Part-Time Kennel Technician / Animal Care Associate (Cats & Shelter Operations)

Part-Time Kennel Technician / Animal Care Associate (Cats & Shelter Operations) Help Cats Find Safety, Care, and Forever Homes The Humane Society for Logan County (HSLC) is seeking a compassionate, dependable, hardworking Part-Time Kennel Technician / Animal Care Associate to join our team immediately. This position plays a direct role in caring for cats in our shelter, supporting adoptions, assisting with daily shelter operations, and helping advance our mission to reduce pet overpopulation in Logan County. This is not just a cleaning job, a customer service job, or an animal care job—it is all of those things combined. Every day, you will help provide food, comfort, medical support, enrichment, sanitation, socialization, and hope to cats of all ages, personalities, and backgrounds, while helping them find permanent, loving adoptive homes. If you are someone who genuinely cares about animals, works hard, thrives in a fast-moving environment, and wants to be part of meaningful change in our community, we encourage you to apply.

Position Type:

Part-Time Hours:

Approximately 20-25 hours per week, with potential for additional hours based on shelter needs

Schedule Requirements:

Availability on weekdays, some weekends, and some holidays is required

Location:

Humane Society for Logan County -

Russellville, KY Applicant Requirements:

Must be at least 18 years old and have your own reliable transportation At HSLC, our work extends beyond sheltering animals. Each year, we provide care and resources for hundreds of abandoned, surrendered, stray, and community cats while working to create long-term solutions to pet overpopulation and suffering in Logan County. Our organization is committed to improving animal welfare through: Adoption and rehoming services Community cat and Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs Public education and outreach Our free pet food pantry Low-cost spay/neuter initiatives Microchipping advocacy Promotion of vaccinations and flea/tick prevention as part of responsible pet ownership Our long-term goal is both practical and ambitious: We aim to see 80% of cats and dogs in Logan County spayed/neutered and microchipped by 2035. Every role within HSLC contributes directly to that mission. As a Part-Time Kennel Technician / Animal Care Associate, you will help ensure that cats in our care remain safe, healthy, clean, comfortable, and ready for successful adoption. This is a physically active, emotionally meaningful, and highly hands-on role requiring patience, compassion, reliability, flexibility and strong multitasking skills. You may switch back and forth between cleaning litter boxes and feeding cats, speaking with adopters, answering phones, assisting volunteers or community members, preparing for an event, or helping with our community cat programs - no two days are exactly alike. 1. Daily Animal Care & Welfare You will provide direct, daily, hands-on care for cats and kittens of all ages, medical backgrounds, and personalities, including: Friendly, affectionate cats Shy, fearful, unsocialized, or stressed cats Senior or medically fragile cats High-energy or "spicy" personalities Frightened or feral cats in our TNR program Cats recovering from medical treatment or having difficulty transitioning into shelter life Responsibilities include: Feeding and watering cats according to shelter procedures Administering and recording medications and vaccinations, as required Monitoring cats for changes in behavior, appetite, health, or temperament and reporting concerns Taking cats for veterinary treatment Cleaning litter boxes and maintaining sanitary living spaces Providing enrichment, socialization, handling, comfort, and exercise Helping cats and kittens become more comfortable with people and more adoptable through patience, enrichment activities and consistency Supporting a low-stress environment for shelter animals Our cats arrive with different histories, personalities, fears, and needs. Compassion, patience, and understanding are essential to their successful transition to shelter life and to their adoptability. 2. Shelter Cleaning & Sanitation Cleanliness is one of the most important aspects of shelter animal care. You will help maintain a safe, organized, sanitary environment by: Cleaning kennels and common shelter areas in accordance with established protocols Washing dishes, bedding, litter boxes, and toys Sweeping, mopping, disinfecting, and sanitizing surfaces Managing laundry and maintaining cleanliness standards throughout the shelter Following shelter sanitization and disease-prevention protocols 3. Adoptions, Intakes, Customer Service & Public Interaction Helping cats and kittens find loving forever homes requires excellent communication skills, emotional maturity, patience, and compassion—for both animals and people . In this position you will meet people during some of their happiest moments and some of their hardest. One person may be excited to adopt their first kitten, the next may be heartbroken over surrendering a beloved pet, another might be or angry and frustrated to learn we are unable to accept an intake because our kennels are currently full. This position requires empathy, professionalism, emotional resilience, and the ability to communicate clearly while following shelter policies and maintaining boundaries, all with kindness and consistency.

