Find & Apply For Animal Care Worker / Manager Jobs in Spokane, Washington

K-9 and Feline Technician Spokane Humane Society - 3.7 Spokane, WA Job Details Part-time | Full-time $17.20 - $18.50 an hour 3 hours ago Benefits Health insurance Dental insurance 401(k) Paid time off Vision insurance Employee discount Qualifications Companion animal handling Record keeping Customer communication Teamwork Outdoor work experience Employee relationship building Dog handling Dog walking Computer skills Time management

Full Job Description Primary Job Purpose:

The Spokane Humane Society (SHS) is a nonprofit animal welfare organization funded entirely by community donations. The Animal Care Technician supports the daily care, health, and well-being of shelter animals while helping maintain a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for animals, staff, volunteers, and visitors. This position is essential to shelter operations and includes providing enrichment, feeding, cleaning, and basic care for shelter dogs and cats. Working under the direction of the Director of Veterinary Medicine and Operations, the Animal Care Technician must follow all shelter policies, procedures, and directives to uphold the highest standards of animal care, safety, and operational efficiency. The role requires close collaboration with veterinary staff, shelter teams, and leadership in support of SHS's mission. Availability for early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays may be required. The Animal Care Technician must be able to work independently with minimal supervision while maintaining clean, sanitary work areas. Additional responsibilities include answering phones, assisting visitors, and providing courteous, professional customer service. All SHS team members are expected to demonstrate the organization's core values of compassion, dependability, teamwork, accountability, and a commitment to going above and beyond for animals and people.

Essential Duties:

Maintain a healthy shelter environment by cleaning and disinfecting kennels, managing waste, feeding and watering animals, and transferring animals between housing areas in accordance with established procedures and standards. Follow all written shelter policies, procedures, and safety protocols, including the humane handling of dogs and cats of varying breeds, temperaments, and behaviors. Assist prospective adopters with completing and submitting adoption-related paperwork while providing exceptional customer service and ensuring the safety and well-being of animals. Observe, monitor, and document the physical and behavioral health of animals daily using SHS-approved software. Communicate concerns regarding medical or behavioral conditions with veterinary and shelter staff. Promptly report signs of illness, injury, disease, unusual behavior, facility concerns, or operational issues to the appropriate supervisor. Provide daily behavioral enrichment and socialization opportunities for shelter animals to support their physical and emotional well-being. Participate in staff meetings, training opportunities, and continuing education programs as required. Demonstrate a commitment to quality by performing duties accurately, efficiently, and consistently while remaining receptive to feedback and identifying opportunities for improvement. Adapt effectively to changing priorities, operational needs, and the unpredictable nature of animal welfare work. Foster positive working relationships with coworkers, volunteers, customers, and community members while maintaining professionalism under pressure. Demonstrate reliability by following written and verbal instructions, completing assignments on time, and communicating proactively when challenges arise. Exercise sound judgment and decision-making skills using available resources and established protocols. Communicate effectively in both written and verbal formats, including reports, emails, and interactions with staff, volunteers, adopters, and the public. Identify and address potential problems proactively while developing practical solutions and applying lessons learned to improve performance.

Marginal Duties:

When assigned closing procedures, conduct a complete facility walkthrough to ensure all animals are safe, secure, properly fed, watered, medicated, and prepared for the next day's activities. Secure the facility and document any unusual incidents. Accept and process donations, issue receipts when requested, maintain in-kind donation records, and distribute donated items to designated locations. Stock food, supplies, and equipment in assigned areas. Utilize appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and comply with all safety procedures. Contribute to the success of SHS by completing additional duties, special projects, and cross-departmental assignments as needed.

Secondary Job Functions:

Complete maintenance requests for damaged equipment or facilities and promptly report related concerns to the appropriate supervisor. Respond appropriately to emergencies, including power outages, fires, flooding, theft, break-ins, or other incidents, following established emergency procedures and notification protocols.

Qualifications and Position Requirements:

Ability to remain calm and professional in stressful, emotional, and fast-paced situations. Ability to perform physically demanding work for extended periods, including lifting, carrying, cleaning, and working outdoors in varying weather conditions. Ability to work safely around potential hazards, including animal-related injuries, zoonotic diseases, disinfectants, pesticides, and cleaning chemicals. Ability to safely handle needles and other sharp medical instruments when necessary. Ability to work with injured, frightened, or reactive animals that may bite or scratch. Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, kneel, squat, reach, twist, and lift throughout the workday. Ability to perform repetitive hand movements and utilize computer systems for recordkeeping and communication. Ability to safely handle dogs and cats of all breeds, sizes, temperaments, and behaviors. Minimum of six (6) months of experience working or volunteering in an animal shelter, rescue organization, veterinary clinic, boarding facility, grooming facility, or similar professional animal care environment preferred. Demonstrated reliability and strong attendance record. Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously. Strong teamwork, communication, and interpersonal skills. Excellent organizational and time-management skills.

Physical Effort:

Ability to lift and carry materials weighing up to 50 lbs. Handle and guide/walk dogs weighing up to 150 lbs. Ability to stand and walk for extended periods. Ability to frequently bend, kneel, crouch, and work in physically demanding positions. Ability to safely capture and restrain active or strong animals when necessary.

Working Conditions:

Work is performed both indoors and outdoors. Regular exposure to animal odors, noise, and cleaning chemicals. Potential exposure to bites, scratches, animal waste, and zoonotic diseases. Frequent interaction with animals of unknown temperament and medical history.

Job Types:

Full-time, Part-time Pay:

$17.20 - $18.50 per hour

Benefits:

401(k) Dental insurance Employee discount Health insurance Paid time off Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person