etc.
• Clean and maintain shelter equipment: e.g. carriers, leashes, brushes, etc.
• Wash food and water bowls and put them away in an orderly fashion
• Help as needed with the intake of new animals
• Follow proper safety measures and procedures when using chemicals and cleaning supplies
• Help with washing, drying, and folding of laundry
• Help maintain a clean and organized warehouse
• Responsible for other duties as assigned

Skills & Experience:

• 1 year of experience working with animals preferred; volunteer work credited as experience
• Minimum high school diploma or GED required
• Knowledge of and ability to implement care-related animal sheltering best practices
• Initiative to resolve problems independently and enthusiastically persist until goals are achieved
• Excellent communication skills and experience interacting with the general public
• Must be able to professionally advocate Humane Animal Partner's positions on issues and act in best interest of operations
• Must have the ability to foster a cooperative work environment with staff as well as volunteers
• Bilingual in English and Spanish a huge plus

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to routinely lift 50 pounds
• Must be able to perform strenuous physical activity on a regular basis, including, but not limited to: climbing up and down ladders, lifting and carrying, reaching, stooping, squatting, cleaning, and bending.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: From $13.50 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• 4 hour shift
• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Holidays
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed
• Weekends only

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Application Question(s):

• What is your animal care experience?

Work Location: In person

Salary : $14