Animal Services Technician

Position Information

This recruitment is to fill full and/or part-time contractually unrepresented Animal Services Technician positions at the Chico Animal Shelter.

Animal Services positions focus on animal care and shelter upkeep. The ideal Animal Services Technician candidate will have at least three years of experience working in a veterinary clinic or animal shelter. Ability to act in a lead capacity overseeing, training and monitoring staff and volunteers. Ability to assist with medical care under supervision and provide humane euthanasia when needed.
Job Description
DEFINITION
Under general supervision, perform varied and routine work with an emphasis on animal care in a shelter operation; Employees in this classification may act in a lead capacity to perform a combination of kennel and animal care work; work with volunteers and rescue groups, data entry, assist the public with locating lost animals and adoptions; performing euthanasia; emphasis on kennel cleaning and sanitation; animal care including assisting with medical care, handling livestock and clearing corrals; perform related work as required.

EXAMPLES OF TYPICAL JOB FUNCTIONS (Illustrative Only)
Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations where appropriate so qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Typical duties may vary from routine animal care to more complex duties of a similar nature.
• Assist with the planning, scheduling, assigning and monitoring of daily activities of shelter staff and volunteers;
• Provide training, task supervision and evaluation of assigned staff;
• Assists with the training of volunteers and work crews;
• Perform the routine daily duties required for the general operation and maintenance of the animal shelter;
• Clean and disinfect animal enclosures, cages, equipment, vehicles, vehicle caging and other equipment;
• Wash laundry;
• Feed and care for a wide-variety of animals typically dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, and may include reptiles, wildlife and livestock;
• Perform compassionate and humane euthanasia and disposal of animals according to department protocols;
• Maintain detailed records and security of federally controlled drugs in compliance with applicable laws;
• Provide courteous and prompt customer service to members of the public;
• Provide advice on appropriate choices for animal adoption and proper animal care;
• Accept relinquished or stray animals and place the animal in appropriate housing;
• Safely handle and transport animals from the shelter to the veterinary hospital or another shelter, as needed;
• Update computer files when receiving, treating, moving or determining disposition of animals;
• Keep accurate records and logs;
• Handle animals humanely and effectively under stressful situations;
• Assist with vaccinations, intake exams and other medical procedures;
• Provide special care of animals requiring medication, treatment, and/or special needs;
• Observe and monitor animal shelter population and report behavior irregularities and/or disease symptoms;
• Perform a brief assessment of animal health and temperament on arrival;
• Assist in responding to disaster situations; may perform animal behavior and kennel enrichment programs;
• Manage multiple tasks and prioritize work;
• Perform other related duties as required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, stand, talk, hear, walk on a variety of surfaces, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, squat, crouch or crawl; use hands to finger, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; taste and smell.

The employee must frequently lift, carry, pull and/or move more than 50 pounds; carry and restrain animals weighing up to and in excess of 50 pounds. Employee may occasionally lift, and/or move up to 100 pounds with assistance. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision and peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

Various equipment and tools used in the operation of an animal shelter, animal capture equipment, scales, telephone, computer terminal, facsimile equipment, first aid equipment, motor vehicle, two way radio.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Work is predominantly performed in a kennel environment; exposure to excessive noise (barking dogs); animal waste and dead animals; dust; chemicals from cleaning agents/disinfectants; sewage and zoonotic diseases. Tasks require frequent exposure to adverse environmental conditions (extreme heat/cold, wet conditions), foul odors, dangerous animals, euthanasia equipment and chemicals, moving mechanical parts.
Qualifications
Knowledge of:

• Basic record keeping principles;
• Basic practices and techniques for impounding and caring for a variety of animals;
• Animal anatomy;
• Behavior and first-aid treatment;
• Laws and ordinances relating to animal control.

Ability to:

• Perform animal care and handling techniques;
• Identify symptoms and behaviors associated with rabies and other common domestic animal diseases;
• Learn to identify common breeds of dogs, cats, livestock, and other exotic animals and reptiles;
• Write clear and accurate reports;
• Deal courteously and effectively with staff and the public, including individuals who may be angry or distraught;
• Understand written and oral instructions;
• Operate radios and telephones;
• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software application programs;
• Successfully complete formal training courses on job-related responsibilities.

Education and Experience:
Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:
Education:

• High school graduation or equivalent supplemented by knowledge of animal husbandry and shelter practices.
• A community college or college level degree related to the specialty area may be substituted for the required experience on a year for year basis.

Experience:

• Education, training, and/or experience that demonstrates skills necessary would be three years of experience working with domestic animals in a veterinary hospital, humane society or other animal facility.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Possession of a valid California Driver License. Possession of a State of California "Certificate of Euthanasia" within six months of employment.

The City of Chico offers a wide range of employee benefits. Benefits are subject to negotiations with employee organizations and may vary with individual bargaining units. For a summary of benefits, please visit the City of Chico website at: https://chico.ca.us/post/employee-benefits