Adoptions Counselor

Full Job Description- Intake & Adoption Counselor

Primary Function: Lead the animal intake operations to ensure that we are helping as many animals as possible, that our shelter remains full, and that all animals are medically cared for on intake and during their stay at the shelter. Provide compassionate customer service that both educates clients and provides pet retention resources to better help pet owners in the community. The Intake and Adoption Counselor works interdepartmentally with the medical team, kennel and adoptions to achieve successful intakes, and works in a professional manner with other rescues and animal facilities for transfers/transports.

As part of the Adoption team you will interact with many people on a daily basis. You will interact frequently with the general public, donors, and Oahu SPCA volunteers. Your communication skills should extend from in-person interactions to electronic mediums, such as emails, text messages or phone calls. We aim to help as many pets as possible, and understand that our interactions with the public are the first step towards placing animals in their forever homes.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist clients in the process of surrendering animals by advising them about Oahu SPCA’s admitting policies and procedures
• Develop and maintain relationships with clients, law enforcement and other transfer facilities and help them, as much as possible, in their efforts to rescue and help animals in need
• Review and evaluate surrender forms and manage surrender waitlists appropriately.
• Schedule intake appointments and maintain intake spreadsheets to ensure they are current and we are providing the most expedient process possible
• Accept animals into the shelter or refer animals elsewhere based on Oahu SPCA intake procedures or medical evaluation results, and collecting payment of fees for owner surrenders or stray surrenders
• Update animal information and maintain individual animal records through database system and internal shelter paperwork. Facilitates all intake paperwork and processing.
• Oversee the examination and all intake medical of all animals upon arrival at the shelter within a timely manner.
• Provide input for animal disposition, make recommendations for foster (medical or behavioral), adoption and ensure that the animals are moved to their proper place and updating kennel cards
• Help recruit foster volunteers to take shelter animals and maintain follow up communication with.
• Maintain that all animal medical records are up to date, both in shelter and in the foster program
• Create a kennel card for each animal housed within the shelter
• Take photos of pets upon intake and ensure that animals received are being added to the website in a timely manner.
• Participate and/or conduct daily rounds to ensure medical well-being of all animals
• Work on pet retention with owners wishing to surrender their animals to keep the animals out of the shelter and in their homes by offering various resources.
• Monitor Lost & Found animal websites for possible reunification.
• Maintain inventory of necessary program supplies
• Arbitrate disputes with members of the public, give final approval or disapproval of adoptions and intakes, and work towards positive public relations
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements:

• Knowledge of animal welfare laws, proper handling of animals, recognition of common diseases and domestic animal behavior
• Ability to communicate well orally and in writing and to work harmoniously with a diverse group of individuals
• Commitment to the humane treatment of animals and our no-kill philosophy
• General knowledge and understanding of shelter practices
• Excellent communication and customer service skills
• The ability to lift 50lbs without health risk
• Be comfortable navigating difficult and stressful situations that may require conflict resolution between employees and or/ clients
• Be able to pivot and react quickly to the unplanned challenges that often occur each day.
• Must be self motivated, able to work independently and as part of a team
• Must be available to work Sundays.
• Thrive in a fast-paced work environment where you are surrounded by the distractions of animal sounds, smells, and their respective allergens
• Ability to work at off-site adoption events

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $18.00 - $22.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Evenings as needed
• Holidays
• Weekends as needed

Experience:

• Customer Service: 1 year (Preferred)

Shift availability:

• Day Shift (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $18 - $22