Kennel Assistant

**Summary/Objective**:
Richmond Animal League (RAL) is seeking a Full-Time Kennel assistant responsible for caring for dogs and cats at the shelter. You will work in collaboration with the team to provide essential support in the daily operations of the shelter facility. This role demands compassion, patience, and a strong commitment to animal welfare.

**Essential Functions**:

- Animal Care: Provide animal care to include feeding, exercise, medicating, and bathing of animals; evaluating physical health by recording and coordinating needs; observing animal appearance and activity for general physical condition, stress, injury, and/or illness and reporting any concerns.
- Enrichment and Socialization: Engage in playtime and social interaction with animals to promote mental and emotional well-being. Assist with implementing enrichment activities to keep animals mentally stimulated.
- Health Monitoring: Administer medications and treatments as directed by the shelter veterinarian or senior staff. Monitor and document animal health status, behavior, and any changes in their condition.
- Cleaning and Maintenance: Perform routine cleaning tasks to ensure the facility remains hygienic and odor-free. Wash dishes, laundry and clean common areas to maintain a clean and welcoming environment. Sort and allocate all donations.
- Administrative Tasks: Maintain record-keeping integrity with charting of all medical notes and maintaining both virtual and physical files; updating records in our database; assist with data entry and administrative duties related to animal care
- Volunteer Training and Management: Collaborate with volunteers, providing training, assistance, and lead dog crews, cat crews, and socializers
- Customer Service: Ensure exceptional customer service to all visitors, customers, volunteers, and members of the public. This includes assisting members of the public with any issues they may bring to RAL’s attention and responding to all concerns in a timely and professional manner.
- Flexibility and Teamwork: Display initiative, time management skills, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a dynamic team environment
- Emergency Response: Assist in emergency situations, such as natural disasters or animal health crises, to ensure the safety and well-being of animals.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

**Competencies**: Initiative, interpersonal skills, time management, organizational skills, effective decision making, desire to be a team player, ability to work independently, basic computer skills, basic animal handling experience. Must complete Fear Free Sheltering class in the first 60 days of employment.

**Supervisory Responsibility**: This position has no direct staff supervisory responsibilities but does support RAL volunteers across multiple volunteer roles.

**Work Environment**: The work environment includes the shelter and clinic, which can have high noise levels, exposure to cleaning chemicals, animal-related allergens, and potential for bites and scratches. Physical demands may include lifting, extensive walking, bending, and standing. Work will occur both indoors and outdoors. Must be able to carry 50 lbs.

**Position Type/Expected Work Hours**: This is a full-time, non-exempt position. The position will be 4 10-hour days per week. This role will require evening and weekend work, and some holiday hours will be necessary. Regular and reliable attendance is essential.

**Other Duties**: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.

**Required Education and Experience**:

- High school diploma or equivalent
- 21 years of age or older
- Strong communications skills
- Ability to effectively work with diverse groups of individuals
- Basic animal handling skills
- Must have a valid driver’s license

Pay: $16.00 - $17.00 per hour

**Benefits**:

- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance

Schedule:

- 10 hour shift
- Weekends as needed

**Education**:

- High school or equivalent (preferred)

Work Location: In person