Animal Care Technician

Description

Metro Animal Services is looking for a compassionate Animal Care Technician to help provide daily care, comfort, and cleanliness for animals in our shelter. This full-time role supports a busy, seven-day-a-week shelter that serves seven South Sound communities and helps rehome over 1,000 animals each year. If you’re dependable, kind-hearted, and ready for full-time shifts that often include weekends and holidays, this could be your chance to make a real difference, one paw at a time. 

Hourly pay: $17.16–$21.42 (with growth to $25.71)

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The Animal Care Technician is a full-time Fair Labor Standards Act overtime eligible position. This is designated as a Safety Sensitive position. The Animal Control Shelter operates seven days a week; the regular work schedule is full-time, 40 hour weeks and typically includes at least one weekend day. Work on holidays is also typical. The incumbent in this position is a Civil Service employee. This position is eligible for representation through the Police Guild representing Special Commissioned and Non-Commissioned Employees.

General Purpose
The Animal Care Technician provides compassionate, humane care for animals housed in the shelter and ensures their living areas are kept clean, safe and sanitary. This position reports to the Animal Control Supervisor or Shelter Coordinator and has no supervisory responsibilities.

About Sumner
The City of Sumner’s vision is to set the standard of excellence for a progressive small city. In working to achieve that vision, Sumner prioritizes and celebrates diverse perspectives, life experiences and differences. The City actively seeks and encourages people with diverse backgrounds and characteristics to apply and all come together with a goal of continuing to learn and improve to better serve the residents, businesses and visitors of our community.  Sumner remains a traditional city of just over 11,000 residents with agricultural roots, known for decades as the Rhubarb Pie Capital of the World. At the same time, its compact, walkable layout aligns perfectly with progressive planning trends, as its classic Main Street becomes repurposed for boutiques, independent restaurants and daily services such as legal offices, financial advisors and doctors. While Sumner retains historic neighborhoods of Craftsman houses and an active high school right on Main Street, it also offers over 16,000 manufacturing and distribution jobs for companies such as REI, Keurig Dr. Pepper, Amazon.com, and Dillanos Coffee Roasters. With a downtown Sound Transit station with buses and trains, it is well connected to the Puget Sound region while striving to be a full-service city with the largest YMCA facility in the state of Washington as well as a link trail system that will connect the Foothills and Interurban trails.  Like the community, the city government is large enough to be professional but small enough to be creative. The City has won a variety of awards from the Governor's Smart Planning Award to recognition at the International Association of Chiefs of Police for its groundbreaking police work on victims' assistance. With a strong mayor format, the City has just over 120 employees who operate a cemetery, wastewater treatment facility, accredited police department, animal shelter, parks, full service public works and administration. 

 

About Metro Animal Services
The City of Sumner manages Metro Animal Services.  Metro Animal Services is a regional animal care and control program serving the cities of Sumner, Puyallup, Algona, Bonney Lake, Edgewood, Milton and Pacific.  Metro Animal Services provides enforcement, sheltering and rehoming services to over 1000 animals annually.  The shelter is located on Puyallup's South Hill at 1200 39th Ave SE.

Learn more: https://metroanimalservices.org/


 

Examples of Duties

The job duties and responsibilities represented in this job description in no way imply that these are the only duties to be performed. Employees occupying the position will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by a supervisor. While requirements may be representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and abilities to perform this job successfully, the employee will possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently.

Primary responsibilities include:
 

• Thoroughly cleans, rinses, scrubs and disinfects animal cages, kennels, isolation and quarantine areas, outdoor runs, hallways, floors, walls and related shelter facilities areas in accordance with established sanitation and biosecurity protocols; cleans and sanitizes cleans water and food dishes, bedding and related kennel equipment, disinfects animal-holding refrigerators and storage areas following removal of animal remains.
• Prepares, portions, and distributes appropriate food and fresh water to animals according to feeding schedules and dietary requirements; monitors food and water intake; restocks food supplies and maintains cleanliness of food preparation and storage areas at the end of each shift.
• Observes animals daily for signs of illness, injury, stress, or abnormal behavior; promptly reports concerns; follows established disease prevention and infection control procedures; assists with isolation protocols and recommends veterinary evaluation, medications, or treatments as needed.
• Safely handles animals of varying sizes, species, and temperaments, including aggressive, fearful, injured, wild, or potentially dangerous animals; applies proper restraint techniques and personal protective equipment to ensure the safety of staff, animals, and the public.
• Maintains accurate records related to animal care, feeding, cleaning, observations, and treatments; performs basic administrative and front-office support duties including answering telephones, logging complaints and inquiries, and providing general information to the public.
• Ensures compliance with applicable animal welfare standards, shelter policies, and safety regulations; maintains a clean, organized, and humane environment for animals and staff.
• Performs other related duties as assigned to support daily shelter operations.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:
 

• Education equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade.
• Must be at least 18 years of age and authorized to work in the U.S.
• Must have at least six (6) months' experience working or volunteering in animal sheltering, boarding or veterinary fields. 

Special Requirements:
 

• Must hold a valid Washington State driver's license with driving record free from serious or frequent violations.
• Must pass a thorough police background check.
• Must attain successful completion of training as required by the Department.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities
Knowledge of:
 

• General office practices and procedures.
• Verbal and written communication skills.
• General principles and accepted practices and procedures associated with municipal animal control operations.
• Animal health and safety procedures.
• Operation of computer software as required by the City including Excel and Word.

