Kennel Technician

**Base Wage**:$14.61/hr - $17.78/hr

**Reports To**:Supervisor of Animal Care

**Type**: Permanent***

**Hours**:Full time

**Essential Duties and Primary Job Purpose**
Under the direction of the Supervisor of Animal Care, the Kennel Technician is responsible for providing
daily care for animals in the shelter and ensuring that the facility and equipment are safe, sanitary, and
organized. The Kennel Technician carries out duties to support population and individual animal health.
They also assist with other operations such as receiving, adoptions, cremations, and veterinary care as
required.

**Representative Tasks and Major Responsibilities**
In accordance with RHS’s objectives, philosophies and policies and procedures, the Kennel Technician
position is responsible for the following:
**1. Animal Care Responsibilities ** Clean facilities including but not limited to animal housing and care areas, as per written or verbal
- directions
- Feed animals as per written or verbal directions
- Stock all animal housing and care areas with supplies as required
- Safely and efficiently move animals to, from, and within animal housing areas and any other
- locations as required
- Administer prescribed treatments to animals as directed
- Complete animal care duties such as grooming, exercising, and socialization as required
- Assist with delivery of environmental enrichment
- Clean, disinfect, and maintain equipment and supplies as required
- Monitor and appropriately document animal health, behavior, and general well-being
- Assist as needed with all other shelter operations including cleaning, cremations, animal handling,

and behavior assessments

**2. General Operations Responsibilities ** Maintain RHS facilities and equipment
- General housekeeping and sanitation duties as required
- Provide training and orientation to new staff and volunteers as required
- Assist as required in the showing of animals for adoption purposes
- Assist the Lost and Found and Animal Protection Offices as needed
- Receive and sort donated items
- Participate in occupational health and safety activities as required
- Maintain cooperative and respectful working relationships with supervisors, management, peers,
- and staff
- Demonstrate appropriate, professional behavior at all times

**3. Overall Shelter Vision and Operations ** Support and promote the vision and strategic plan of RHS
- Ensure positive public relations and customer service practices
- Represent the RHS in a professional manner
- Maintain cooperative and respectful working relationships with supervisors, management, peers,
- and staff
- Demonstrate appropriate, professional behavior at all times
- Assist other departments with educational and other programming as needed
- Participate in public relations and promotional activities as required

**4. Other Duties ** Other duties as assigned

**Work Contacts**
This position interacts and collaborates with all levels of the organization, including entry-level staff
members, peers in other departments, executive team members, representatives from external agencies,
the public, children and volunteers. Contact and communication is carried out through face-to-face,
telephone and electronic interactions. Communication must be clear, understandable, positive,
professional and respectful in all circumstances.

**Working Conditions ** Work is performed concurrently in office and animal shelter environments. Ability to stay standing
- or active during entire shift is required. Must be able to safely lift up to 22 kg.
- Work performed requires lifting, bending, stooping, pushing and other strenuous activities.
- Exposure to potentially aggressive, unruly, severely injured, diseased, and/or parasite infested
- animals
- Exposure to infectious fluids and materials
- Exposure to disinfectants and chemical cleaners
- Exposure to angry, emotional, overwhelmed, and potentially aggressive individuals
- Interaction with children, adolescents and adults from the general public is frequent and requires
- respectful, empathetic and professional behavior at all times
- Frequent exposure to computer video terminal and computer peripherals
- Public exposure via assorted media including television and internet/social media
- All staff may be requested to work early mornings, evenings, holidays, and weekend shifts for
- special events, programming or operational needs.
- Required to wear a uniform while on duty
- Environment can be noisy, odorous and stressful, both physically and emotionally

**Education, Training and Competencies**
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and task
satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability
required.
- Education and experience
- Minimum of 1 year of experience working with animals
- Experience in working with a large number of animals is preferred
- Hands-on experience with a veterinary clinic or animal s