Dog Care Manager

Job Description

Job Description

The Dog Care Manager is responsible for the overall health, safety, welfare, and daily care of the dogs at The Sanctuary at Haafsville. This position provides leadership to dog care staff, establishes and maintains consistent animal-care practices, coordinates medical and behavioral needs, supports successful placement, and helps ensure compliance with applicable animal welfare regulations. The Dog Care Manager works closely with the Executive Director, dog care staff, volunteers, foster caregivers, veterinarians, trainers, the Adoption Team, and other members of the Sanctuary community. This is a hands-on leadership position for someone who is knowledgeable about canine care and behavior, comfortable making recommendations and responding to urgent situations, and able to balance the needs of individual dogs with the overall capacity and resources of the organization.

Responsibilities Dog Care & Welfare

 Oversee daily standards of care for all dogs, including feeding, hydration, sanitation, exercise, enrichment, and appropriate housing.

 Monitor the physical and behavioral well-being of dogs and ensure concerns are identified, documented, and addressed promptly.

 Develop and maintain individual care plans, including feeding, medical, behavioral, enrichment, and handling instructions as appropriate.  Ensure medications, supplements, treatments, and veterinary recommendations are followed and accurately documented.

 Coordinate veterinary appointments, follow-up care, quarantine protocols, and other medical needs in collaboration with veterinary providers and designated support staff.

 Coordinate behavioral assessments and training support when appropriate and work with qualified trainers or behavior professionals as needed.

 Establish safe handling requirements and determine appropriate handling levels or restrictions for individual dogs.

 Participate in hands-on dog care as needed, particularly during staffing shortages, emergencies, or when dogs require specialized handling. Staff Leadership

 Supervise, train, schedule, and support paid dog care staff.

 Provide clear expectations, consistent procedures, and ongoing coaching related to animal care, safety, documentation, and Sanctuary protocols.

 Conduct regular staff check-ins and communicate significant animal-care or operational concerns to the Executive Director.

 Help identify staffing needs and participate in hiring and training dog care employees. Volunteer & Foster Collaboration

 Work collaboratively with the individual responsible for volunteer coordination to ensure dog-care volunteers receive appropriate animal-specific training, handling guidance, and safety information.

 Establish dog-handling qualifications and restrictions and communicate when additional training or supervision is required.

 Serve as the animal-care authority when questions arise regarding safe volunteer interaction with individual dogs.

 Work with the foster program to identify appropriate foster placements and provide animal-specific medical, behavioral, feeding, and handling information.

 Support foster caregivers when concerns arise related to the health, behavior, or welfare of a dog.

 Communicate volunteer staffing needs to the person responsible for volunteer scheduling and recruitment rather than directly managing the overall volunteer program. Intake, Placement & Lifesaving Decisions

 Evaluate potential dog intakes for medical, behavioral, housing, and resource considerations and provide recommendations to the Executive Director.

 Coordinate approved intakes and transfers with rescue partners, animal control agencies, and other appropriate organizations.

 Work collaboratively with the Adoption Team to provide accurate information about dogs and assist with complex matching or placement decisions when animal-care expertise is needed.

 Review dogs who are experiencing significant medical, behavioral, or placement challenges and develop appropriate next-step recommendations.

 Significant animal-welfare decisions, including intake parameters, major treatment decisions, placement restrictions, and humane euthanasia, will be made in consultation with the Executive Director and in accordance with established organizational policies and protocols.

 In an immediate medical or safety emergency when prior consultation is not practical, take appropriate action within established emergency protocols and notify the Executive Director as soon as reasonably possible.

Records, Compliance & Operations

 Ensure dog medical, behavioral, intake, foster, adoption, and care records are complete, timely, and maintained in the organization's designated recordkeeping system.

 Maintain familiarity with applicable Pennsylvania kennel, animal welfare, and related regulations and help ensure dog operations remain compliant.

 Prepare records and dog-care areas for inspections and assist the Executive Director with regulatory matters as needed.

 Monitor dog-care supplies and inventory and coordinate purchasing needs with appropriate staff.

 Maintain written procedures related to dog care, medication, sanitation, disease control, handling, emergencies, intake, and other core dog operations.

 Identify facility, equipment, or safety concerns affecting animal care and communicate them to the appropriate staff member. Adoption & Community Interaction

 Support the Adoption Team by providing accurate medical, behavioral, and care information necessary for appropriate placements.

 Participate in meet-and-greets or adopter conversations when the dog's needs require animal-care or behavioral expertise.

 Provide assistance with public inquiries involving animal-care matters when they are escalated by support staff, the Adoption Team, or the Executive Director.

 Represent the Sanctuary professionally when interacting with adopters, fosters, rescue partners, veterinarians, and community members.

Qualifications

 Minimum of 4 years of hands-on dog care, shelter, rescue, veterinary, training, or comparable animal-welfare experience.

 Prior supervisory or animal-care leadership experience strongly preferred.

 Veterinary technician certification or veterinary-assistant experience preferred but not required.  Strong understanding of canine behavior, body language, safe handling, enrichment, sanitation, and disease-control practices.

 Experience administering medications and following veterinary treatment plans.

 Ability to assess animal-care situations, identify when additional veterinary or behavioral expertise is needed, and communicate concerns clearly.

 Strong organizational and documentation skills.

 Ability to work collaboratively with paid staff and a large, established volunteer community.

 Able to remain calm and make appropriate decisions during animal-care emergencies.

 Comfortable working with dogs of varying sizes, temperaments, medical conditions, and behavioral needs.

 Familiarity with shelter-management software and basic digital tools preferred.

 Valid driver's license and acceptable driving record.

 Ability to lift approximately 40–50 pounds and work indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions.  Commitment to The Sanctuary at Haafsville's mission and humane, individualized animal-care practices.

Schedule & Compensation

Job Type: Full-time, 40 hours per week

Salary: $55,000–$62,000 annually, depending on experience

Paid Time Off: 16 paid days annually, in accordance with organizational policy

Schedule: This position offers flexibility in establishing a regular work schedule based on operational needs. Some weekend coverage is required. Weekend work will typically be limited to no more than four weekend days per month. Whenever practical, scheduling will avoid requiring more than two full weekends per month. Additional weekend, evening, or holiday availability may occasionally be required for special events, emergencies, staffing needs, or other extenuating circumstances. Schedule adjustments and comp time/flexibility should be coordinated with the Executive Director. Location: Primarily on-site at the Dog Adoption Center in Breinigsville, PA.

\nCompany Description

The Sanctuary at Haafsville is a non-profit, volunteer-based animal rescue organization in the Lehigh Valley, dedicated to saving the lives of dogs and cats and placing them into loving “forever homes”. We recently celebrated our 15th Anniversary, having saved over 15,000 animals.
Our mission is to provide a safe and nurturing environment for animals in need. We empower them to heal, thrive and find loving forever homes through a volunteer community where each member is valued, supported, and appreciated. Through dedicated care, innovative programs, and community engagement, we strive to be a prominent advocate for animal welfare and promote responsible pet ownership.

Company Description

The Sanctuary at Haafsville is a non-profit, volunteer-based animal rescue organization in the Lehigh Valley, dedicated to saving the lives of dogs and cats and placing them into loving “forever homes”. We recently celebrated our 15th Anniversary, having saved over 15,000 animals.\nOur mission is to provide a safe and nurturing environment for animals in need. We empower them to heal, thrive and find loving forever homes through a volunteer community where each member is valued, supported, and appreciated. Through dedicated care, innovative programs, and community engagement, we strive to be a prominent advocate for animal welfare and promote responsible pet ownership.