ANIMAL CARE SPECIALIST
Under the supervision of the Animal Services Manager, the Animal Care Specialist plays a vital role in the daily care and well-being of animals housed with Killeen Animal Services. This position is responsible for maintaining a consistently clean, safe, and humane environment for all shelter animals. The technician will assist with feeding, basic health monitoring, cleaning, and sanitation of kennels while promoting adoptions through on-site support. This position does not include fieldwork or patrolling duties and is exclusively based at one of the Killeen Animal Services facilities. The position involves exposure to animal waste, cleaning chemicals, and potentially aggressive animals. Work hours may demand weekends, holidays, and/or extended hours depending on shelter needs.
Employee has no supervisory responsibilities.
CORE COMPETENCIES:
Conducts daily cleaning and sanitation of kennel area and other shelter areas to include laundry, washing animal dishware, and other custodial tasks.
Supplies food, water, toys, clean bedding, socialization time, and routine enrichment care to shelter animals.
Restocks cleaning and care supplies throughout the facility as needed and reports shortages or concerns.
Utilizes shelter software to record and communicate information about animals, including-to-date medical and behavioral histories.
Accurately maintains shelter records, logs, and observation documentation.
Administers routine well-being checks of all animals, documenting any concerns and communicating with the appropriate team members for follow-up.
Transports animals to other facilities as needed.
Helps identify animals that are candidates for outside rescue organizations or foster care.
Follows all safety measures and policies, including proper animal restraint and reading animal behavior cues and promptly reporting any safety concerns to leadership.
Disposes of animal carcasses in accordance with applicable laws, safety standards, and departmental procedures.
Monitors kennel and facility conditions and reports maintenance, equipment, or pest control issues.
Performs customer service duties related to the intake, processing, and documentation of animals in accordance with departmental policy and supervisory direction.
Takes photographs of animals for use in shelter records, adoption listings, and official social media or promotional platforms.
Offers assistance to potential adopters with the animals, answering questions, transporting animals to and from kennel areas, and assessing likelihood of matches for adoptions.
Processes adoption paperwork and payments using shelter software and point-of-sale systems.
Handles cash, credit, and electronic payments in accordance with municipal procedures.
Receives and triages calls for service, determining the appropriate response level and dispatches Animal Control Officers accordingly.
Assists medical staff with medical workups and vaccination of animals as needed.
Provides supervision and training to volunteers and community service workers by overseeing daily work tasks and offering guidance as needed.
May assist or be exposed to humane euthanasia procedures in accordance with departmental policy.
Completes miscellaneous tasks such as receiving deliveries, loading and unloading trucks, accepting and organizing supplies for the shelter.
Performs minor facility maintenance or repairs as needed.
Operates multi-channel public safety radio system.
May be asked to attend events which are offsite and after hours.
Supports other administrative or clerical duties as assigned.
Performs special duties as assigned.
- Graduation from high school or equivalent; and,
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Six (6) months’ related experience;
One (1) year experience in animal care or husbandry preferred, or
Any equivalent combination of education and experience.
Must be able to read, write, and comprehend the English language.
Ability to deal effectively and objectively with the public, using tact, sometimes in hostile situations.
Ability to read and interpret laws and regulations governing the animal control operations.
Some skill in operating the tools and equipment listed below.
Some knowledge of animal care, characteristics, welfare, and handling is preferred;
Required to learn and apply proper techniques for the use and capabilities of restraint and capture equipment;
Must be able to learn and apply computer operating skills in word processing and data entry.
Must be able to learn and apply cognitive thinking in collecting and posting information in a software program for the purpose of documentation.
Must be able to read, interpret, and comply with policy and procedure as set forth by the City of Killeen.
Must be able to demonstrate and provide exceptional customer service to internal and external customers.
To include, but not limited to personal computer, calculator, dispatch radio, telephone, fax machine, duplicating equipment, animal restraint and capture equipment, motor vehicles, and first aid equipment.
Appropriate safety equipment as required.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
This position requires prolonged standing, walking, bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching, pushing, pulling, and other fine motor repetitive motions. The employee is frequently required to grasp and perform other repetitive hand movements requiring fine motor function and coordination. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to talk and hear.
This position involves the lifting and carrying of animals and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds, or up to 100 pounds with assistance, and exertion of up to 25 pounds of force to move objects. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee works in both inside conditions and outside weather conditions, including inclement weather such as extreme heat, cold, and wet conditions. The employee will be required to frequently handle animals, including contact with animal waste and blood, and will be exposed to unpleasant smells and a noisy and wet environment associated with an animal shelter. Employee may be subject to animal bites, vicious and/or aggressive animals, and communicable diseases from animals. The employee is also exposed to chemicals used in disinfecting facilities.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.
Formal application, rating of education and experience; oral interview, background check job-related tests may be required. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.
