Location: Asheville, NC, - Animal Care Campus
Position: Full-time, 40 hours per week
Schedule: Shifts are generally 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with two consecutive days off. The schedule may vary based on operational needs.
Starting Pay: $16.15 per hour, with a $0.50 increase after six months and an additional $0.50 increase after one year of employment
Help Every Animal Feel Safe and Cared For
Animals rely on our team every day for clean housing, food, medication, exercise, enrichment, and compassionate care. Because their needs cannot be postponed, regular attendance, punctuality, and reliability are essential to this position.
As a member of the Animal Care team, you will provide direct care to animals housed at the Buncombe County Animal Shelter and Asheville Humane Society Adoption Center. This is a physically intensive, hands-on role that involves extensive standing, walking, bending, lifting, cleaning, and animal handling throughout each shift.
If you are dependable, enjoy active work, and want to make a meaningful difference for animals in our community, we would love to meet you.
What You’ll Do
- Maintain a working knowledge of the animals at the Shelter and Adoption Center
- Help ensure each animal’s Five Domains of welfare are consistently met
- Follow established cleaning, medication, and safe animal-handling protocols
- Clean animal areas and complete laundry, dishes, and mopping as needed
- Feed, water, walk, medicate, and provide enrichment to animals
- Observe animals and report behavioral, temperament, medical, or health concerns to the appropriate department
- Assist the Medical and Behavior Departments with handling, restraining, moving, and medicating animals
- Monitor animal-care supplies and report inventory needs, equipment issues, or building repairs
- Help maintain the cleanliness of the buildings and grounds
- Store and inventory delivered supplies, equipment, and donations
- Respond to departmental requests requiring animal-care assistance
- Understand AHS euthanasia policies and follow the appropriate communication protocols
- Collaborate with volunteers by providing clear communication, guidance, and shared responsibility
- Attend required staff meetings and training
- Perform other duties as assigned
You May Be a Great Fit If You
- Are dependable, punctual, and committed to maintaining regular attendance
- Understand that animals require consistent care every day, including weekends and holidays
- Are prepared for sustained physical activity throughout each shift
- Care deeply about animal welfare and humane treatment
- Enjoy active work and are comfortable getting dirty
- Can follow detailed cleaning, medication, and safety protocols
- Notice changes in an animal’s health or behavior
- Remain calm and use sound judgment around animals with different needs and temperaments
- Communicate clearly and respectfully with coworkers and volunteers
- Work well independently and as part of a team
What You’ll Need
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Basic computer skills
- Ability to learn and properly use shelter software
- Ability to learn and apply safe animal-handling techniques based on each animal’s temperament
- Ability to work professionally with volunteers and coworkers
- Ability to work weekends and holidays as scheduled
- Ability to complete the free online Fear Free Shelters course within 90 days of hire
- Ability to maintain regular and reliable attendance and arrive ready to work at the scheduled start time
Physical Requirements
This is a physically demanding animal-care position. Employees must be able to repeatedly perform the following activities throughout their shifts:
- Stand and walk for extended periods
- Stoop, bend, kneel, reach, push, and pull
- Use animal-handling and cleaning equipment regularly
- Perform repetitive cleaning and animal-care tasks
- Lift items weighing at least 50 pounds to a height of four feet
- Safely handle dogs weighing up to 150 pounds
- Work in an environment that may include loud noises
Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
What We Offer
Eligible full-time employees receive:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- SIMPLE IRA retirement plan with up to a 3% employer match
- 18 days of paid time off during the first year
- Paid holidays
- Pet prescription discounts
- Additional employee benefits
Benefits become available after 60 days of employment.
Bring Your Compassion to a Mission That Matters
Since 1984, Asheville Humane Society has worked to ensure every animal has the quality of life they deserve, a life worth living. As Buncombe County’s only open-intake animal shelter, we are always here for the animals in our community and the people who love them.
If you are reliable, ready for physically demanding work, and committed to providing consistent care to animals every day, apply today.
Pay: From $16.15 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Bereavement leave
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
