Animal Care Technician

Job Description

Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Animal Care Technician provides daily care for animals housed within the SPCA of Brazoria County, ensuring their health, safety, cleanliness, enrichment, and overall well-being.

Under the direction of the Canine Lead & Outreach Coordinator, this position supports the daily operation of the shelter by maintaining humane housing conditions, monitoring animal health and behavior, assisting with medications and animal movement, maintaining accurate records, and providing positive interactions with adopters, visitors, volunteers, and staff.

The ideal candidate is dependable, observant, comfortable handling animals of varying temperaments, and committed to maintaining high standards of animal care and shelter cleanliness.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONSAnimal Care & Welfare

• Provide daily care for all animals, including feeding, fresh water, cleaning, and enrichment.

• Ensure animals are properly housed, comfortable, and receiving appropriate enrichment and socialization.

• Support stress reduction and the overall physical and emotional well-being of animals in care.

• Monitor animals for changes in health, behavior, appetite, elimination, or overall condition.

• Immediately communicate and document concerns regarding animal health or behavior.

• Assist with administering medications as directed by the Canine Lead, veterinary team, or other authorized medical personnel.

• Follow all animal handling and safety procedures when working with fearful, stressed, injured, or behaviorally challenging animals.

• Assist with intake, transfers, animal movement, and placement of animals throughout the shelter as needed.

• Support quarantine and isolation procedures and follow all disease-control protocols.

Cleaning & Shelter Maintenance

• Clean and sanitize kennels, cages, runs, common areas, and animal-care spaces according to established SOPs.

• Maintain a clean, safe, sanitary, and humane environment for all animals.

• Properly use cleaning chemicals, equipment, and personal protective equipment.

• Ensure animal-care areas are stocked, organized, and prepared for daily operations.

• Identify and report maintenance, safety, sanitation, or supply concerns.

• Assist with laundry, waste removal, supply organization, and other routine shelter-maintenance duties.

Animal Enrichment & Socialization

• Provide appropriate enrichment and socialization based on each animal's needs.

• Participate in playgroups, walks, kennel enrichment, and other approved enrichment activities.

• Follow individualized care or enrichment plans when provided.

• Support safe handling and positive interactions designed to reduce stress and improve adoptability.

Adoptions & Customer Service

• Assist adopters and visitors with safe and positive interactions with animals.

• Provide basic information regarding animal care, shelter procedures, and responsible pet ownership.

• Assist with adoption-related activities as directed by shelter leadership.

• Maintain a professional, welcoming, and helpful demeanor with members of the public.

• Assist with adoptions as needed based on operational priorities.

Documentation & Communication

• Maintain accurate records of feeding, cleaning, medications, enrichment, animal movement, and other assigned care activities.

• Communicate animal health, behavior, care, and operational concerns promptly to the appropriate supervisor.

• Review and follow daily assignments and animal-care instructions.

• Maintain clear and professional communication with staff, volunteers, and leadership.

Team & Shelter Operations

• Work cooperatively with shelter staff, volunteers, veterinary personnel, and leadership.

• Follow established schedules, assignments, SOPs, policies, and procedures.

• Assist other departments or work areas when operationally necessary.

• Maintain a professional and respectful workplace environment.

• Perform additional duties as assigned based on organizational needs.

CORE STANDARD DUTIES

Applies to All SPCA of Brazoria County Positions

All employees are expected to:

• Follow all established organizational policies, procedures, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

• Maintain accurate communication and documentation.

• Maintain professional conduct and respectful communication.

• Follow all safety, animal-handling, sanitation, and workplace procedures.

• Protect confidential organizational, donor, adopter, employee, and animal information.

• Assist with adoptions as needed based on operational priorities.

• Support other departments and operational functions when reasonably assigned.

• Communicate concerns, incidents, safety issues, and operational needs to the appropriate supervisor.

• Represent the SPCA of Brazoria County professionally when interacting with the public, volunteers, adopters, partners, and community members.

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

• Comfort handling animals of varying sizes, breeds, temperaments, and behavioral needs.

• Ability to safely handle fearful, stressed, or reactive animals.

• Strong attention to detail.

• Ability to maintain cleanliness and organization in a busy shelter environment.

• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions.

• Ability to work independently while also functioning effectively as part of a team.

• Good communication and interpersonal skills.

• Professional and respectful demeanor.

• Reliability and consistent attendance.

• Ability to manage multiple tasks and changing priorities.

• Commitment to humane animal care, safety, and animal welfare.

• Willingness to learn shelter procedures, animal-handling techniques, and organizational SOPs.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Must be at least 18 years of age.

• Previous experience working with animals preferred.

• Shelter, kennel, veterinary, boarding, grooming, rescue, or animal-care experience preferred.

• Customer service experience preferred.

• Equivalent personal experience with animals may be considered.

• Ability to successfully complete required organizational training.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

This position is performed primarily in an animal shelter environment.

The employee may be exposed to:

• Animal odors and noise.

• Fur, dander, dirt, and bodily fluids.

• Cleaning and disinfecting chemicals.

• Animals with unknown medical or behavioral histories.

• Outdoor temperatures and weather conditions.

• Potentially stressful or emotionally difficult animal-care situations.

The position requires the ability to:

• Stand and walk for extended periods.

• Bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, and reach.

• Lift and carry supplies and animal-care equipment.

• Safely handle and restrain animals when appropriately trained and directed.

• Repeatedly perform cleaning and sanitation tasks.

• Work on feet for the majority of the scheduled shift.

• Safely perform physical tasks associated with daily shelter operations.

Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform essential job functions.