Job Title: Animal Care Assistant
Reports To: Lead Animal Care Assistant
Summary: Provides compassionate care to boarding and hospitalized patents. Keeps the facilities clean and in good condition.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
Works as a team-oriented staff with consistent and effective communication.
Be honest and dependable in performing all job duties.
Be compassionate and friendly to patients, clients, and all other staff members.
Is observant and alerts the appropriate person of any problems, situations, or items that need to be dealt with.
Feeds and medicates all boarding & hospitalized pets.
Safely walks all dogs outside for bathroom breaks and cleans up after each patient.
Follows any client instructions or specific requests left for each pet and makes treatment sheets when appropriate.
Monitors and recognizes changes in pet’s health and informs veterinarian of any changes or problems that may need to be addressed.
Including:
Not eating
Vomiting
Having diarrhea
Not having bowel movements
Abnormal urination
Injured or showing abnormal behavior
Showing any aggressive actions that have not been previously noted on cage card.
Properly documents any changes in feeding or medicating to assist the next shift.
Properly cleans and disinfects all runs, cages, and kennel areas.
Keeps all kennels clean of feces, urine, vomit, or other undesirable objects.
Keeps veterinary hospital clean and pleasant at all times.
Keeps laundry going.
Assists the technician or veterinarian with proper restraint of animals.
Assists with bathing animals. As well as expressing anal glands, cleaning ears, and trimming nails.
Handles aggressive animals safely or recognizes that you are unable to handle such animals and get help.
Administers medications as specified by treatment sheet. Properly documents all treatment sheets each time.
Informs supervisor of any needed supplies or broken/damaged equipment.
Provides detailed tours of the kennel at owner’s request.
Assists with helping other staff members. This may include assisting before surgeries , clean up of animal mess, body removal and holding pet while treatment is being administered.
Available to work assigned days- including holidays and weekends.
Properly cleans all areas of hospital as needed.
Refers to kennel duty binder for more detailed instruction.
Other duties as assigned.
Competencies
To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies :
Technical Skills - Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; Pursues training and development opportunities; Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; Shares expertise with others.
Customer Service - Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; Responds promptly to customer needs; Responds to requests for service and assistance.
Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things; Approaches others in a tactful manner; Accepts responsibility for own actions: Follows instructions, responds to management direction.
Teamwork - Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Treats people with respect; Upholds organizational values.
Quality Management - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.
Organizational Support - Follows policies and procedures; Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; Supports organization's goals and values.
Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses C.
Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; Reports potentially unsafe conditions; Uses equipment and materials properly.
Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment.
Attendance/Punctuality - Is consistently at work and on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent.
Initiative - Volunteers readily; Seeks increased responsibilities; Looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; Asks for and offers help when needed.
Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education and/or Experience
High school diploma or general education degree (GED); or one to three months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Language Skills
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
Mathematical Skills
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
Reasoning Ability
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Computer Skills
To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Cornerstone Database software; Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet software and Microsoft Word Word Processing software.
Physical Demands
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.
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to sit and climb or balance. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.
Work Environment
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.
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is frequently exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals and risk of radiation. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.