Animal Care Specialist

If you are up for the challenge and would like to be considered for this position, we would like to hear from you. The British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA) is looking to fill the following career opportunity:
**POSITION**: Animal Care Specialist - ACA 2
**STATUS**: Permanent; Full-Time
**SHIFT**: Tuesday to Saturday 7:30am - 4pm - 37.5 Hours per week
**LOCATION**: Victoria, BC
**CLASSIFICATION**: CUPE 50
**WAGE**: $25.65 per hour
**CLOSING DATE**: Open Until Filled

**About the Position**:
The Animal Care Specialist will be responsible for performing both animal care, and customer service procedures to ensure that the physical, emotional and psychological well-being of all shelter animals is met. This incorporates monitoring the psychological and medical health of shelter animals, administering medications as prescribed by veterinarians, and maintaining kennels and sanitation in all areas of the shelter. The Animal Care Specialist will also be responsible for animal admissions, adoptions, and returns to owners, animal behavior assessments and rehabilitation programs.

**Some specific duties**:
Animal Care
- Monitor shelter animals daily for signs and symptoms of disease, injury, psychological stress or behavioral problems and records findings on assessments forms. Take appropriate action as required for those needing intervention
- Care for feeding, health and welfare of animals in the shelter
- Perform physical exams and determining animal gender
- Refer any animal needing diagnosis or prescription medication to the Branch Manager for approval to transfer the animals to the veterinarian
- Administrate vaccinations, internal and external parasite treatments as required per shelter policy; clean the animal's ears, arrange for the animal to be groomed or bathed if necessary
- Implant microchips and check for other forms of identification
- Scan for and schedule unaltered animals for surgery
- Transport the animal to the proper kennel area
- Perform euthanasia of shelter animals as required
- Clean and sanitize all animal housing areas at the shelter
- Clean and maintain all other areas of the shelter as assigned
- Maintain equipment provided in good working order

Customer Service
- Provide excellent customer service at all times, both in person and via telephone or electronic communication, as required
- Answer all phone calls and refer appropriate calls to the Branch Manager
- Receive all donations and membership fees ensuring that the individual receives a receipt
- Responsible for all admissions/intake procedures on all incoming animals.
- Administer the animal adoption program, interview prospective owners and pass judgment on appropriateness of adoption, as per branch policy, recognizing that the Branch Manager provides final approval in all questionable cases
- Convey to the public the Society's position on responsible animal companion ownership. Educate adopters about animal health and behavioral care, training, spaying and neutering and other animal-related issues and distribute approved information handouts on animal care and behavior
- Input and maintain data in Shelter Buddy or other software that may be utilized
- Operating the two-way radio system for communications between the shelter and vehicles
- Ensure that the shelter and grounds are kept neat and tidy at all times
- Supervise, train and work in cooperation with volunteers
- Consult with supervisory staff when in question as to procedure or protocol
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Branch Manager
- Pick-up and delivery of animals to veterinarians

**Qualifications you need to have**:

- Must possess excellent communication and customer service skills
- Must be reliable and able to exercise tact, discretion and judgment in stressful situations
- Must be a team player able to work with volunteers
- Must have good working knowledge of domestic animal breeds, including their dietary requirements, care and maintenance
- Experience in caring for and handling animals in a safe, effective and humane manner
- Training in animal health assessment, care, treatment and disease prevention.
- Experience with animal behaviour and rehabilitation would be an asset
- Ability to use basic hand tools and perform repairs and maintenance to buildings and grounds
- Valid Class N or 5 BC Drivers’ License and driver’s abstract
- Experience with computer software programs is an asset
- Two years’ experience in a related field

**Education Requirements**:

- High school diploma or equivalent
- Prefer, but nor mandatory, a certificate in Dog Education, Training and/or Behavioural Remediation from a recognized organization

**How to apply**:
The BC SPCA is a Registered Charity BN 11881 9036 RR0001