Job Title: Kennel Technician
Job Status: Full-Time, non-exempt
Reports to: Campus Director
Location: Falmouth, MA
Company Overview:
Are you passionate about making a positive impact in people's lives and have a soft spot for dogs? Look no further than
Dogs for Better Lives (DBL)! As a nationally recognized nonprofit organization, DBL is dedicated to professionally
training dogs to help people with disabilities and enhance their lives. Our mission is to create a lifelong commitment to
all dogs rescued or bred and all people served, which is supported by our nationwide donor base. DBL is nationally
recognized by Guidestar, Great Nonprofits, Charity Navigator (9 years with a continues four-star rating), Best of the
Upper Cape 2022, Oregon Business’ 2021 “Oregon Top 100 Best Nonprofits to Work For,” and we are accredited by
Assistance Dogs International (ADI). At DBL, we believe in empowering our employees to achieve our goals and serve
our clients, dogs, and donors while embracing a work-life balance. As we continue to expand our organization and
build upon our past successes, we provide ample opportunities for growth and continued learning. We are an Equal
Opportunity Employer, and we welcome employees from diverse backgrounds who share our values. Join us and be
part of an employee-driven team that strives to serve more clients while upholding our unwavering commitment to
our clients, dogs, and donors.
Job Summary:
The kennel technician ensured the proper feeding and care of dogs at one of the two campuses (Central Point, Oregon
OR Falmouth, Massachusetts) see above for campus opening. Additionally, this position maintains accurate records on
dogs arriving at our campuses.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Provides general daily kennel care: scooping, cleaning, laundry, etc.
- Provides general daily dog and cat care: feeding, watering, grooming, playing and exercising – accurately
medicating, inoculating and maintaining general health of dogs.
- Provides puppy education and development.
- Takes dogs to the vet whenever necessary, verifying the charges on the vet bills.
- Maintains dogs' medical records by accurately entering medical procedures and activities in individual
files.
- Coordinates medical appointments.
- Ensures and participates in regular cleaning of kennel facility.
- Ensures that feces are being scooped and that urine is being sprayed regularly in apartments, run areas
and each kennel.
- Ensures supplies are being stocked in South Kennel (towels, paper towels, bleach, dog food, treats,
chewies, trash bags, refill shampoo, hand soap, bleach solution, betadine, etc.)
- Ensures that all counters are clean, free of clutter and unused medications.
- Ensures that drawers are kept clean and well organized.
- Ensures that all floors are swept in kennel areas, vet and bathing rooms, office areas, apartments, and
laundry room.
- Ensures that floor in freezer room is swept and that the room is kept organized.
- Ensures that laundry is being done in a timely manner and that the laundry room is being kept clean and
organized.
- Ensures that dogs are being exercised as per instructions.
- Ensures kennels are cleaned according to established protocols.
- Runs miscellaneous errands.
- Meetings with public who are on site for tours demonstrations as needed.
- Assures volunteers are helping in ways that are beneficial to dogs.
- Perform other duties as required by the organization and the breeding and puppy coordinators.
Essential Qualifications:
- High School diploma or GED certificate required.
- Must pass a criminal background and DMV check.
- For the safety of the employee, other employees, and the dogs, an employee must have hearing within normal limits (for an adult, hearing thresholds no greater than 25 dB HL from 500 Hz through 4000 Hz, for both ears, with or without hearing aids, implants or other devices. Employees must be able to hear the wide variety of sounds at different levels and pitches from a variety of directions and distances that dogs make while interacting with people and each other. This includes:
o Detect barking at all levels and tones
o Determine direction barking is coming from
o Detect change in type of bark, tone, volume
o Detect low growl, direction
o Hear a dog running behind them
o Hear talking in a normal range
o When training a dog, the trainer must be able to hear all the sounds and tones that he/she is training the dog to hear in order to reward behavior and ensure successful outcomes.
- Physically capable of lifting dogs up to 65 pounds, the ability to move quickly, climb stairs, operate office equipment and computers with ease, and the ability to get up and down easily while working and playing with the dogs.
Essential Requirements:
- Comfortable being exposed to animal body fluids and medical procedures.
- Comfortable administering medications and utilizing medical equipment.
- Enjoys building and maintaining relationships with staff.
- Enjoys a great deal of interaction with the public.
- Ability to meet and greet the public in a friendly and courteous manner.
- Successfully able to lead self and others through a process and adhere to timelines.
- Shares in the passion for the mission of Dogs for Better Lives.
- Self-starter and independent with limited supervision yet works collaboratively.
- Ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks.
- Highly skilled in interpersonal and written communication.
- Respects and maintains privileged confidential information.
- Values continuous learning and seeks ongoing training and development.
Note: This is a job description, not an employment contract. This job description does not state or imply these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related duties required by management. Dogs for Better Lives is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
