Enrichment Specialist (Dog Handler) - part time

  • Poughkeepsie, NY
  • $17.00-20.00 per hour
  • Permanent
  • Part-time
  • 29 days ago
Summary: Responsible for the care and enrichment of play groups. We operate 365 days a year; employees are expected to work weekends and holidays in all types of weather. Approximately 60% of your time will be standing on your feet supervising dog play groups and cleaning up waste indoors and outdoors, 20% will be crating, feeding and bringing dogs to and from owners, and the remaining 20% is spent on general cleaning of the facility. Levels of responsibility will increase according to the level of the employee.Your advancement in the company is based on your initiative and progression through each level. Please refer to the Level Criteria documents.Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the follow (other duties may be assigned):
  • Caring for, supervising, and enriching play groups of dogs according to the latest science-based dog behavior and training knowledge received during training. This will include playing with dogs, working on group play skills to increase safety, engaging in enrichment activities, brushing, petting, holding, crating, leashing, collaring, clothing (when jackets are needed), applying first aid, feeding, medicating, cleaning up after dogs, ect.
  • Works as a team member with others and management in providing dog day care program, sleepover, and Stay & Play services.
  • Helps to ensure that customer satisfaction is consistently obtained. Helps to support the efficient and effective operation of the facility including our mission to provide Whole Dog Care and Enrichment to all dogs in our care daily. Helps to maintain the highest company standards in the delivery of all services. Is directly responsible for duties as assigned by management.
  • Cleaning duties such as cleaning up dog waste, sweeping, mopping, dusting, disinfecting, shoveling, cleaning crates and bathing dogs.
  • Is directly responsible for maintaining a clean and safe environment at all times for the dogs in our care. Is directly responsible for providing and documenting the appropriate information about individual dogs under their supervision per the facilities communication policies including on shift change reports, in Gingr, ect.
  • Is responsible for reading and knowing all Company Policies and Procedures.
Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.Education and/or Experience: Previous experience working with multiple dogs at at time is REQUIRED. Skills may be in the form of pet ownership, previous pet ownership, working with animals and attending dog training and/or behavior seminars. Training sessions and seminars may be scheduled during non-working hours where your attendance may be required.Physical Skills: Ability to perform a variety of demanding physical activities, including lifting a minimum of 50 pounds (whether it is a bag of dog food, a crate or a dog), standing for long periods of time and enduring extreme outdoor temperatures. Grasping, pinching and pulling skills are also needed to leash and collar dogs as well as control them.Health: It is required that all employees are current on their Tetanus vaccination.Language Skills. Ability to read dog information including names, medication and feeding instructions, schedules and the like. Be able to communicate dog issues with management either via written or oral communication.Computer Skills: A basic understanding of Windows-based applications is helpful.Reasoning Ability: An ability to define problems, analyze emergencies and think on your feet. Dogs can get into scuffles at any time and it is the employees’ job to keep everyone safe. Reading dog’s body language and behavior and catching key indicators of possible conflict is a must to insure safety and well-being of the playgroup.

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