Job Openings

We’re hiring for an Animal Care Technician!

Position Title

Animal Care Technician

Job Type

Full-time, Non-exempt, Hourly, 36 hrs/week, weekends required

Purpose of Position: Working closely with the animals, the public, and all other staff, the Animal Care Technician is primarily responsible for all duties directly related to operations of the Buena Vista and Salida facilities.

Position Summary: The Animal Care Technician reports to Management. The Animal Care Technician is highly capable of handling a wide range of animal care and customer services related tasks with minimal supervision. The Animal Care Technician must be motivated, possess a strong work ethic, and must enjoy working both with animals and people.

Essential Responsibilities

• Follows all proper kennel and common area cleaning and disinfection procedures.
• Provides and assists with direct care and handling of cats, dogs and other shelter pets, including but not limited to cleaning, feeding, administering medications, treatments, and surgical assisting when needed.
• Is trained to and rotates through all operational areas of the shelter, including Reception Area, Adoptable Cat Room, Crematory, Adoptable Dog Room, and Isolation Areas.
• Provides and assists with pet medical evaluations including but not limited to feline and canine blood testing, animal physical examinations, vaccinations and microchipping.
• Monitors the overall health and behavior of shelter pets including providing exams, aging, blood draws, vaccinations, microchipping, and assisting with bloodwork and in-house lab tests.
• Enters data and maintains records of shelter pets, animal histories, behavioral evaluations, medical records, and animal outcomes.
• Supports the Foster Program including, but not limited to: placing shelter animals into foster homes as needed, acting as a point of contact for fosters, ensuring foster homes are stocked with supplies, obtaining behavioral and photo/video updates for animals, coordinating any medical needs for animals while in foster care.
• Provides behavior modification, training, enrichment and compassionate care to shelter pets.
• Provides pet cremation services, including intake of pets for cremation, operation of cremation unit, processing cremains, and cremation record keeping.
• Provides customer service including but not limited to pet intakes, reclaims, pet retention and adoption counseling, lost and found listings, and spay/neuter program information.
• Provides direction and training to volunteers with tasks assisting with general shelter duties.
• Provides content for AVHS Facebook page including: marketing for shelter animals and shelter programs as needed.
• Assists with maintenance and distribution of food for AVHS’s Community Food Pantry. This includes, but is not limited to: packaging and labeling food for distribution at local food drives, assisting with AVHS food drives, delivering food to community member’s homes as needed.
• Provide input towards AVHS policies and procedures.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Expected to work extra hours as workload or emergency situations require.

Education and Experience

• High School diploma or GED equivalent required. Associates or bachelors degree is desirable.
• Valid driver’s license required.
• Commitment to the mission, vision, goals and success of AVHS and embodiment of PAWS culture and Tenets of Socially Conscious Sheltering.
• Experience working in an animal shelter or with animals in a professional capacity is highly preferred.
• Strong organizational, multi-tasking, time management, and communication skills.
• Ability to independently and collaboratively solve problems.
• Must have previous computer experience and ability to learn new software, including an understanding of basic operating systems, word processing, photography, spreadsheets, and databases. Performs general office procedures including but not limited to answering the phone, emails, daily log reports, data entry and filing.

Work Conditions and Physical Requirements

Handle and restrain animals of various sizes, weights, and temperaments. Subject to animal bites or scratches. Work performed in high noise level areas. Exposure to cleaning chemicals, fumes, dust, animal dander, and feces. Physical efforts require constant bending, stooping, standing, climbing stairs, and walking. Frequent lifting of animals and objects with reasonable accommodation.

Full Time Benefits

• AVHS-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• AVHS-paid Life and AD&D Insurance
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Holiday Pay
• Retirement Benefits through the Colorado Secure Savings Program
• Free Core Vaccines for Personal Pets (Excluding rabies vaccines)
• Free Cremation Services for Personal Pets
• At-Cost Medications, Medicated Food, and Microchipping For Personal Pets
• Pet-Friendly Workplace
• Starting Pay: $21/hour and $2/hr weekend pay differential