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City of Austin - JOB DESCRIPTION

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Animal Enrichment Worker
FLSA: Standard/Non-Exempt EEO Category: (80) Serv/Maint
Class Code: 10458 Salary Grade: JE1
Approved: Last Revised: January 02, 2025

Purpose:
 

Performs all aspects of humane animal care duties to ensure animal safety and well-being. Provides quality customer service by assisting the public with and delivering accurate information regarding Animal Services' policies, programs, and procedures.
Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:
  Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.
  1. Provides and ensures enrichment to animals through regular exercise, including interacting, walking, and training dogs at the shelter. 
  2. Assists behavior team with in/out of kennel enrichment activities and playgroup.
  3. Assists animal care with shelter space.
  4. Performs animal behavior assessments.
  5. Safely and humanely handles animals of unknown health and temperament, with the ability to manage dogs of higher-level behavior.
  6. Creates support programs for animals with behavior challenges. Consults with supervisors/managers about shelter enrichment activities to improve adoptability and to treat and prevent behavior problems.
  7. Assists in monitoring the medical/behavioral status of animals and performs related health care activities.
  8. Contributes to the programs and services that support the shelter’s live outcome goal.
  9. Ensures the safety of animals and people in the shelter.
  10. Accurately maintains all required records in the shelter’s database.
  11. Provides information to the public.
  12. Trains shelter staff and volunteers on animal behavior and safe handling of cats and dogs.
  13. Maintains facility and grounds in a clean, neat, and organized manner.
Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:
  None.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.
  • Knowledge of disease management and safety protocols.
  • Knowledge of animal services and related programs.
  • Knowledge of applicable processes, techniques, and principles.
  • Skill in safely handling animals of all sizes, including those with unknown temperament.
  • Skill in safely lifting and handling animals of varying sizes and weights.
  • Skill in maintaining stamina during long periods of standing, walking, or performing manual tasks.
  • Ability to quickly assess and address unexpected situations, especially when dealing with animals of unknown health or temperament, and to make sound decisions that ensure safety and well-being.
  • Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with city employees and the public.
Minimum Qualifications:
 
  • Graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent, plus six (6) months of work experience.
Licenses and Certifications Required:
  None.

This description is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty required of the position given this title and shall not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of management to assign, direct and control the work of employees under supervision. The listing of duties and responsibilities shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of similar kind or level of difficulty.