Animal Care Assistant
Friendly Paws Rattery
Animal Care Assistant
Pay: $20 per hour, plus a semi-annual performance bonus of up to 10% of earnings
Employment type: Part-time employee (W-2), 4 hours per week
Schedule: Flexible; additional hours are sometimes available
Vacancies: 1
Start date: Immediately
Location: South Austin, TX 78749
About Us
Friendly Paws Rattery is a small, dedicated breeder of pet rats. Our breeding program prioritizes temperament above appearance, and we work to give adopters well-socialized, healthy rats that make gentle and affectionate companions. We also produce a nutritious supplemental food blend formulated for pet rats. We care for a colony of around 100 animals and keep careful health and pedigree records.
Position Overview
The Animal Care Assistant plays a direct role in the health of our colony. Clean, well-maintained housing is the foundation of the healthy, gentle rats we place with adopters, and this position is responsible for keeping it that way. The work is hands-on, with regular handling of the rats and training provided.
Primary Duties
- Clean enclosures and their accessories, including full bedding changes
- Safely handle and move rats during cleaning
- Monitor animals for signs of stress or illness
- Immediately report any injuries, concerns, or unusual animal behavior
- Maintain supply organization as needed
- Follow all safety, hygiene, and handling guidelines provided by the owners
- Assist with socializing young rats when directed
- Other duties as assigned
Requirements
- 18 years or older
- Comfortable handling rats
- No allergies to rodents or bedding materials
- Comfortable with hands-on cleaning, including handling soiled bedding (gloves provided)
- Able to kneel, crouch, and bend for extended periods, and lift up to 20 pounds
- Careful, detail-oriented, and able to follow instructions
- Reliable, able to commit to 4 hours per week, with your own transportation
Nice to Have
- Current student in a veterinary technology, pre-veterinary, or animal science program
- Experience with rats, mice, or other small mammals
What You'll Gain
- Hands-on experience with rodent husbandry and routine health observation, skills that transfer directly to veterinary and lab animal work
- Training in proper rat handling and husbandry from experienced breeders
- Flexible hours that work around a class schedule
Contact
Submit resume and a brief statement of interest to Julia Price at FriendlyPawsRattery@gmail.com.