Animal Care Attendant

**ANIMAL CARE ATTENDANT**

**Permanent Full Time (Union Position - LIUNA, Local 900)**

**REPORTING**: The Animal Care Attendant reports to the Animal Care Manager.

**WAGE**: $18.65/hour to start; after 6 months of service $20.59

**ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND PRIMARY JOB PURPOSE**

The Animal Care Attendant works closely with the Animal Care Manager and other Animal Care Attendants and is responsible for care and handling of animals. The focus is on cleaning, feeding, and providing basic health care as well as maintaining the shelter facilities and equipment. The Animal Care Attendant is a representative, responsible to further the goals and philosophies of the PEI Humane Society with volunteers, adopters, and members of the public.

**Primary Responsibilities**
- Carry out a variety of duties related to animal health and well-being, safe and effective shelter operation and assist and educate the public.
- Use established cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting protocols to ensure animal health and to prevent the spread of disease of communicable diseases.
- Perform general animal husbandry duties multiple times daily including feeding, watering, administering medication and exercising as per guidelines and species-specific needs.
- Monitor individual animal health and well-being throughout the day and report significant findings to veterinarian and/or Animal Care Manager.
- Assist shelter Veterinarian with restraint of animals when required during certain procedures (e.g., vaccinations, micro-chipping, medical tests, administering medications, euthanasia).
- Safely and responsibly use and care for equipment, machinery, and supplies.
- Assist with animal enrichment programs, pet adoption and training of volunteers.
- Provide feedback on behaviour of individual animals to Animal Care Manager, shelter Veterinarian and/or Adoption Coordinator, and assist with the preparation of Animal Health Records prior to adoption.
- Create animal records and adoption profiles using shelter-based software (PetPoint).
- Provide relief work for the receptionist when required to cover breaks, vacation, sick time.
- Familiarize the public with adoptable animals to facilitate appropriate matches for both animal and adopter.
- Relay basic medical care information to adopters or potential adopters when requested by Animal Care Manager or shelter Veterinarian.
- Other duties as requested by the Animal Care Manager, shelter Veterinarian or Executive Director.

**QUALIFICATIONS**

**Educational & Experience Requirements**
- High School Diploma
- Relevant post-secondary diploma/training in animal care and/or a minimum of one-year hands-on experience in a veterinary clinic, animal shelter or animal hospital.
- Knowledge of feline and canine behaviour.
- Knowledge of stress-free animal handling techniques.
- Experience in customer service.
- Capable of working in a busy and often stressful environment.

**Abilities/Competencies/Knowledge**
- Self-directed and able to prioritize and complete required tasks within a set timeframe with a minimum of supervision.
- Mature individual, comfortable working in an unpredictable, and often loud and stressful environment.
- Understand of the purpose of euthanasia in a shelter setting and be able to assist in this medical procedure, when required.
- Knowledge of animal health and wellness, disease transmission and parasite control.
- Able to work independently as well as part of a team.
- Able to read, understand and comprehend written and oral instructions/directions and repeat them consistently according to established guidelines.
- Good communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to handle various species animals safely and humanely.
- Ability to carry out strenuous and sustained physical labour.

**Relationships/Contacts**
- Liaise and interact with shelter staff, volunteers, donors, and members of the public and on occasion with members of the Board of Directors of the PEIHS and committee members.

**Working Conditions**
- This is a permanent full-time position (40 hours per work) involving shift work: 8am-4pm or 10am-6pm.
- The PEI Humane Society operates seven days a week. Hours of work and workdays may vary according to the needs of the organization, including weekend and holiday work.
- Must be willing to attend mandatory training and meetings as scheduled by the employer.
- Ability to work evenings, weekends, and statutory holidays.
- Must have a reliable means of transportation to ensure prompt arrival for all shifts.
- Must be willing to be immunized against Rabies or to sign a waiver acknowledging lack of immunization.

**Physical Demands**:

- Safely and humanely handle animals with unknown medical or behavioural history.
- Safely and humanely handle animals weighing up to 50 kg.
- Safely lift, up to 25 kg regularly.
- Perform physically demanding tasks throughout an 8-hour shift.
- Safely work with a variety of commercial cleaning agents and in an environment with potential allergens.