Animal Care & Transport Assistant

Help animals move safely through the shelter and toward their next step.

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is seeking a dependable and compassionate Animal Care & Transport Assistant to support the safe, timely, and purposeful movement of animals throughout our shelter and between ARL locations. This position works closely with Animal Care, Medical, Behavior, Adoption, and other teams to coordinate animal placement while maintaining accurate records and helping reduce stress and disease within the shelter environment.

This is a great opportunity for someone with animal care, shelter, kennel, veterinary, boarding, transportation, farm, or hands-on animal handling experience who is organized, observant, and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.

Schedule

• Saturday and Sunday - 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
• Weekdays - 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
• 28 hours per week after training period

About the Animal Rescue League of Iowa

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is Iowa’s largest nonprofit animal welfare organization, helping animals and the people who love them through sheltering, adoption, veterinary care, animal services, community programs, and pet support resources. Across multiple locations and programs in the Des Moines metro, the ARL works every day to provide compassionate care, practical support, and trusted resources for animals and families in our community.

What You’ll Do

• Safely handle, restrain, move, and transport animals throughout ARL facilities and between locations.
• Coordinate with Animal Care, Medical, Behavior, Adoption, and other teams to ensure animals are moved to the appropriate locations.
• Use compassionate handling and placement practices to reduce animal stress and help prevent the spread of disease.
• Accurately document animal movements and maintain animal and person records in the shelter database.
• Monitor animals for health, behavior, or temperament concerns and promptly communicate changes to the appropriate team.
• Assist with feeding, cleaning, laundry, dishes, and maintaining safe, organized work areas as needed.
• Support positive interactions with visitors, volunteers, and team members while following ARL safety procedures.

What We’re Looking For

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Valid driver’s license with a satisfactory driving record required.
• At least one year of animal care or handling experience, preferred.
• Comfortable safely handling animals of different sizes, breeds, temperaments, and medical needs.
• Dependable, detail-oriented, and able to remain calm in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
• Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Outlook.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across departments.

Benefits

ARL employees are part of a mission-focused culture where their work directly supports animals, pet owners, and the community. Benefits and employee offerings may include:

• Veterinary benefits
• Opportunities for learning, connection, and meaningful community impact
• 401(k) retirement plan with an employer contribution

Physical and Work Environment Requirements

This position works in an active animal shelter environment and requires frequent standing and walking for extended periods. The role may also require bending, reaching, cleaning, safely restraining animals, pushing or pulling equipment, and moving animals throughout ARL facilities.

Candidates must be able to safely lift and move up to 50 pounds occasionally.

The position may involve exposure to pet dander, animal waste, cleaning chemicals, strong odors, moderate or loud noise, zoonotic or contagious animal diseases, and the possibility of bites or scratches while following established safety procedures.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Why Join the ARL?

As an Animal Care & Transport Assistant, you will play an important role in helping animals move safely and efficiently through the shelter. Whether you are transporting an animal to another location, coordinating a kennel move, updating a record, or noticing a change in an animal’s health or behavior, your attention and communication will help ensure animals receive the right care in the right place.

If you are dependable, compassionate, organized, and interested in meaningful hands-on work that supports animals throughout their shelter journey, we would love to have you join our team.

Employment in this position is at-will, meaning either the employee or the ARL may end the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice, as permitted by law.

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state law. Applicants and employees are encouraged to discuss potential accommodations as needed.