Ability to:
 

• Learn office methods, rules and policies pertinent to assignment.
• Apply and explain standard policies, procedures, rules and regulations to customers.
• Operate vehicles at the direction of the Animal Control Supervisor to transport animals to other facilities as needed. Handle wild and domestic animals with available equipment in the shelter.
• Provide care and upkeep of animal control shelter and animals, to prioritize assignments, and to work independently.
• Prepare and maintain accurate records, files, and other information required for mission accomplishment.
  Establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, other organizations, and general public.
• Understand and execute moderately complex verbal or written directions.
• Provide excellent customer service by using a friendly, professional, accurate, and customer-orientated approach to a wide variety of customers. 
• Ability to interact professionally and calmly with members of the public who may be angry, emotional, distressed, or occasionally dishonest, while maintaining composure and sound judgment. This would include in-person, written and oral communications.
• Handle stressful situations.
• Maintain reliable, dependable attendance.
• Contribute to the Department's Mission.

Physical Requirements

Requirements outlined in this job description may be modified to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities who are otherwise qualified for employment in this position. However, some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees.

Positions in this class typically require stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, mobility, fingering, grasping, talking, seeing, hearing, walking, climbing, and crawling.

Medium work: Exerting 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Description of Work Environment

Employees in this position work in a fast-paced, high-volume animal shelter environment that requires frequent interaction with the public, coworkers, and a wide variety of animals. Work is performed both indoors and outdoors in all weather conditions. The role involves regular exposure to loud noises, strong odors, cleaning chemicals, and other hazardous materials. Staff may also work in proximity to animals that are injured, stressed, unpredictable, or potentially aggressive. Handling animals carries a risk of bites, scratches, and zoonotic diseases. Personal protective equipment is provided and must be used as required. The position may involve standing, lifting, bending, and performing physically demanding tasks for extended periods. 

Emotional Demands 

This position may involve difficult and emotionally challenging situations, including working with sick, injured, or abused animals and participating in or supporting euthanasia decisions and procedures when necessary. Employees must be able to handle emotional stress, exercise sound judgment, and maintain compassion and professionalism in a demanding environment. Access to supportive resources and guidance is available.

Supplemental Information

Selection Guidelines
Formal application, rating of education and experience, oral interview and reference check; job-related tests may be required.
 
Background checks will include:

• Prior Employment Verification: confirms applicant's employment with the listed companies, including dates of employment, position held and additional information available pertaining to performance rating, reason for departure and eligibility for rehire. This verification will be run on the past three employers or the previous five years, whichever comes first.
• Personal and Professional References: calls will be placed to individuals listed as references by the applicant.
• Employment Eligibility Verification: Form I-9 is used for verifying the identity and employment authorization of individuals hired for employment in the United States.
• Educational Verification: confirms the applicant's claimed educational institution, including the years attended and the degree/diploma received.
• Criminal History: includes review of criminal convictions and probation. The following factors will be considered for applicants with a criminal history:
  • The nature of the crime and its relationship to the position.
  • The time since the conviction.
  • The number (if more than one) of convictions.
  • Whether hiring, transferring or promoting the applicant would pose an unreasonable risk to the business, its employees or its customers and vendors.

The following additional background searches will be required if applicable to the position:

• Motor Vehicle Records: provides a report on an individual's driving history in the state requested. This search will be run when driving is an essential requirement of the position.
• Credit History: confirms candidate's credit history. This search will be run for positions that involve management of City of Sumner funds and/or handling of cash or credit cards.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.
 
 

Equal Opportunity Employer
The City is an equal employment opportunity employer.  The City employs, retains, promotes, terminates and otherwise treats all employees and job applicants on the basis of job-related qualifications and competence. These policies shall be applied without regard to any individual's sex, race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, age, marital status, sensory, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation including gender expression and identity, genetic information, domestic violence victim or other basis prohibited by law.

Persons needing assistance in the application process may call the Human Resources Office, at 253-299-5595 or email hr@sumnerwa.gov. If you are invited to participate in the selection process and need ADA accommodations, please notify HR before you are scheduled for an interview or testing.

Drug Free Workplace
The City of Sumner is a drug free workplace. The City is committed to ensuring a safe and healthy work environment, free from employees whose job performance may be impaired by the use of prescription, nonprescription, over-the-counter drugs, illegal controlled substances, marijuana and alcohol.

General Hiring Process Information

• Candidates must submit required documents as outlined in the job announcement in order to be considered. 
• Submitting a cover letter and resume is not required but is recommended. 
• Applicants must provide professional references with accurate phone numbers and email addresses. References will only be contacted for applicants who progress past the interview process. 
• If multiple applications are received for the same candidate, only the most recently submitted, complete application will be considered. 
• Applications received by the review date will be screened for minimum qualifications and then submitted to a Subject Matter Expert to select which candidates will be invited to interview. Personally identifiable information is removed from the applications during the screening process.
• Applicants who are invited to interview will receive notification by email and are typically provided at least one weeks' notice prior to the scheduled interview date. 
• Applicants who are not invited to interview will be notified by email. 
• Remote interviews may be available for candidates unable to participate in person, remote interviews are held through an online meeting platform such as Microsoft Teams. 
• Applicants who pass the interview process may be invited back for a second interview with the department leads or for a walking interview through the department. 
• Applicants who did not pass the interview process will be notified by email.