ANIMAL CARE TECHNICIAN-POLICE DEPT.

Job Summary
To provide a safe and sanitary environment for animals, while providing customer service in person and via telephone. Provide care for animals in the shelter with the goal of maintaining quality of life, process animal intakes and outplacements and ensure all animals physical and emotional needs are preserved daily.

Job Responsibilities 

• Communicate information so others will understand, often in stressful situations.
• Represent the City of Crestview by providing exceptional customer service; greet customers and provide information about services, animals, and laws; communicate effectively and clearly with internal and external customers in person, by phone and via email.
• Ability to remain composed and make sound decisions during stressful circumstances while dealing effectively and professionally with people and situations involving high levels of emotion.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Clean and disinfect cages, kennels, dishes, equipment, and laundry daily.
• Care for, feed and monitor animals for any signs of illness or distress and reporting any behavior or medical concerns following departmental processes.
• Provide enrichment and exercise for animals.
• Safely handle and restrain animals while minimizing fear and distress, while assisting with implanting microchips: administering vaccinations, medications, treatments, euthanasia, and blood draws.
• Bathe and provide basic grooming of all animals.
• Enter and maintain complete and accurate records of all animals, medications, vaccines, etc.
• Collect fees and maintain complete and accurate records of payments and balance the cash drawer.
• Maintain equipment and keep facility stocked and in an organized manner; report any shortages or equipment problems to the Animal Shelter Supervisor.
• This position utilizes personal protective equipment, animal handling equipment, standard office equipment, cameras, handheld radios, vehicles, freezers, and cleaning equipment.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Education

• High school diploma or equivalent required

Abilities

• Strong interpersonal skills. The ideal person for this job would be personable, outgoing, patient, professional, and able to get along well with a variety of people.
• Strong written and verbal skills, including the ability to communicate skillfully and effectively with a culturally diverse staff, volunteers, and community in a professional, pleasant, respectful, courteous, and tactful manner at all times.
• Maturity, good judgement and a professional personal appearance.
• Patient restraint: restraint of non-fractious and fractious or fearful animals when needed for vaccines/injections, cephalic blood draw, microchipping, etc.
• Strong problem solving skills · Flexibility, ability to manage multiple tasks
• Ability and initiative to work with minimal supervision and direction.
• Knowledge of animal behavior and common medical concerns
• Comfort and ability in working with animals of unknown disposition and those who may exhibit medical and other problems, as well as aggressive tendencies.
• Ability to communicate skillfully and effectively with a diverse clientele and staff.

Experience

• Six months prior experience in an animal care

Physical Requirements 

• Ability to lift and move objects and animals weighing up to 50 pounds for short distances and to humanely restrain animals when necessary
• Ability to carry, climb, kneel, pull, push, reach, stand, stoop and walk.

Environment

• Work is in an animal shelter therefore the employee is frequently exposed to zoonotic pathogens, odors, animal feces/urine, toxic or caustic materials, dangerous animals, sick animals, loud noises, medications, sharp objects (needles), and outside weather conditions.