Animal Care Attendant

The Position

The City of Oakland is an equal opportunity employer that values workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the city’s historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we strive to develop employees who understand the harm and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for everyone. Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture, community, and individualism of employees.
The City of Oakland has an exciting opportunity for two (2) Animal Care Attendants to work within Oakland Animal Services (OAS). Animal Care Attendants play a crucial role in caring for animals from the time an animal comes to the shelter, until they are adopted or transferred to a rescue partner. If you love working with animals and maintaining a clean, healthy environment for them, come and be a member of a caring and progressive team at OAS!
***This recruitment will be used to fill Permanent Full Time Positions, Permanent Part-Time Positions, and Temporary Part-Time Positions.
Why join the City of Oakland, Oakland Animal Services Department?
Oakland Animal Services is Oakland’s only “open admissions” shelter. This means we take animals regardless of age, breed, temperament or medical condition. In 2023, we took in over 7,200 animals. We are a City agency that proudly provides public safety and animal welfare services as well as human health and social services. We are here to serve our community's residents.
Our staff provides critical services to our community, sheltering thousands of stray animals each year and responding to animal-related calls for service in Oakland. We enforce animal-related welfare laws, rescue lost and abandoned animals from the streets, protect animals from abusive owners, assist in prosecutions for abuse and neglect, investigate animal bites, and promote responsible pet ownership and humane care.
OAS has established foster programs for dogs, cats, and rabbits, an excellent adoption program, and help from numerous transfer partners. In 2023, more than 94% of the animals that came to OAS had a live release.
We are looking for someone who is:

• 
  Passionate about helping animals: You will play an important role in caring for animals during their stay at the shelter, including cleaning, feeding, and identifying any health concerns.
• Adaptable: You will find that no two days are alike, and it is essential to be able to help as needed with incoming animals and urgent situations.
• Team-oriented: You will be an important part of a team dedicated to ensuring the well-being of every animal on a daily basis.
• Experienced in handling diverse animals: You will be responsible for a wide variety of animals, including those that are fearful or difficult to handle.
• Resilient: You will need to be capable of maintaining a positive attitude in a challenging and highly emotional work environment. The animal shelter is often full and has limited resources.

• Providing food and water for shelter animals while keeping their kennels and cages clean.
• Assisting with animal intake, including vaccinations and setting up animal housing.
• Assisting with administering medication to shelter animals.
• Washing dishes, doing laundry, and mopping floors.
• Cleaning cat carriers and litter boxes.
• Unloading supplies and putting them away in the appropriate locations.
• Assisting members of the public who bring their animals to the shelter.

• You will be helping animals who have no other place to go.
• Your work will contribute to thousands of animals getting adopted every year.
• You will closely interact with animals, gaining familiarity with them and acquiring knowledge about various species.
• You will work with a community of people, staff and volunteers, who care deeply about animals.

• You will witness animals that are stressed and unhappy in the shelter, though the majority will have positive outcomes.
• There will be days when the shelter is at full capacity, presenting a challenge to complete all your tasks.
• In 2023, approximately 5% of the animals that came into the shelter were euthanized for medical or behavioral reasons, which can be emotionally challenging for staff.

• Decision Making: Choosing optimal courses of action in a timely manner
• General Physical Ability: Using strength, endurance, flexibility, balance, and coordination
• Professional Integrity & Ethics: Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability
• Safety Focus: Showing vigilance and care in identifying and addressing health risks and safety hazards
• Adaptability: Responding positively to change and modifying behavior as the situation requires
• Attention to Detail: Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products
• Displaying Ownership and Accountability: Holding self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results.
• Handling Stress: Maintaining emotional stability and self-control under pressure, challenge, or adversity
• Professional Integrity & Ethics: Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability
• Informing: Proactively obtaining and sharing information
• Interpersonal Savvy: Considering and responding appropriately to the needs and feelings of others in different situations
• Professional Impact: Presenting self as a positive representative of the organization
• Valuing Diversity: Appreciating the benefits of varied backgrounds and cultures in the workplace
• Teamwork: Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals

Minimum Requirements for Application

• Experience working with large dogs in an animal shelter, boarding facility, or veterinary clinic
• Experience reading animal behaviors; vaccinating/medicating animals; and industrial cleaning

Supplemental Information