ANIMAL CARE TECHNICIAN

Animal Care Worker

This is the first of five levels in the Animal Care series. Incumbents clean and sanitize the animal shelter and provide care to the animals. Responsibilities may include assigning incoming animals to kennels; administering medications and vaccinations; euthanizing animals; preparing heads for rabies checks; cremating animals; microchipping animals; cleaning kennels and public areas; assisting the public in selecting an animal and completing paperwork; and feeding and watering animals.

(The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. Other duties may be assigned.)

• Cares for animals, which includes: cleaning and disinfecting animal holding areas; maintaining facility aesthetics; feeding, watering, and grooming animals; opening and closing facilities; monitoring animals for illness, disease, and/or injury; evaluating animals for adoption potential; socializing animals in custody; administering vaccines and oral dewormers; microchipping animals; and/or performing other related activities.
• Participates in euthanizing animals, which includes: injecting animals with applicable serums; performing surgical decapitation of deceased animals for rabies testing; transporting carcasses of deceased animals to landfill for disposal; incinerating animals as requested; and cleaning the incinerator.
• Prepares and maintains a variety of files, records, reports, agreements, logs, adoption records and forms, and/or other related information.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES This position does not require supervisory responsibilities.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE High School Diploma or equivalent (G.E.D.); or, an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above. LICENSING REQUIREMENTS Valid driver's license as per State law or requirement.

KNOWLEDGE

• Customer service principles;
• Basic animal handling techniques and applications;
• Basic animal care and nutrition requirements;
• Basic animal anatomy;
• Cleaning and sanitizing methods;
• Recordkeeping practices;
• Computers and related software applications.

SKILLS

• Caring for animals;
• Cleaning and sanitizing animal holding areas;
• Observing and documenting animal behavior;
• Identifying sick animals;
• Handling animals;
• Preparing and maintaining records and reports;
• Using computers and related software applications;
• Communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Positions in this class typically require: reaching, standing, walking, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.
• Heavy Work: Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of forces constantly to move objects.
• Incumbents may be subjected to fumes, odors, dusts, poor ventilation, chemicals, blood and other bodily fluids, inadequate lighting, work space restrictions, intense noises, and a threatening environment.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, moving mechanical parts, toxic or caustic chemicals, outside weather conditions, extreme heat, animal bites, repugnant odors and sights inherent within a shelter environment, and possible exposure to diseases associated with animals, to include blood-borne pathogens. The employee is occasionally exposed to high, precarious places; extreme cold; and risk of electrical shock.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually very loud.

UNIFORM An employee in this position will be supplied with a uniform, provided by the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury. The employee is responsible for abiding by the Police Jury's Uniform Agreement.

NOTE The above job description is intended to represent only the key areas of responsibilities; specific position assignments will vary depending on the business needs of the department.

WORK SCHEDULES Varied work schedules allow our employees excellent work-life balance. Schedules vary by department and include the following:

• Part-time
• Full-time
• Temporary
• Rotating shifts
• 12-hour shifts
• 4/10s
• 9/80s
• 5/8s

VACATION Vacation with pay begins accruing from date of employment.

SICK LEAVE Sick leave begins accruing from the date of employment.

OTHER PAID LEAVE BENEFITS Funeral Leave, Civil Leave (Jury Duty), and Military Leave

HOLIDAYS Depending on the position the employee is hired into, employee receives the following paid holidays from the date of hire:

• New Year's Eve
• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Mardi Gras Day
• Good Friday
• Memorial Day
• July 4th
• Labor Day
• Veterans' Day
• Thanksgiving Day & Friday after
• Christmas Eve
• Christmas Day
• One (1) Personal Day

RETIREMENT Employees are required to participate in the Parochial Employees' Retirement System of La. (Plan A) upon date of employment.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION A supplemental tax-free retirement account is offered through Nationwide Retirement Solutions. Contribution is the responsibility of the employee via payroll deduction.

SOLUTIONS COUNSELING AND EAP Free professional help with personal problems for Calcasieu Parish Police Jury employees and their families.

EMPLOYEE FITNESS PROGRAM The Parish pays an employee fitness allowance toward a fitness facility membership. Allowance is dependent upon employee attending their selected fitness program at least 8 times per month.

ONSITE MEDICAL CLINIC Health Connection, the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury's onsite medical clinic, provides office visits for a $5.00 co-pay to employees and their Calcasieu Parish Police Jury insured dependents.

LIFE INSURANCE Basic Life and AD & D - $10,000 Life and AD & D coverage for the employee is included with the health insurance at no cost to the employee.

• Supplemental Life and AD & D
  • Employee can purchase term additional Life/AD & D in increments of $10,000 up to a maximum of $500,000. Term Life/AD & D is also available for an employee's spouse and eligible dependents.

VISION A supplemental vision program is available to employees through Always Care.

MAJOR MEDICAL Major medical insurance is offered for employees with options to add family to the major medical plan.

DISCOUNTS

• Dell Computers Offers a special members' only store with discounts and monthly specials.