Animal Shelter Coordinator

Essential functions:

• Answer emergency and non-emergency calls, assess the nature and severity of situations, and determine the appropriate level of officer response. Provide vital instructions to callers before help arrives and maintain detailed documentation.
• Transmit details to officers in the field. Track the real-time location and status of units to ensure rapid back-up and coordinate responses with other agencies.
• Identifies animals for possible euthanasia and reports those findings to the Chief Animal Control Officer.
• May be asked to assist qualified personnel with restraining, medicating, and vaccinating animals, or administering euthanasia. 
• Ensure that files, records and statistics are properly maintained including animal intake, disposition, adoption, medical care and procedures of shelter animals. 
• Maintain a working relationship with established rescue groups to effectively utilize space and systematically respond to seasonal influxes of animals.
• Support the pet spay/neuter and adoption program to ensure interested and acceptable individuals are quickly united with adoptable pets.
• Perform daily inspection of shelter facilities to monitor the general health of shelter animals and ensure proper medical care is rendered in a timely, humane, safe and efficient manner.
• Recognize sickness and disease (including infectious disease) in shelter animals, take steps to reduce continued exposure to other shelter animals and to humans entering and working in the shelter.
• Administers vaccines, medications and preventative care to Shelter animals.
• Perform in-house testing and medical treatments under veterinary guidance.
• Regularly inspect shelter property for needed repairs and maintenance and report findings to Chief Animal Control Officer if repairs are needed to maintain buildings and grounds.
• Prepare reports on operational statistics and shelter activities.
• Interpret and convey ordinances, state statutes, regulations and County policies to the general public.
• Help ensure that appropriate fees are collected from pet owners.
• Monitor shelter supplies.
• Maintain a comprehensive public relations program to ensure all web and printed information reflects a consistent message.
• Meet and greet the public and answer questions regarding animal shelter operations and policies.
• Assist ACOs in the field as needed.
• Maintain a flexible work schedule, including weekends, holidays, and extended hours, to insure continuous animal shelter operations, provide dispatch coverage, and respond to emergencies or other operational demands.

Knowledge of:

• All computer applications and hardware related to performance of the essential function of the job.
• Record keeping, report preparation, filing methods and records management techniques.
• Knowledge of state and local laws, regulations, codes and ordinances relating to proper treatment of sheltering animals.
• Principals and techniques for properly handling and caring for injured animals.
• Principals and techniques for properly handling fractious animals.
• Principals and techniques for properly handling/caring for infectious animals
• Hazards and safety precautions involved in operating an animal shelter.
• Customer service skills and techniques.

Desired skills:

• Interpret, explain, and ensure compliance with applicable policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Prepare clear, concise, and accurate reports.
• Recognize normal and abnormal animal behavior and safely handle sick, injured, frightened, dangerous, or unpredictable animals.
• Handle needles, administer injections, assist with medical treatment, and perform duties involving exposure to injuries and animal waste.
• Work effectively in environments containing fumes, disinfectants, airborne particles, loud noise, and in all types of weather conditions.
• Stand for extended periods of time and climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl while inspecting shelter enclosures and performing shelter operations.
• Manage the mental and emotional stress associated with injured animals, animal euthanasia, and other difficult situations.
• Work weekends, evenings, holidays, and special events as required.
• Understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Assist in planning and coordinating County and volunteer events for the Animal Shelter.
• Implement and maintain programs that promote the adoption of shelter animals.
• Exercise good judgment, self-restraint, and professionalism in stressful situations.
• Define problems, collect and analyze data, establish facts, and draw sound conclusions.
• Manage multiple projects and assignments simultaneously while meeting established deadlines.
• Use persuasion and diplomacy to build consensus and cooperation, particularly on difficult or sensitive issues.
• Exercise initiative, ingenuity, and sound judgment in decision-making and problem-solving.
• Maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion when handling sensitive, personnel, medical, investigative, and shelter-related information.
• Remain flexible and adapt to changing priorities, assignments, interruptions, and deadlines.
• Foster positive, collaborative, and professional working relationships with staff, volunteers, the public, and outside agencies by leading through example.

Typical Qualifications: 

Any combination of training or experience that would provide the knowledge and skills to successfully perform the listed duties is qualifying.  A typical way, but not required, to obtain the required knowledge and skills would be:

-Prior experience with domestic animals and livestock is highly desirable.

Special Requirements:

-Possession of a valid driver’s license.

-High School Diploma or equivalent

TYPICAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Sit for extended periods; frequently stand and walk; normal manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination; lift and move objects and animals weighing up to 50 pounds; corrected hearing and vision to normal range; verbal communication; use of office equipment, including computer, telephone, communications radio equipment, calculator, copiers, and FAX.

TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is performed in an office environment of an animal shelter; continuous contact with animals, other staff, and the public.  Working conditions are subject to animal noises and shelter odors.  Work schedule may be flexible, including weekends, holiday, and extended hours, to ensure continuous animal shelter operations, provide dispatch coverage, and respond to emergencies or other operational demands.