General Purpose

Performs routine and technical services relating to the maintenance, upkeep and improvements of the shelter; health, welfare, care and wellbeing of the animals at the shelter; and responding to citizen complaints under specific circumstances.

Reporting Relationships

The Animal Shelter Technician reports directly to the Administrative Sergeant.

Supervision Exercised: N/A

Essential Functions

• Cleans kennels and surrounding work areas within the shelter in accordance with proper disease control requirements.
• Ensures welfare and proper care of animals within the shelter facility is maintained in all phases of shelter operation.
• Performs routine maintenance and ground keeping duties on animal shelter facility.
• Assists animal control officers in performing euthanasia of animals in accordance with applicable animal control ordinances, policies and procedures.
• Provides information to the public by use of the telephone and in person regarding receiving and releasing animals, locating lost and found animals, and adoption of animals.
• Redeems, impounds and adopts animals by collecting the required fees; inputs computer records and maintains all required documents, reports, forms, etc.
• Receives complaints in person and via the phone and radio dispatches by priority to the proper agency and personnel.
• Coordinates all activities at the shelter and in the field with the agency and personnel regarding citizen complaints and animal disposition.
• Under the direction of the supervisor and only under specific circumstances such as the unavailability of an officer, the incumbent may respond to citizen complaints.
• Makes budget recommendations to the supervisor regarding the maintenance, upkeep, and improvements at the shelter; maintains running log on budget expenditures and balances during each budget year.
• With the approval of the supervisor, obtains purchase orders and orders shelter supplies.
• Accounts for all monies received at the shelter in accordance with city policies and procedures.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

• This position requires a High School Diploma or equivalent; and
• One year of experience working with animals or in a field closely related; or
• An equivalent combination of training and experience.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of laws and regulations of the State, County, and City that are applicable to the animal control program; proper cleaning techniques for kennels; animal behavior and handling techniques; first aid for injured, sick or possibly contagious animals; rabies control; animal nutrition; maintenance of equipment used in animal handling and shelter operation; animal segregation, isolation and handling; euthanasia methods; filing systems and computer terminal operations.

Ability to relate both verbally and in written form to members of the public and the Department; ability to work directly with emotional and angry people; ability to confidently handle aggressive, vicious or dangerous animals.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, stand, walk, talk, and hear. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle, or operate objects, controls, or tools listed above; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move more than 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in outside weather conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts; in high, precarious places; and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Selection Guidelines

A formal application and résumé is required; finalists will interview with the appropriate hiring authority, must pass a pre-employment drug test and background check, and upon employment, must possess a valid Utah driver's license.