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PS
Pennsylvania SPCA
Animal Adoptions Counselor
Entry-Level JobVerifiedNo experience needed
Career Insights for Animal Control Officer
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Based on Pennsylvania data
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What they do
An Animal Control Officer works for a police department or public safety agency and responds to calls for help with abandoned or mistreated animals. Assists with capturing wild animals found in city neighborhoods or populated areas.
$56,499 / year median in Pennsylvania
+5% projected growth
Job Description
The Pennsylvania SPCA is a non-profit animal welfare organization founded in 1867. Our mission is to protect animals, prevent cruelty and improve the health and quality of life for animals in Pennsylvania.
Adoptions Counselor FLSA Status:
Non-Exempt Schedule is Thursday-Monday 11am-7pm (days off are Tuesday and Wednesday)SUMMARY:
The Adoptions Counselor is responsible for matching potential adopters with appropriate pets both in the shelter and at offsite adoption events. Adoptions Counselors are responsible for creating positive experiences for prospective adopters by ensuring quality customer service, paying close attention to administrative details, understanding animal disposition, and proper sales and receipt-keeping.PRINCIPAL DUTIES
- Deliver quality customer service, including assisting potential adopters with finding appropriate pets by facilitating introductions and disseminating appropriate information.
- Providing high quality customer service to people who visit or call the Pennsylvania SPCA.
- Resolving problems and addressing any customer concerns.
- Training new staff and volunteers so that they can perform their work effectively, efficiently, and in accordance with the organization's policies and procedures.
- Interacting with/getting to know the animals and talking with prospective adopters about them in order to make the best possible match.
- Assisting potential adopters through adoption process by sharing an animal's medical and behavioral history.
- Assisting when needed with the cleaning of animal areas and equipment, including spot cleaning of animal and public areas throughout the day.
- Using shelter management software to effectively and efficiently track animals coming to and going from the shelter.
- Working effectively, efficiently, and in accordance with the organization's policies.
- Working effectively as part of a team on cross-functional programs, projects, and activities.
- Filling in for other areas and performing other tasks/functions as needed, including helping out at special events.
- Treating all animals humanely, properly, and with compassion at all times, regardless of the situation or circumstance, and promoting a humane and caring attitude toward all animals.
EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- High School Diploma or equivalent.
EXPERIENCE, ABILITIES, AND QUALITIES REQUIRED
- Strong interpersonal skills. The ideal person for this job would be personable, outgoing, patient, professional, and able to get along well with a variety of people. Excellent written and oral communications skills.
- Ability to quickly gain and maintain knowledge of small animal and livestock behavior and health, common issues, and ways to address them in order to make good adoption matches and to keep animals in homes.
- Affection for animals, concern for their welfare, and a willingness to accommodate animals in the work place.
- Strong written and verbal skills, including the ability to communicate skillfully and effectively with a culturally diverse staff, volunteers, and community in a professional, pleasant, respectful, courteous, and tactful manner at all times.
- Maturity, good judgment, and a professional personal appearance including the wearing of neat and clean uniforms.
- Strong problem-solving skills, focusing on finding solutions to problems and challenges.
- Strong organizational and computer skills.
- The ability to work in a high stress environment.
- The ability to turn people down, firmly when necessary, without becoming aggressive or unpleasant.
- Flexibility, ability to manage multiple tasks.
- Ability to problem solve and work with minimal supervision. Affection for animals and concern for their welfare.
- Ability to accommodate varied work assignments and schedules.
- Ability to lift and move objects and animals weighing up to 50 pounds for short distances and to humanely restrain an animal when necessary.
- Must have a sincere interest in the work, programs, and mission of the Pennsylvania