Temporary Care & Enrichment Technician

Overview:

Who We Are

At the ASPCA® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), we're proud to work with a broad and talented team of professionals who help drive our mission to prevent animal cruelty and promote their well-being across the country. Since 1866, we've been at the forefront of animal welfare, and every member of our extended team contributes to our hands-on work, advocacy, and education efforts. By working with the ASPCA, you're helping improve the lives of animals and the people who care about them.

The ASPCA's Behavioral Rehabilitation Center (BRC) in Weaverville, NC, is the first and only facility dedicated to the rehabilitation and study of extremely fearful, under-socialized dogs, such as those confiscated from puppy mills and hoarding situations. The goal of the entire BRC team is to work together to improve these dogs' quality of life and prepare them for life in adoptive homes---an impossible outcome without intensive, structured behavioral interventions and integrative holistic care.

What You'll Do

The Care and Enrichment Technicians (CETs), who comprise a team of 8 in total, work together to provide daily care and enrichment, perform low stress handling and husbandry, closely monitor and report signs of medical and behavioral change and keep all animal care areas stocked with supplies. The CETs also prepare and provide daily enrichment items to keep dogs engaged and reduce stress, facilitate playgroups, and assist the behavior staff as requested with specific parts of the interventions. One of the most critical functions of the CETs is to serve as part of a harmonious, united team of shelter operations, shelter medicine and animal behavior experts, all dedicated to collaborating with each other to provide balanced, holistic care.

Temporary Role Details:

This is a temporary, contingent position and the person hired will be employed through a third-party staffing agency.

• The target hiring range for this temporary role is $19 per hour and may be modified in the future.
• The intended schedule for this position is Friday through Monday
• Position requires weekend and some holiday support.
• This position is based in Weaverville, near Asheville, NC, and will report to the BRC's Manager, Care and Enrichment. There will be no direct reports.

What's Expected of You - Position Responsibilities & Qualifications:

Direct Animal Care:

• Provide daily care and support for the dogs in treatment, adhering to the BRC standard operating procedures and low stress handling and approach.
• Monitor and help maintain the medical and behavioral health of shelter animals; ensure adherence to nutrition, sanitation and infectious disease-prevention protocols established by the ASPCA's Shelter Medicine Services team and BRC Veterinarian.
• Support the behavioral growth of the dogs in treatment, in coordination with the Behavior Branch and treatment paradigms of the program.
• Ensure the comfort and cleanliness of shelter animals.
• Comply with specific feeding programs related to behavioral enrichment for specific animals.
• Re-stock supplies and do dishes and laundry as needed.
• Work to integrate volunteers into daily care, setting clear expectations, providing guidance as needed and always communicating respect and gratitude for volunteer support

Enrichment/Interventions:

• Follow guidelines to ensure that animal holding areas include appropriate music and/or auditory stimulation for shelter animals.
• Provide daily written behavioral and medical observations to inform and share across branches (teams).
• Exercise/socialize animals as instructed.
• Prepare and distribute enrichment as directed; being open to specific needs based on treatment status or special needs.
• Assist as requested and directed in behavior interventions as "novel person".

Qualifications:

• Always treats people and animals with care and respect; must be a compassionate caregiver for animals and have a genuine interest in working with others
• Maintains a consistently positive attitude; must enjoy working directly with people; respects team members at all levels
• Relishes troubleshooting and problem solving
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Cultivates a climate in which individual differences and perspectives are valued, respected, encouraged and supported
• Flexible communicator: ability to interact with diverse personalities and groups
• Meticulous organizational skills; pays close attention to detail
• Ability to observe and accurately interpret animal behavior
• Must enjoy keeping animals and kennels clean
• Forms authentic, trusting relationships which enhance individual and team performance
• Physical capacity to move, stand, bend and lift up to 100 lbs and carry 50lbs.
• Ability to skillfully restrain and handle animals
• Reliable transportation to regular scheduled shifts
• Flexible and willing to attend mandatory staff meetings and training classes that may not occur during regular work hours
• The ability to work closely with behaviorally compromised animals and feel comfortable working in an environment where euthanasia is performed on a regular basis
• At least 1 year experience working or volunteering in an animal welfare agency handling animals strongly preferred
• Experience working with under socialized dogs with extreme fear issues is a plus

Language:

• English (required)

Education and Work Experience:

• High school diploma or GED required