Looking to make a difference in the lives of pets and people? With an almost year-round beautiful blue sky and a scenic mountain backdrop, HSPPR is a nonprofit animal shelter serving El Paso, Pueblo, and Douglas Counties as well as the City of Centennial. We employ a total of 200+ employees. We are an organization that celebrates and prioritizes diversity and inclusion.
Job Summary
The Animal Processor is responsible for performing all duties related to processing animals in the shelter; assessing the initial health and behavior of animals and monitors changes; working cohesively with coworkers, other departments, and volunteers; assisting the public in a professional manner. The Animal Processor ensures an environment of compassionate and respectful animal and people care in accordance with HSPPR's mission, values, goals, and management philosophy.
HSPPR's Mission Statement: HSPPR offers compassionate care to animals, supports safe communities, and provides socially conscious sheltering.
The Animal Processor role directly supports HSPPR's mission by ensuring animals receive compassionate, timely, and thorough care from intake through adoption readiness. By monitoring health and behavior, facilitating safe animal movement, and collaborating with staff, volunteers, and the public, this position helps improve animal outcomes while promoting respectful, professional interactions that reflect HSPPR's values and commitment to lifesaving work.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Daily Animal Processing
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Completes intake and follow-up exams, including daily exam reviews, vaccine boosters, and health and weight checks. Responsible for identifying health concerns for animals and reporting findings to the medical team.
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Works cohesively with multiple departments to assist in the movement of animals throughout the building.
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Facilitates the placement of low-risk animals into adoption by reviewing the record and placing them directly onto the adoption floor.
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Maintain workspace and equipment in a clean, uncluttered, and sanitary manner
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Utilize proficient prioritization skills to ensure quality of work is held to a high standard, both when working independently and as a team.
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Provides support to other departments on a case-by-case basis, as availability allows.
Relationships
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Cultivates and maintains relationships with peers and volunteers.
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Supports staff and volunteers; provide quality services to clients, volunteers, and employees, recognizing their individual contributions to the success of our organization.
Communication
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Communicates issues and concerns to supervisors and Management.
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Communicates effectively with staff and volunteers so pertinent parties are informed of animal care issues/information.
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Documents staff and volunteer complaints. Handles complaints and/or concerns with professionalism and good judgment. Involves management as necessary.
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Communicates with and provides regular feedback and/or coaching to volunteers in a professional and timely manner.
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Informs management of developments that may affect HSPPR or the department including department progress, media exposure, public image, client concerns, and personnel issues.
Fiscal Responsibility
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Properly maintains equipment used.
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Restocks all supply items daily. Reports need for ordering, maintenance, and inventory of supplies and equipment.
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Plans and organizes in anticipation of future needs.
Other
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Commitment to the mission, values, goals, and success of HSPPR.
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Handle all animals in the most humane manner possible.
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Collaborate and communicate with customers, volunteers, and co-workers in a professional, courteous manner.
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Provide timely communication of issues and concerns to supervisors.
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Perform all other duties as assigned.
Supervisory Duties
Physical Demands
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Regularly sits at computer station, often in a shared office environment.
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The employee must regularly lift and/or move 25 or more pounds of moving weight and occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 or more pounds of moving weight.
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Occasionally required to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, and smell.
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Regularly required to sit, reach with hands and arms, talk, hear, and is frequently required to stand and walk. May be expected to be on feet for extended periods of time.
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Must be able to use both hands and arms to grip, pull and push utilizing safety equipment such as, but not limited to catch poles, snappy snares, leashes, ropes, muzzles.
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Consistently exposed to animals in the workplace and animal allergens under conditions with limited alternatives available.
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Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision and depth perception.
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Must handle various animals of various sizes, including aggressive animals
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Exposed to zoonotic diseases.
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Regularly exposed to noise and potential exposure to hazardous weather conditions.
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Potential exposure to cleaning supplies and/or other substances containing toxic or caustic chemicals.
Schedule Requirements
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Friday - Monday: 8:00 am - 7:00 pm.
- Fully on-site
Education/Experience Necessary
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One year of professional or volunteer experience with handling animals in animal welfare, zoological organization, or other animal care field.
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Animal behavior knowledge including theory of positive reinforcement and temperament testing desired.
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Knowledge of veterinary care/animal health desired.
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Ability to effectively read, write, interpret, communicate, perform basic problem solving, and perform basic math as commonly expected from completion of a High School Diploma or Equivalent Education.
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Possess excellent communication and organizational skills.
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Must be detail-oriented.
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Excellent interpersonal and team building skills.
**Application Deadline: 8/30/2026 , or until position is filled.**
Benefits include:
Health Insurance ~~ 401K with employer matching up to 4% of salary ~~ Dental and vision* Insurances ~~ Supplemental Group Insurance* ~~ Short and long term disability Insurance ~~ Paid time off ~~ Holidays ~~ Direct Deposit ~~ Personal Pet Perks
(*) Employee pays the full premium
The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness qualified employer. To learn more about this program, go to https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/.
The core values of the staff unite us and guide us to provide the best service to the animals in our care, our organization, and our community.
Core Values Statements-
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Compassion: We believe that animals matter. We are committed to treating animals and people with kindness, respect and compassion.
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Stewardship: We are accountable and transparent in our actions and in the use of our resources to build trust in those we serve.
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Integrity: We believe we can make the greatest impact by staying true to our mission, always doing what is best for the animals and people of our community, and by standing united in our decisions.
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Excellence: We are passionate about our mission, and strive for excellence through continual learning, innovation and the development of our board, staff and volunteers.
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Collaboration: We seek strategic partnerships and alliances to advance the welfare and protection of animals and people.
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Service: We exist to serve our communities and operate with this commitment to serve as front and center in all we do.
