SHELTER ATTENDANT I

Animal Shelter Attendant

This position is responsible for the care of animals and to ensure clean and humane living conditions for all animals housed within the shelter. Position requires shift rotations, call-in after hours, weekends, holidays and working during State of Emergencies. Position requires exposure to heat and cold on a daily basis.

Essential Functions

• Maintains kennels and outside areas in a clean and sanitary manner.
• Feeds and waters animals daily according to schedules; monitors animals in the kennels on a continuous basis for sickness, injury, or death.
• Receives animals being delivered to the shelter by officers and/or the public. Intakes and places them within the facility according to size, sex, needs and circumstances involved in their pickup; maintains strict accountability by keeping animals with their respective records.
• Takes pictures of stray animals to publish on social media.
• Bathes, dips, inoculates, clips, grooms, and provides minor first aid and lab tests to the animals.
• Handles animals, some of which may be aggressive and/or dangerous.
• Assists the public in search of a lost pet or when seeking to adopt a new one; maintains records pertaining to shelter operations as assigned, to include having potential adopters sign into the Constant Contact guest book prior to viewing animals.
• Aids in the euthanasia process, such as holding, pulling, bagging and placing in freezer and/or in Animal Control truck.
• Prepares list of kennel supplies and food.
• Attends offsite adoptions events.
• Recognizes signs of stress or disease in animals and immediately reports any sick or injured animals within the shelter to assigned supervisor.
• Moves animals from temporary holding areas into appropriate kennels.
• Compares intake reports to actual counts of animals within the shelter.
• Repairs/maintains equipment.
• Performs general housekeeping and yard duties.
• Maintains simple to moderate written reports.
• Maintains records/files.
• Maintains animal shelter by performing various minor building and grounds maintenance tasks.
• Attends and remains at work regularly and adheres to policies and procedures regarding absenteeism and tardiness. Provides adequate notice to higher management with respect to vacation time and leave requests.
• Performs related duties as required, including working in other functional areas to equalize peak work periods or otherwise to balance the workload.
• Operates a County vehicle to load and unload inedible waste and will be required to pick up store supplies such as feed, disinfectants and equipment.
• May answer phones.
• May operate radio equipment to dispatch assignments to field units.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

(These essential functions are not a complete statement of all duties required of the job. Employees will be required to perform such other related job duties as may be assigned or required.)

Minimum Education & Experience

Requires a high school diploma or general equivalency diploma. Must obtain Certification as an Animal Shelter Technician from the American Animal Cruelty Investigations School (AACIS) within six (6) months of hire. Must possess a valid State Drivers License.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of the methods, procedures and policies of Nassau County as they pertain to the performance duties of the Shelter Attendant I.
• Knowledge of the functions and interrelationships of County and other Governmental agencies.
• Knowledge of the laws, ordinances, standards, regulations, methods, procedures and policies pertaining to the specific duties and responsibilities of the position.
• Ability to prioritize service requests on the basis of importance.
• Knowledge of euthanasia procedures, animal care, health, and disease.
• Has a good organizational, technical and human relations skill.
• Knowledge of modern office practices and technology; has skill in the use of computers for word processing and records management.
• Knowledge of the terminology and various professional languages used within the department.
• Ability to plan and develop daily, short-term and long-term goals related to County purposes.
• Ability to take the initiative to complete the duties of the position without the need of direct supervision.
• Ability to plan, organize and prioritize daily assignments and work activities.
• Ability to learn and utilize new skills and information to improve job performance and efficiency.
• Knowledge of the occupational hazards and safety precautions of the industry.
• Knowledge of proper English usage, punctuation, spelling and grammar.
• Ability to maintain effective relationships with personnel of other Departments, professionals and members of the public through contact and cooperation.
• Ability to react calmly and quickly in emergency situations.
• Ability to communicate effectively.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL SKILLS:

• Stooping
• Kneeling
• Sitting
• Bending
• Crouching
• Reaching
• Standing
• Walking
• Lifting and carrying up to 75 lbs.
• Pushing and pulling
• Grasping
• Talking

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Work is performed in various locations, both indoors and outdoors. Exposure to heat and cold, wetness, humidity, machinery, hazards, electrical currents, smoke/dust, odors, dirt/pollen, dangerous animals, traffic hazards, and noise extremes.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications will continue to be received until the listed closing date or the position is filled, whichever is earliest. Submission of an application does not guarantee the applicant an interview. Applicants will be subject to a criminal background check.

Nassau County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Drug Free Workplace. Nassau County values the service veterans and their family members have given to our country and that the County supports the hiring of returning service members, military spouses, and their family members as such this position is eligible for Veterans' Preference in accordance with applicable laws.

The information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, environmental conditions, or qualifications required of employees assigned to this position. This position may be required to work in a safety sensitive capacity at any time based on emergency declaration or other operational need. Nassau County reserves the right to edit or re-write this job description at any time.