Animal Attendant

This is a permanent, full-time position, scheduled Wednesday to Sunday from 10:30am - 7:30pm. Availability to work Holidays is required.

Brief
The Animal Attendant is primarily responsible for providing compassionate care for all animals within the shelter, ensuring all animal areas are consistently cleaned to the very highest standards achievable and ensuring all animals are provided with the proper food and needed medical care.

The Animal Attendant will work closely with other members of the animal care team, and directly reports to, the Animal Care Team Leader/s in all matters, carrying out such activities as assigned.

The role is best suited to someone able to maintain calm under pressure, someone with the ability to objectively and informally assess animal behavioural concerns that need to be passed on to other members of the animal care team for formal assessment, as well as the ability to effectively communicate with all community members.

The incumbent will be expected to work alone and as part of a team in order to ensure applicable animal welfare standards are maintained at all times.

Although the primary role is one of animal care, secondary roles revolve around engaging with members of the public who may be at the shelter for various purposes, such as adoptions, volunteers, or tours. At all times, professionalism is expected and required.

The successful candidate must clearly demonstrate that their values align with PAW and that they support our charitable mission.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Maintaining the highest level of sanitation in the cleaning of all animal areas, and the furniture within those areas, in a timely manner.
• Thoroughly cleaning and providing basic maintenance of all equipment and tools used in activity assignments.
• Ensuring all animals at the shelter are provided with clean and fresh food, water and bedding.
• Recognizing, recording and reporting any unusual condition or behavior of any animal in the shelter.
• Assisting other staff members to administer medication.
• Assisting with prepping and evaluating animals for adoption.
• Administering of medication to animals, under the supervision of the team leader.
• Assisting with euthanasia or handling remains related to PAW's aftercare and remembrance services.
• Ensuring that interactions with fractious, or potentially fractious animals occur in a manner that is safe and humane for both the animals and people involved in the interaction.
• Maintenance of accurate and timely records (when required) of interactions with the public and/or animals.
• Compliance with the rules of operation, policies and procedures established by the organization.
• Maintaining a high level of professional and respectful communication and co-operation with all other GMSPCA staff, the public, volunteers, clients and customers.
• Unpacking, labeling and stocking of shelter supplies and donations.
• Washing and drying of towels, blankets, bowls, pans and any other items that have been used.
• Reporting of human resource concerns to the Animal Care Team Leader.
• Follow all end of day procedures, ensuring that the building is suitably secured and alarmed prior to leaving the building empty of all personnel.

Secondary Responsibilities:

• Interaction with volunteers.
• Performing the functions of other roles as required (such as, but not limited to, that of the Receptionist)
• Assisting with members of the public needing assistance with adoptions or foster animals.
• Coordinating animal selection and transport for external events or programs.
• Assisting with the onboarding of new employees, providing support in the form of mentoring as needed.
• Ensuring progress towards completion of SMART goals assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills and competencies:

• Experience controlling and handling cats/dogs and small animals preferred.
• Knowledge of common pet diseases and symptoms preferred.
• The ability to gain skills and confidence when restraining animals for transport, grooming and/or treatment is required.
• Knowledge of cleaning and disinfecting methods and the use and care of cleaning materials preferred.
• The ability to learn and effectively use Pet Point, the shelter database is preferred.
• High school diploma preferred.
• Experience in close working teams preferred.
• Knowledge of basic animal behaviour preferred.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills are required.
• Physically fit, able to manipulate/move large dogs and other items heavy items is required. Frequent handling of materials up to 20lbs, often lifting and carrying items up to 50lbs.

Working conditions:

This role is at the shelter location but the incumbent will also be exposed to various weather conditions when transporting animals between indoor and outdoor housing. The incumbent will be working with animals of unknown health or temperament and may be exposed to animals at the end of life. This is a fast paced position that can, at times be emotionally demanding. Exposure to a range of noises, odours and fumes despite working in areas with adequate ventilation may occur. The animals requiring handling vary in species from common pet animals through to various other exotic or livestock animals. Operational needs may require scheduling on holidays, evenings and weekends.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: $16.18-$17.98 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• Employee assistance program
• Extended health care
• Store discount

Flexible language requirement:

• French not required

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Every Weekend

Application question(s):

• Are you available to work Holidays?
• Are you available during the regular working hours? (Wednesday to Sunday 10:30am - 7:30pm)

Experience:

• animal handling: 1 year (required)

Work Location: In person