Job Summary In this role, you will be hands-on and involved with most aspects of PSDS. Primary responsibilities will be related to direct dog care, including but not limited to: feeding, enrichment, cleaning, laundry, record keeping, engaging and directing volunteers, and helping facilitate visiting groups. Pepper's Senior Dog Sanctuary Mission Pepper's Senior Dog Sanctuary provides a compassionate, loving, lifelong home where elderly dogs are cared for during their good days, bad days, and last days. About Pepper's Senior Dog Sanctuary We provide senior dogs with a compassionate, forever home at our veterinarian-supervised sanctuary. We care for our dogs for all the days of their lives, including hospice needs. We are the premier "dog retirement community" for canines who need us most- forever. We fill a unique need and space in senior dog sanctuaries. While you won't find shuffleboard at our sanctuary, our seniors have other amenities and supports that make Pepper's a well-deserved luxury for senior dogs. We provide small group and one-on-one care; enormous space to play, lounge, and sleep kiddie-poolside; individual bedroom suites; professionally trained staff and volunteers; and dedicated physical therapy and medical care. Dogs who become part of the Pepper's family win the retirement lottery. We officially opened in July 2023, when construction was completed on our first-rate sanctuary. The dogs we've already welcomed currently live between our leadership team and at the sanctuary. Pepper's only adopts dogs from area shelters and rescues, helping to ease the burden of overcrowding. The ASPCA estimates that approximately 670,000 dogs who enter U.S. shelters each year are euthanized. Sadly, many of these dogs who are considered seniors and special needs dogs are prematurely or unnecessarily euthanized due to age, special medical needs, testing heartworm positive, or having a disability. At Pepper's, age and appearances don't matter- we're equipped to care for elderly and special needs dogs for their entire journey. Responsibilities include, but may not be limited, to: Dog Care Prepare and provide food and water to dogs Maintain strict dietary requirements for each dog Provide potty breaks, exercise, and enrichment for dogs Assist with and perform husbandry tasks including but not limited to trimming nails, cleaning ears, bathing, etc. After appropriate training, administration of medication to dogs as directed by medical staff Provide specialized, post-operative care for dogs who need additional intervention Engage dogs in age-appropriate and healthy socialization activities Keep clear records for each dog Work to educate sanctuary volunteers to ensure dogs get proper and complete care Bedroom/ Facility Care Daily cleaning, sanitizing, and organizing of all indoor and outdoor dog areas, dog bedding, and play yards Clean, mop, clear drains, dust, sweep, and remove trash Running, folding, and organizing laundry Daily inventory and organization of supplies needed to care for dogs Complete, maintain, and update daily dog care records Volunteer Management Engage with and direct volunteers to help with daily tasks Serve as a PSDS ambassador, exemplifying best behaviors to ensure a positive experience and keep volunteers coming back Other duties Assist with departmental projects and specialized tasks Enter data into databases and spreadsheets Participate in continuing education as requested Other duties as assigned Benefits Full-time employment qualifies for PSLF student loan repayment Full-time employment qualifies for paid health care coverage for employee after 30-days PTO accrual each pay period; 48 hours of paid sick time available upon hire Access to 401k retirement plan Education and Experience High school diploma or equivalent Experience with dogs in a shelter or rescue environment is preferred Skills Must be passionate about the humane treatment and care of animals Must be committed to the mission of PSDS Must be a self-starter with a high level of initiative Exceptional interpersonal skills Well-organized, with strong ability to multitask Willingness to learn and use various communication and task management technologies Highly ethical behavior and uncompromising advocacy for the dogs Excellent written and verbal communication skills Must be able to work independently as well as part of a team Adaptability Attention to detail Workplace Culture Must be able to work in a dog-friendly environment Must be able to drive a motor vehicle locally to conduct sanctuary business; must have a valid driver's license Must be able to frequently stand and move around the work areas (duties require sitting, bending, reaching, and stooping; manual dexterity, feeling and grasping is needed for keyboarding and other work tasks) Must be able to climb a flight of stairs to access upstairs business office Must frequently lift dogs and objects up to 50 pounds; may occasionally transport heavier pets and items Normal or corrected hearing and vision are required, along with speaking abilities Subject to noise with typical work environments involving dogs (barking, computers, printers, and office traffic) Must be willing to work evenings, weekends, and holidays, as needed Occasional out-of-the-area travel may be required for training, conferences, and to visit other sanctuaries This is a non-smoking work environment

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work Full-time:

40 hours per week, with three (3) 12-hour shifts and one (1) 4-hour shift in a given week. Weekday and weekend shifts will be required.

Part-time:

30 hours or less a week. Availability for both weekday and weekend shifts preferred. Sanctuary hours are from 8am to 8pm. Want to be an integral part of the mission-driven work we do? Please send a resume and cover letter to careers@psds.org Pepper's Senior Dog Sanctuary provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Pay:

$20.00 - $22.00 per hour

Benefits:

401(k) Dental insurance Employee discount Health insurance Health savings account Life insurance Paid time off Professional development assistance Uniform allowance Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person