Care & Enrichment Technician (Pawling)

Summary:

Are you passionate about helping animals in need and eager to advance the field of animal welfare? Do you thrive in a dynamic, complex, highly collaborative environment? If so, the role of Care & Enrichment Technician at the ASPCA’s new Recovery & Rehabilitation Center (R&R Center) in Pawling, NY might be right for you!   

The individual in this role is responsible for providing sheltering that is conducive to the behavioral and medic al health of resident animals. Care & Enrichment Technicians ensure a safe, healthy, clean, and enriched environment, and assist in providing the mental and physical activities animals need to regain and maintain their wellbeing.   

Successful candidates for Care & Enrichment Technician are adaptive, resilient, collaborative, curious, and capable of prolonged physical activity. The person in this role must be comfortable working with dogs with significant behavioral and medic al needs.   

Recovery & Rehabilitation Center Overview & Upcoming Launch    

The R&R Center in Pawling, NY, is a unique program dedicated to providing integrated sheltering, behavioral, and medic al care for canine victims of cruelty. The R&R Center team works closely with ASPCA teams in New York City to help animals rescued in partnership with the NYPD.   

Responsibilities:

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:   

Functional Duties (85%)  

• Maintain working knowledge of all Care & Enrichment daily protocols  

• Maintain working knowledge of relevant regulatory requirements, and keeps accurate records of compliance activities  

• Clean, sanitize, and prepare animal housing areas according to established protocols   

• Perform repeated daily checks of animal holding areas, spot cleaning, feeding, watering, and providing enrichment according to relevant protocols  

• Create and maintain safe and comfortable enriched kennels for all dogs  

• Provide enrichment activities according to the daily enrichment schedule   

• Provide food, water, and medication based on veterinary orders and behavior modification plans  

• Monitor the eating, drinking, and elimination habits of every animal   

• Monitor the population for signs of physical or mental decline, promptly reporting concerns through the appropriate channels   

• Assist in overseeing volunteers as they perform animal related tasks, providing coaching and encouragement; demonstrate respect and gratitude for volunteer support  

• Assist with handling and documentation during dog playgroups  

• Assist with the transport of dogs to and from emergency and specialty veterinarians, and between ASPCA facilities as needed  

• Assist with the physical movement of animals into and out of the shelter using low-stress animal handling techniques and following applicable organizational policies and protocols  

• Collaborate with behavior and veterinary team members, working together to ensure open and ample communication, excellent care, and close monitoring of every animal in the shelter   

• Send timely medic al and behavior observation reports and actively engage within and across teams to implement interventions  

• Attend all required huddles throughout the day, reporting on progress, asking for or providing assistance as needed   

• Attend and participate in training classes as scheduled by the Manager, Care and Enrichment  

• Continually support teammates, working together to stay on track in order to best serve the animals  

• Keep animal care and enrichment equipment and supplies organized, efficiently located, and in good repair, reporting missing, broken, or inadequate tools to management   

• Monitor the inventory and conditions of animal care and enrichment supplies, requesting additional supplies before stock is depleted   

• Be willing to deploy locally or nationally as part of an ASPCA response when the opportunity arises and approved by the Manager, Care and Enrichment.  

Operational and Administrative Duties (15%)   

• Maintain meticulous records for every animal in appropriate databases   

• Attend and meaningfully contribute to all relevant R&R Center and ASPCA meetings   

• Accurately track and report time worked, time off, and work-related expenses     

• Responsibly steward R&R Center assets   

Core Values  

Exemplifies the ASPCA’s Core Values :  

• Has Commitment and dedication to improving the lives of animals  

• Demonstrates Ownership and feels responsible for outcomes  

• Believes in Team – that we are stronger together  

• Seeks to Elevate others and reimagine what is possible  

• Focuses on Impact , specifically making change for animals  

Education and Work Experience  

• High School Diploma or GED required  

• Professional, academic or volunteer animal care experience with dogs is required   

• 6 months of professional or volunteer animal care experience with dogs is strongly preferred   

• Animal shelter experience with dogs strongly preferred; dog boarding or veterinary clinic experience with dogs preferred  

• Previous experience working in an animal shelter preferred   

• Fear Free® Shelter Program certification (approximately 5 hours) required or completed within 60 days of hire   

Qualifications  

• Valid driver’s license and ability to pass a motor vehicle history check demonstrating safe driving  

• Ability and willingness to travel up to 10% of the time   

• Able to work a flexible schedule, including days, evenings, weekends, and holidays   

• Dependable and ability to demonstrate regular and reliable attendance  

• Fluent in the use of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint; familiarity with shelter software systems or Salesforce a plus   

• Excell