Animal Shelter Care Attendant I - Sheriff's Office

DEFINITION

Are you passionate about the well-being of animals? Do you want to provide high quality animal care services through compassion, education, and customer service?

Humboldt County Sheriff's Department Animal Services Division is seeking an enthusiastic Animal Shelter and Care Attendant to join our team of dedicated professional to provide compassionate and effective animal services for the County of Humboldt.

What You'll Do:

• Feed, exercise and provide humane care for animals in a kennel environment.

• Bathe, brush, and prepare animals for pet adoption.

• Assist with vaccinating and administering medicines under the instruction of a veterinarian.

• Clean, wash, disinfect, and maintain kennels, grounds and related areas.

• Greet shelter visitors and answer questions and provide information relating to shelter policies, procedures and practices; provide advice on appropriate choices for animal adoption and proper animal care.

Where You'll Do It:

Although only open to the public on certain days/times, the Animal Shelter is operational 7 (seven) days a week (this includes holidays) with the need to provide care for the animals every day.

Animal Care Attendants generally work 8 (eight) hour shifts on a rotational basis. Shifts are assigned, not chosen, and then rotated about every 3 (three) months. Examples of schedules would be:

• Sunday

• Thursday

• Tuesday

• Saturday

• Friday

• Tuesday

• Monday

• Friday

This position is located in the Sheriff's Animal Shelter in McKinleyville, California.

PLEASE NOTE:

The successful candidate for this position will be required to undergo a detailed background investigation.

DEFINITION

Under supervision, provides routine daily care and maintenance of animals housed at the County's animal shelter and care facility. Cleans, disinfects and maintains animal shelter and care facilities. Performs other related duties as assigned.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Animal Shelter and Care Attendant I is the working entry level class responsible for performing the routine day to day duties required for the general operations and maintenance of the County's animal shelter and care facility. This class is alternately staffed with Animal Shelter and Care Attendant II and incumbents may advance to the higher level after gaining experience and demonstrating proficiency which meet the qualifications of the higher level.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Feeds, exercises and provides humane care for animals in a kennel environment.

• Bathes, brushes and prepares animals for pet adoption.

• Assists with vaccinating and administering medicines under the instruction of a veterinarian.

• Observes and monitors animal shelter population and reports behavior irregularities and/or disease symptoms; segregates animals as necessary in isolation or quarantine kennels.

• Performs euthanasia of cats, dogs or other animals as directed; maintains detailed records and security of federally controlled drugs in compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations.

• Cleans, washes, disinfects and maintains kennels, grounds and related areas.

• Greets shelter visitors and answers questions and provides information relating to shelter policies, procedures and practices; provides advice on appropriate choices for animal adoption and proper animal care.

• Provides work direction for volunteers.

• Receives and intakes animals relinquished by owner as well as animals impounded through animal control; assigns initial tracking number to animal for entry into facility record keeping and tracking system.

• Enters notes and other documentation in records, completes forms as necessary and assists with the maintenance of complete and accurate facility records.

• May transport animals.

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

• Basic methods and equipment used in the proper and humane care and treatment of animals.

• Characteristics of various animal breeds and symptoms and behaviors associated with rabies and other common diseases of animals.

• Principles, practices, and tools and materials used for routine facility maintenance and sanitation.

• Safe working practices.

• Basic record keeping principles and practices.

Skill in:

• Handling and controlling animals humanely with confidence and patience.

• Assessing animal behavior and identifying symptoms and behaviors associated with animal disease or illness.

• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, including hostile or irate citizens.

• Managing psychological stresses associated with animal euthanasia and disposal.

• Performing routine facility maintenance.

• Following written and oral directions.

• Maintaining accurate records and logs.

Other Requirements:

Must possess a valid California driver's license. Within 60 days of appointment, must obtain from the State of California a certificate to perform animal euthanasia. Must be medically capable of working with animals and being able to lift and carry up to 80 pounds. Must be available for emergency 24-hour call.

Desirable Education and Experience:

Animal Shelter and Care Attendant I: Equivalent to graduation from high school, and six months of related work experience, or one year of work experience requiring high levels of public contact or customer service.

WORKING CONDITIONS & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

EMPLOYEE PERKS

For more information about County benefits, visit our benefits webpage: https://humboldtgov.org/2492/Employee-Benefits.

For more details about employee perks, see our Employee Perks flyer: https://humboldtgov.org/DocumentCenter/View/115226/Employee-Perks-Flyer-.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How long does it take to fill out the application?

• You should allow 30 - 45 minutes to fill out your application.

Can I change my application after submitting it?

• You may only submit one application per day.

• You may submit an edited application after waiting at least one day from your initial submission.

