General Position Summary

The Animal Caregiver is responsible for providing compassionate and attentive care of Nevada SPCA’s animals at all times, maintaining a clean healthy environment for the animals and the public, and assisting with animal adoptions and other tasks as needed.

Responsibilities of this role include:

• Daily thorough cleaning of all animal areas, including inside/outside runs, cages, floors, dishes, bedding, etc.
• Spot cleaning of animal and public areas throughout the day.
• Feeding the animals, including providing special diets as needed.
• Monitoring the health of the animals on an ongoing basis and rapidly identifying any health problems or conditions (medical or behavioral) and immediately reporting them to the supervisor.
• Medicating animals as directed.
• Socializing and grooming the animals.
• Assessing the temperament of the animals to facilitate finding the best possible placement for each individual animal.
• Doing laundry, dishes, washing windows, cleaning, and mopping public areas as needed.
• Providing a healthy, safe, clean and pleasant environment and facilities for the animals and the public.
• Assisting in the vaccination, examination, performance of medical treatments, and, euthanasia as needed.
• Maintaining a friendly demeanor and providing good customer service to visitors.
• Stocking supplies.
• May include providing transportation for animals as needed, to and from vet appointments, for adoption events, to other shelters, etc.
• Filling in for other areas and performing other tasks/functions as needed, including helping out at special events.

Required experience and abilities for this role include:

• Must be 18+
• Good interpersonal and communication skills.
• Experience working with animals is a plus.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities.

Responsibilities of all Nevada SPCA staff include:

• Treating all animals with respect and compassion at all times and promoting a humane and caring attitude toward all animals.
• Working courteously and cooperatively with colleagues, other organizations, and volunteers.
• Ensuring superior customer service by being courteous and kind, demonstrating respect and empathy, promptly addressing concerns, and resolving problems promptly.
• Willingness to assist with tasks outside of primary realm of responsibility, as needed, including animal care, adoptions, and events, and always in a manner that demonstrates interest, care, and concern for the colleagues, the public, and animals we serve.
• Helping to ensure that all established procedures and policies are followed within the intended spirit of each.
• Being alert to and providing information on success stories to appropriate team members.

Required qualifications for all Nevada SPCA staff include:

• Commitment to the mission and goals of Nevada SPCA.
• Affection for animals—concern for their welfare and a willingness to accommodate animals in the workplace.
• Flexibility—the ability to adjust to changing priorities and varied tasks and schedules; willingness to learn new things.
• Initiative and follow through―taking initiative and working with minimal supervision.
• Appearance― neat and clean personal appearance and friendly demeanor.

Terms of Employment

• There is no minimum period of employment guaranteed or implied by acceptance of an employment offer.
• A 90-day probation period is implemented for all staff.

Non-Exempt Position:

Daily reporting hours and days of the week may vary according to the needs of the department schedule and may include weekend and holiday work.

Reports to:

Cat OR Dog Care Manager

Wage Range: Up to $11.50 per hour based on experience.

Benefits:

• Three weeks paid time off (for vacation, sick, and personal time) on an annual basis accrued per details in the employee handbook.
• Health Insurance—optional individual medical insurance with 20% employee contribution and 80% employer contribution.
• Three paid holidays—Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

Educational Requirements:

High school graduation minimum, plus three years of public contact work or volunteer experience, preferably working with animals.

Physical Requirements:

• Physical ability to walk and/or stand on your feet throughout a normal workday.
• Physical ability to engage in repetitive motions of legs, arms, and hands, to hear, to see, and to move animals and goods.
• Ability to lift and move objects and animals weighing up to 50 pounds for short distances and to humanely restrain an animal when necessary.
• Comfort and ability to work with animals of unknown disposition and those who may exhibit medical conditions and other problems, as well as aggressive tendencies.
• Ability to work around loud noises, chlorine, and other cleaning chemicals, and in inclement weather.
• Allergic conditions which would be aggravated when handling or working with animals or in the shelter environment may be a disqualification.

Other Requirements:

• Ability to read, write and understand English.

Euthanasia Policy for Animals:

Staff members must be aware of Nevada SPCA’s euthanasia policy. From time to time Nevada SPCA humanely euthanizes animals who are sick or injured. Also, from time to time Nevada SPCA needs to end the life of a dog who has displayed aggressive tendencies and who poses a risk to public safety or to the safety of other animals.