Responsibilities include:

Assisting potential adopters in person, online and over the phone Answering questions about cat personalities, care needs, and adoption procedures Helping match adopters with cats that fit their lifestyle and expectations Answering phones, responding professionally to inquiries and directing callers to appropriate resources Gathering information about surrendered or found animals during intakes Communicating shelter limitations and boundaries firmly, yet respectfully and compassionately, especially in situations where intake is limited or unavailable Interacting with volunteers, visitors, and community members in a welcoming, respectful, and professional manner This role requires strong multitasking skills as well as emotional resilience. You may shift quickly between answering phones, assisting an adopter, cleaning kennels, comforting a frightened cat, caring for a kitten in medical distress, responding to intake questions, or helping a volunteer—all within the same hour. 4. Community Outreach, Events & Fundraising The Humane Society is active in the community, and this role includes representing the shelter at: Off-site adoption events Free microchipping days across the county Community outreach activities Educational opportunities Fundraisers and public events You will help educate the public about: Low-cost spay/neuter programs Microchipping Humane animal care Importance of vaccines and flea-tick prevention Community cat management and Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) You will also assist with our pet food pantry program: Distributing pet food and supplies to community members in need Recording information on pet numbers and locations for grants and funding opportunities Supporting efforts to keep pets in their homes and out of the shelter system 5. Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) Program Support A major part of HSLC's mission is reducing cat overpopulation through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). You will assist with aspects of this work, including: Coordinating with colony caretakers and recording information about outdoor cat colonies Trapping of community cats for TNR Supporting intake or recovery of community cats Assisting with transportation, transport coordination and TNR-related logistics Monitoring cats during recovery periods TNR is the most effective tool available to reduce suffering and overpopulation of community cats. Expanding our TNR program is a top priority for the Humane Society! We are looking for someone who is dependable, compassionate, hardworking, adaptable, and dedicated to improving the welfare of animals in our community, both now and in the long-term.

Successful candidates will demonstrate:

A genuine passion for animal welfare and shelter work Compassion for cats of all temperaments and personalities Strong interest in helping reduce pet overpopulation through spay/neuter and TNR efforts Comfort working in a fast-paced, sometimes (okay, OFTEN!) chaotic environment Ability to multitask and transition quickly between cleaning, phones, visitors, adoptions, and animal care Emotional maturity, patience, and resilience Willingness to get hands-on (and sometimes messy!) with animal care Ability to work independently and follow shelter protocols without constant supervision Comfort engaging with the public both in the shelter, on the phone and at events and fundraisers Reliability, punctuality, and accountability. Reliability is essential. Shelter animals depend on consistent care every single day of the year, including weekends and holidays. Reliable attendance and punctuality are critical expectations for this role. Ability to work some weekends each month and some holidays This is a physically active, hands-on role and applicants must be comfortable with: Standing, walking, bending, kneeling, lifting, and cleaning for extended periods Lifting and carrying up to 40 pounds (food, litter, supplies, etc.) Exposure to fur, litter, odors, cleaning products, bodily fluids, scratches, loud noises, and unpredictable animal behavior Working around frightened, feral, stressed, shy, or high-energy cats Getting dirty, wet, jumped on, covered in fur, climbed up, licked, scratched, bumped into, go home smelling like cat (or worse!) You must be at least 18 years old with your own reliable transportation. Animal shelter work is deeply meaningful, but it is not easy and it's not for everyone. This position is physically exhausting, emotionally draining, mentally demanding, and sometimes heartbreaking. You will see neglect, fear, terrible medical issues, abandonment, and some very difficult situations. BUT you will also experience trust being built with pets you never thought would trust again, frightened cats learning to feel safe, successful adoptions, joyful reunions, amazing healing, and so many moments that literally change lives. Working in an animal shelter is hard, but it is also incredibly rewarding and provides a level of fulfillment few other that few jobs can ever hope to offer. If you are a reliable, committed animal-lover who is looking to grow with us as we continue to grow the Humane Society, if you are seeking a fulfilling career and the opportunity to impact the lives of animals and this county in a significant and practical way, we encourage you to apply for this position.

Applicants must:

Be 18 years of age or older Have their own reliable transportation Be available to work approximately 20 -25 hours per week (sometimes more as shelter needs dictate) Be available some weekends and holidays Be dependable, punctual, and consistently reliable Previous experience working with animals, shelters, veterinary clinics, boarding facilities, or rescue organizations is a plus—but not required . We value compassion, reliability, work ethic, and willingness to learn. When you work at HSLC, you are not simply caring for animals—you are helping improve the future of animal welfare in Logan County.

You will:

Make a direct impact in saving and improving animals' lives Help cats find loving homes Contribute to reducing pet overpopulation in our county Support meaningful community-based TNR and spay/neuter efforts Work alongside friendly, mission-driven people who are passionate about animal welfare Gain valuable animal care, shelter operations, and community engagement experience Be part of an organization committed to improving the lives of Logan County animals and their families by keeping pets out of the shelters and in the homes of the families who love them If you are compassionate, dependable, hardworking, emotionally resilient, and ready to make a meaningful difference in the lives of animals and our community, we encourage you to apply. Please submit your resume by Sunday, May 31, 2026. The Humane Society for Logan County is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a respectful environment for employees, volunteers, adopters, and the community we serve.

Job Type:

Part-time Pay:

From $12.00 per hour

Benefits:

Employee discount Flexible schedule Professional development assistance

Work Location:

In person