Integrated Care Assistant, Adoptions (Animal Care)

Summary:

If you are passionate about delivering high-quality care to animals in need, and you thrive in a fast-paced, team environment, the position of Integrated Care Assistant (AdICA) at the ASPCA’s Adoption Center may be for you. AdICAs support the health of animals in the Adoption Center by providing medical treatments and behavioral enrichment, including during all animal care activities. AdICAs interact with animals in their daily life to detect potential problems or changes in their medical or behavioral health, and communicating those effectively to clinical professionals, administer certain medications, provide daily care, engage in behavioral enrichment activities, and document/maintain records of all activities. One of the most critical functions of this role is serving as member of a team of medical, behavior and sheltering personnel, all dedicated to working together to provide holistic care for all our animals.

The Adoption Center provides care and placement for five groups of animals:

Animal victims of cruelty and neglect brought to us by the NYPD, animals brought to us through our Community Engagement team, underage kittens and other medically compromised stray animals, animals surrendered by their owners and in need of adoption into new homes, and animals transferred in from shelter/rescue partners.

AdICAs are based at our 92nd St. NYC location and report to the Manager of Animal Welfare.

Responsibilities:

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Behavior 60%:

• Engage in behavioral and emotional enrichment activities, following enrichment program protocols. Recommend animal-specific changes to regimen, including frequency, duration, or type. 
• Assist in behavioral health evaluations, assessments, trainings, and other animal interventions.
• Exercise and socialize animals and manage playgroups, under the direction and guidance of the Adoption Center behaviorist. Abide by existing dog-walking programs and observe and report reactions with environmental events or human/animal interactions, and/or problems/changes in urination or defecation. Encourage healthy behaviors and interactions throughout, and reward animals appropriately.
• Feed animals, provide clean water, and ensure a clean environment while interacting with animals to encourage and promote healthy behaviors, and detecting, logging, and reporting to clinical professionals any irregularities or changes in animal nutrition, hydration, or behaviors (including responses to your interactions). Observing animals during these interactions is vital to the recognizing medical and behavioral changes/abnormalities early, maximizing the efficacy of potential treatments.
• Monitor the comfort of shelter animals, looking for any signs of distress, anxiety, or physical ailments, and ensure that their physical environment is not resulting in discomfort (e.g., appropriate bedding (clean and fold laundry), space, adverse neighboring animals, including by maintaining the cleanliness of both animal enclosures and other workspaces that facilitate the arrival of new animals. 
• Always provide safe and smooth fear free handling of animals.
• Monitor animal holding areas for appropriate music and/or auditory stimulation and report observations.

Medical 20%:

• Ensure the welfare of animals in our care by attending to their physical and emotional health and comfort, following all ASPCA protocols.
• Maintain shelter records, using the Adoption Center electronic database, including updating animal statuses and documenting observations.
• Read and follow all kennel signage and treatment sheets regarding animal treatment and care.
• Administer medication and medical treatments in a low stress manner, following all medication administration protocols, under the guidance of the Adoption Center medical team.
• Recognize potential medical issues and communicate effectively with medical teams so that they can quickly and effectively attend to animals.

Team Support 20%:

• Send timely medical and behavior observation reports and actively engage with the team to implement interventions.
• Work in partnership with other teams (Medical, Behavior, and across departments) to continually develop knowledge, and support continuity of care for the animals.
• Collaborate with other AdICAs, and attend and actively participate in daily AdICA huddles, to support the continuity of care for the animals.

• Integrate volunteers into daily care, providing guidance and coaching as needed; demonstrate respect and gratitude for volunteer support.
• Transport animals, using low-stress animal handling techniques and following applicable organizational policies and protocols, between ASPCA facilities and to partner agencies.
• Attend and participate in team meetings and training classes as scheduled.
• Deploy locally or nationally as part of an ASPCA response once per year.

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

Compensation and Benefits:

The starting pay rate for this role is $23.00 and falls under a collective bargaining agreement.

For more information on our Benefit offerings, click here.

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Qualifications:

Ability to maintain open mind regarding changes and be willing to learn, implement, and teach new protocols, Ability to walk, bend, stand and reach constantly during a minimum 8-hour day, ability to lift 50 lbs, Ability to work closely with behaviorally and medically compromised animals and feel comfortable working in an environment where euthanasia is performed, Able to safely walk and handle dogs 100 lbs or over, up and down stairs, Always treats people and animals with care and respect; must be a compassionate caregiver for animals and have a genuine interest in working with others, Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Office., Communicate clearly, written and verbal problem solver who works well under pressure, Dependable and ability to demonstrate regular and reliable attendance., Excellent organizational skills, Team player and willingness to adjust schedule if operations require

  

Language:

English (Required)

Education and Work Experience:

High School Diploma (Required)

  

Fear Free certification within 6 months of hire date., Previous experience in the detection of common medical ailments, and the stress-free administration of topical and orally administered medications, Previous experience with sheltering software systems and record keeping, including medical records, preferred., Previous experience working in behavior training facility or in a shelter and/or veterinary setting with compromised animals

Our EEO Policy:

The ASPCA is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws.  A reasonable accommodation is a change in the ASPCA’s standard application process, which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on the ASPCA.  Please inform the ASPCA’s People Team if you need an accommodation in order to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process.

Individuals seeking employment are considered without regards to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status,  or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

ASPCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/D/V).

About Us:
The ASPCA was founded in 1866 on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment by humans and must be protected under the law. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than two million supporters nationwide, the ASPCA is committed to preventing cruelty to dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals throughout the United States.

The ASPCA is headquartered in New York City, where we maintain a full-service animal hospital, spay/neuter clinic, mobile spay/neuter and primary pet care clinics, a rehabilitation center for canine victims of cruelty, kitten nursery, adoption center, and two community veterinary centers.

The ASPCA also operates programs and services that extend nationwide. We assist animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources.

At the ASPCA, we are committed to fostering a collaborative and compassionate culture and we welcome all voices to contribute to our lifesaving mission. Our staff represent a vast array of backgrounds and diversity dimensions, bringing with them valuable experiences and perspectives. They join the ASPCA to learn, grow, and continually do their best work on behalf of animals. We are inspired by our staff, partners, and the communities we support across the country who work to improve animal lives. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion at the ASPCA because it elevates our organizational culture, aligns with our Core Values, and enables us to move further and faster toward the ASPCA’s vision – that all animals live good lives; valued by society, protected by its laws, and free from cruelty, pain and suffering.

Applicants that are residents of Colorado: Per CO Senate Bill 23-058, we cannot generally request or require any age-related information (i.e., age, DOB, attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution) on an initial employment application; this includes any age-related inquiries in the initial interview. We are permitted to require/request additional application materials; if those materials contain any age-related information, an applicant may redact the information before submitting an initial employment application.