• Only the most recent application submitted will be considered. All other applications will be archived.

How long until I hear back from you?

• You can expect to hear back from Human Resources about 3 - 4 weeks after the closing date listed on the job posting.

How can I check for updates on my application?

• You can log into your Government Jobs account and review current information regarding any application you have submitted.

Will I be informed if I am not selected for an interview?

• Yes, you will be informed if you are not selected for an interview.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

Research indicates that individuals in protected classes can be less likely to submit a job application. The County of Humboldt is dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace where our employees are free to bring their full selves to work each day in an environment that allows them to reach their full potential. The County Board of Supervisors has made organizational commitments to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and the County is working to ensure that these commitments are reflected in all we do. The County recognizes that certain populations (BIPOC, Disabled Persons, Veterans, LGBTQIA+ community members, etc.) face systemic and structural challenges which may inhibit their ability to satisfy every requirement of the position. In recognition of these structural and systemic factors, the Human Resources Department understands that experience can be gained in many ways - oftentimes, outside of formal institutions - and strives to take a holistic approach to in assessing an applicant's qualifications for a position.

If you're excited about this role but your past work experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we strongly encourage you to apply.

HOW TO APPLY

A complete, original application must be filed for each position you are interested in applying for. Applications must be submitted online through the County's automated application system at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/humboldtcountyca no later than the final filing date listed on the job flyer. All applications are screened by both Human Resources staff and may be screened by additional subject matter experts. The most qualified candidates may then be invited for further testing.

It is important that your application shows all the relevant experience and education you possess. Human Resources staff does not consider or review resumes or attachments.

Please read the job requirements section of the announcement. Be sure you meet these requirements since they will be carefully evaluated during the selection process. Your performance in any employment examinations will be compared with the performance of others who take the tests. All candidates who pass will be ranked according to their scores. The examination results will be emailed to you as quickly as possible.

CalPERS RETIREMENT PROGRAM

Employees fall into one of the following tiers based on the date you first start working for the County or any other employer that uses CalPERS for retirement.

• Tier I - Prior to 7/5/2012: 2.7% @ 55
• Tier II - Post 7/6/2012: 2% @ 55
• Tier III - Post 1/1/2013: 2% @ 62

If this is your first job with a CalPERS employer, you'd be in Tier III.

• 2% means that for every year you work for the County, you will receive 2% of your maximum annual pay rate for every year that you work for us (or other CalPERS employers) if you work the required minimum number of years (that's called vesting) and retire after the age following the @.

• If you work 20 years and retire at 62 years of age, you will receive 20 x 2% or 40% of your maximum annual pay rate every year in retirement payments.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

The County runs its hiring on a set of rules to ensure that it is fair. Hiring and promotion are based on performance and having the best qualifications for the job. "Examination" doesn't always mean taking a test, sometimes it just means how we compare your application to others who have applied, and an "oral examination" means a scored and structured interview.

POLICY OF NONDISCRIMINATION

The County of Humboldt does not discriminate based on mental or physical disability in the admission or access to, treatment or employment in, its programs or activities. The Human Resources Department is located in the Humboldt County Courthouse, which has an accessible entrance on 4th Street. Accessible parking is available adjacent to the 4th Street entrance and on the 4th Street side of the K Street lot. Special testing arrangements may be made to accommodate disabilities or religious convictions. Contact the Human Resources Department at (707) 476-2349 well in advance of the examination to request an accommodation.

The County is an equal opportunity employer. We enthusiastically accept our responsibility to make employment decisions without regard to race, religion or religious creed, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, military service, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local laws or ordinances.

MEDICAL EXAMINATION

A pre-employment medical examination provided by the County may be required upon offer of employment.

OTHER EXAMINATIONS

Some positions also require psychological evaluation and/or extensive background investigation.

LICENSES

Some classifications require possession of valid professional and/or technical licenses. Some classifications may require the possession of a valid California driver's license.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD

Persons appointed to regular County positions serve a probationary period. This is normally six (6) months but could be up to one (1) year. All designated safety employees serve a one-year probationary period.

EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY

It is the County's intention to hire only those workers who are authorized to work in the United States, pursuant to the Immigration Act of 1990. If you are offered employment, you will be required to verify your eligibility to work in the United States. For law enforcement positions you will be required to verify your U.S. citizenship or legalized status.

DISASTER SERVICE WORKERS

All County of Humboldt employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

THE PROVISIONS OF THIS BULLETIN DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESS OR IMPLIED CONTRACT. THE COUNTY OF HUMBOLDT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE NECESSARY MODIFICATIONS TO THE EXAMINATION PLAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY MERIT SYSTEM RULES.