Job Summary The Adoption Center Associate is responsible for both animal care and customer service operations within the adoption center. Associates ensure animals receive excellent daily care while creating a welcoming environment for potential adopters. The position combines cleaning, feeding, animal handling, customer assistance, and adoption processing duties to support successful placements and maintain a clean, safe adoption environment.
Position Specific Accountabilities:
Animal Care Duties Provide compassionate and safe care to all animals. Clean and disinfect kennels, cages, and animal housing per protocol. Feed animals and provide fresh water daily. Monitor animal appetite, health, and behavior and report concerns. Safely leash, transfer, and handle animals. Provide enrichment, exercise, and socialization as appropriate. Ensure animals are correctly identified with matching cage cards. Follow quarantine and disease prevention protocols. Administer medications or treatments if trained and authorized. Maintain clean laundry, dishes, floors, and animal care areas. Customer Service & Adoption Duties Greet customers and provide a welcoming adoption experience. Assist adopters in selecting pets that best match their household and lifestyle. Educate adopters about basic pet care and behavior. Safely introduce animals to potential adopters. Process adoption paperwork and payments accurately. Ensure adopters receive proper documentation, medications, and supplies at pickup. Maintain accurate records in shelter management software. Answer phones, emails, and customer questions professionally. Maintain cleanliness of public and customer-facing areas. Facility & Operational Duties Maintain a clean, organized adoption center environment. Document animal observations and daily care as required. Record donations and maintain supplies. Assist volunteers as needed. Support special adoption events or promotions. Required Skills & Qualities Friendly, professional customer service skills Compassion for animals and people Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment Comfort handling dogs and cats of varying sizes and temperaments Basic computer and record-keeping skills Ability to work independently and as part of a team Flexibility to work weekends and holidays as needed