Animal Care Technician

Minimum Qualifications

Graduation from high school or equivalent; six months experience preferred in animal care/control, assisting at a veterinarian facility, kennel, and/or handling shelter animals or any equivalent combination of related training and experience.  

As a condition of employment incumbents must meet all Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) requirements/prerequisites to handle controlled substances. 

Successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen & physical examination and successful completion of all applicable background checks pre-hire and ongoing are required.

Position Summary

This is animal shelter work responsible for the safe and humane handling of animals and providing basic care of animals and animal facilities in the Alachua County Animal Resources & Care Department.

An employee assigned to this classification is responsible for providing daily care, feeding, cleaning, and monitoring the health and well-being of animals, such as dogs, cats, pocket pets, and other animals in need.   

Work is performed under the direction of a higher – level supervisor and is reviewed through conferences, reports, and observation of results obtained. 

Examples of Duties

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

This is an emergency essential classification. Upon declaration of a disaster and/or emergency, all employees in this classification are required to work.

Exudes a positive customer service focus.

Advocates building organizational culture through aligning decisions with core values including integrity, honesty, respect, diversity, innovation, accountability and communication.

Cleans and disinfects kennels, cages, pens, yards, and general grounds.  Washes laundry and dishes. 

Feeds and waters animals according to schedules.

Examines animals for signs of illness and treats them according to Veterinarian instructions. 

Transfers animals between quarters. 

Adjusts controls to regulate temperature and humidity of animal's quarters.

Provides enrichment for the animals such as making treats, walking animals, and playtime and exercise with the animals. 

Comforts animals when needed.

Assists the public with reclaims and adoptions.

Interacts with the public including adoption counseling, foster requests, dog to dog interactions, playgroups and assist staff requests for processing.  

Performs intake of the animals including taking photos, providing core vaccines, flea treatment and dewormer. 

Updates animal records in computer system. Records information according to instructions such as gender, breed, diet, weight, location, behavior, medications, food intake, and identifiers.

Reports signs of illness or unusual behavior in animals to supervisor.

May restrain unclaimed and/or unwanted animals for humane euthanasia, including large-breed (50 pounds or greater) dogs.  

Performs the duties listed, as well as those assigned, with professionalism and a sense of urgency.

NOTE: These examples are intended only as illustrations of the various kinds of work performed in positions allocated to this class. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of the care and handling of animals.

Ability to treat animals and people with respect.

Ability to recognize signs of stress or disease in animals. 

Ability to restrain and handle hostile or large animals.

Ability to assist with humane euthanasia procedures.

Ability to deal effectively with the public and co-workers in a professional manner, especially during emotional or stressful situations. 

Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.

Ability to comprehend and follow oral and written instructions.

Skills with Pet Care and Animal Handling and Care. 

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 and walk. The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms and use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to talk or hear, and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.
The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include color vision.

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 wet and/or humid conditions and toxic or caustic chemicals. The employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions and is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles.  Potential exposure to zoonotic diseases (e.g., ringworm).

The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

An organization is only as good as the people it employs. To attract and retain the best team possible, the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners offers a competitive benefit program. We believe that if we expect our employees to support the County, we must first support the health and financial well-being of our employees and their families, now and as they plan for their future.BoCC-Contributed Benefits

• Medical/Health Insurance  
• Employee Life Insurance  
• Florida Retirement System  
• Employee Assistance Program

Optional Benefits

• Dental Insurance  
• Vision Insurance
• Supplemental & Dependent Life Insurance
• Deferred Retirement Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Roth IRA
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Computer Purchase Program

NOTE: For detailed information regarding available benefits click here.

You may also view Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding benefits. 

• FLORIDA RETIREMENT SYSTEM (FRS) The Florida Retirement System is a retirement plan designed to provide an income to a vested employee and his/her family when the employee retires, becomes partially or totally disabled, or dies prior to retirement.  A defined benefit or defined contribution option may be chosen by the employee.
• TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Permanent, full-time employees are eligible for educational assistance funds. Contact the Human Resources Office for program details.
• HOLIDAYS Holidays are as follows: 

1. New Years Day  
2. Martin Luther King Day  
3. Memorial Day  
4. Juneteenth
5. Independence Day  
6. Labor Day  
7. Veterans' Day  
8. Thanksgiving Day  
9. Friday following Thanksgiving  
10. Christmas Eve (IAFF*)  
11. Christmas Day  
12. Additional Christmas Holiday (All non-IAFF employees)  
13. 2 Floating Holidays  (All non- IAFF employees)

*IAFF – International Association of FirefightersPay periods are every two weeks, Monday through Sunday. Payday is Friday. International Association of Firefighters follow the General Contract 7k regarding holidays.

Vacation Leave – Generous vacation accrual rates with payout of unused accrued leave, with some restrictions. For more detailed information regarding vacation leave refer to Employee Policy Manual, Section 7-2.

Sick leave is earned at a rate of 4 hours per pay period by all permanent, full-time employees*. At the end of each fiscal year, eligible employees can convert up to 10 days of accrued sick leave to vacation leave on a 2:1 basis. For more detailed information regarding sick leave refer to Employee Policy Manual, Section 7-3 *Accruals slightly different for IAFF employee.

$18.55 Hourly