Animal Care Specialist

Salary: $17.00 Hourly
Location : 5600 Banner Drive, Fort Myers, FL
Job Type: Occasional
Job Number: 08068KL
Department: Animal Services
Opening Date: 09/22/2026
Closing Date: 9/27/2026 9:06 AM Eastern
FLSA: Non-Exempt


Description
Lee County Domestic Animal Services is looking for a reliable and flexible team member to join us on an on-call basis . This role involves helping animals, assisting the public, and supporting pet adoptions when needed.

Duties and Responsibilities
What You Will Do

You will help take care of animals and support shelter operations. Your main duties include:

• Feed, groom, and safely handle animals
• Keep kennels clean and maintain animal spaces
• Observe animal behavior to assess adoption readiness
• Assist with medical tasks and animal transportation
• Help customers with adoptions and answer questions politely and professionally
• Support lost pet reunions and match pets with adopters
• Mentor new staff and help with general shelter tasks
• Follow state and local rules for animal care and shelter operations
• Perform other duties as assigned

Education, Experience, Licensing
What We're Looking For

Education & Experience

• High school diploma or GED
• Animal handling experience is a plus, but not required

Required

• Ability to earn Florida State Certification in Euthanasia (training provided) within 6 months
• Valid driver's license with a good driving record
• Ability to lift up to 80 pounds

Preferred

• Customer service experience

Supplemental Information
Work Schedule

• Flexible schedule, including weekends and holidays
• Shifts are 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM with rotating days off

Why Join Us?
This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys hands-on work with animals and helping the community. You'll play a key role in caring for pets and supporting adoptions in Lee County.
About the Department
Lee County Domestic Animal Services works every day to care for pets and support the community. Our mission is to promote animal welfare, reunite lost pets with their owners, and help animals find loving homes.
About Lee County
Lee County is located in beautiful Southwest Florida and is home to over 800,000 residents. We are committed to serving our community with high-quality services, sustainability, and innovation. Join us in making Lee County a safe and welcoming place for people and pets alike.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE/RECOVERY ACTIVITIES:

All County employees are required to work before, during, or after an emergency as needed. This may include temporarily being assigned to work and performing duties outside of the normal scope of their position, location and work schedule to fit the needs of the County and its citizens.
DISCLAIMER: This job 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, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this classification. The employee will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by his or her supervisor. The job description supersedes prior job descriptions. When duties and responsibilities change and develop the job description will be reviewed and subject to changes of business necessity. All positions are subject to a criminal background check. A conviction in and of itself may not necessarily preclude employment. Some positions may be subject to a pre-employment drug screening. Certain service members and veterans, and the spouses and family members of such service members and veterans, who claim and meet eligibility requirements of veterans preference, receive preference and priority in employment and are encouraged to apply.
Lee County Board of County Commissioners offers a comprehensive, and affordable benefits package. Our Board works in the best interest of employees and strives to provide the most complete, high-quality benefits package available at the lowest possible cost to the employee. Our Board continues to remain steadfast in maintaining one of the lowest levels of employee costs in our area.
Lee County's benefits package is offered to both regular Full-time positions and Part-time positions that are regularly scheduled to work 60 hours or more bi-weekly. Medical benefits may be offered to On-Call, Temporary, Seasonal, and Intern employees who meet the Affordable Care Act eligibility criteria.
Lee County employees eligible to participate in the Florida Retirement System (FRS) are required to contribute 3% of each paycheck to FRS. If you have retired from the Florida Retirement Pension plan you will not be eligible for renewed membership in either of the FRS retirement plan options. Retirees of the Investment Plan are eligible for renewed membership in the Investment Plan only. FRS reemployment rules apply for both.
Below is a brief breakdown of what's included in the benefits package that is offered to our employees.
For a more detailed look into our benefits package, please click visit our webpage at
To view our employee paid premiums, please visit:
Health Benefits:
• Medical Insurance
• Plans include, but are not limited to: routine, preventative, mental health, hospitalization, and prescription drug benefits.
• Vision, Fitness, Weight Management, Natural Products and Services, and Hearing discount programs available.
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Medical Reimbursement Account
• Dependent Care Reimbursement Account
• Pharmacy, including Mail-Order Pharmacy
• Informed Health Lines (Nurse Hotline)
• Basic Life Insurance (1x or 2x Annual Salary at no cost to employee)
• Optional Life Insurance
• Long-Term Disability (60% of pre-disability salary at no cost to employee)
• Short-Term Disability
• Sick Leave Pool
• Flu vaccinations
• Wellness Programs
Financial Benefits:
• Florida Retirement System (FRS)
• Two Retirement Plan Options:
1) FRS Pension Plan (Defined Benefit)
2) FRS Investment Plan (Defined Contribution)
• Deferred Compensation (457) Plans
• Financial Savings/Management Programs
• Eligible for membership with Suncoast Credit Union
• Employee Leave Benefits
• Holiday Pay - 11 Paid Holidays Annually
• Paid Sick Leave
• Paid Vacation Leave
• Bereavement & Civic Duty Leave
• Family and Medical Leave
• Military Family & Medical Leave
• Educational Leave
Employee Assistance Program

Services available to employees that offers guidance, support, resources and information for personal and work-life issues. Confidential and provided at no charge to employees and their dependents.
United Way 2-1-1 (Lee County Employee Resource Program)

Lee County BOCC has partnered with United Way 211 to provide an Employee Resource Program which assists BoCC employees who may be experiencing distress due to economic hardship, health or other factors.
Educational Assistance

Reimbursement for coursework taken at an accredited college or university that is designed to enhance the knowledge, skills and abilities relating to the official duties that the employees perform.
01


This job is on-call. You may work different days and hours. Can you work this kind of schedule?

• Yes
• No

02


Do you possess a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record?

• Yes
• No

03


Do you have a Florida State Euthanasia Certification, or would you be able to obtain it within six months of hire, and are you willing to assist with euthanasia after receiving on-site training and certification? (Training and certification will be provided on-site after you are hired.)

• Yes
• No

Required Question