Temporary - Part-Time - Animal Enrichment Worker (Dog Walker)

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent, plus six (6) months of work experience.

Licenses or Certifications:
None.
Notes to Applicants

Who Are We?
Austin Animal Center‘s mission is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of our animals by providing shelter, care, and lifesaving efforts. We are located in the largest No Kill community in the country and maintain a live outcome rate of 90 percent and above. As the City of Austin’s municipal shelter, the Austin Animal Center strives to protect the health and wellbeing of residents and their pets, through rabies control, the sheltering of stray or lost pets, fostering and adoption programs, and the enforcement of animal-related laws.

Working with the City of Austin provides a number of health and welfare benefits, such as medical, paid leave time, a great retirement plan, training opportunities and more! Click HERE for more information.

What’s the Job: Love working with dogs, even the rowdy ones? Enjoy giving every pup their time to shine on a walk? Always ready with a smile and a leash? Perfect! Now’s your chance to join the lifesaving team at Austin Animal Center! We’re looking for passionate new team members for our Behavior and Enrichment Division as Animal Enrichment Workers.

As an Animal Enrichment Worker, your primary focus will be ensuring our dogs get the exercise, mental stimulation, and one-on-one attention they need through daily walks. You’ll help provide essential enrichment to dogs of all temperaments, including shy, energetic, or reactive dogs, making sure every dog has a chance to thrive in their environment.

Your role will include:

• Walking shelter dogs to give them exercise and mental stimulation.
• Supporting behavior and enrichment plans through individualized attention during walks.
• Monitoring and reporting on dogs’ behavior and well-being during their walks.
• Assisting visitors, fosters, and adopters by helping match them with dogs suited to their lifestyle and understanding their unique needs.
• Maintaining safety protocols while handling dogs of all sizes and temperaments.

This entry-level role is a steppingstone to becoming an Animal Enrichment Specialist, where you’ll grow your skills to handle playgroups and advanced behavior programs. If you’re ready to make a difference, one wagging tail at a time, apply today!

If you are selected to interview:

• Military/Veterans must provide a copy of their DD214 at the time of initial interview to receive military/veteran interview preference.

If you are selected for hire:

• A Criminal Background check ( CBI ) will be conducted.

Additional Information:

• Animal Service Office worksite locations are tobacco-free. Use of tobacco products and/or e-cigarettes is not permitted on any ASO worksite - including construction sites, parking lot, or in any personal vehicle located on the premises.

Please Note this posting may close any time after 7 days.
Pay Range
$21.63
Hours
This position will work 20 hours per week and will include at least one full weekend day and mornings and afternoons.
Job Close Date 01/29/2025 Type of Posting External Department Animal Services Regular/Temporary Temporary Grant Funded or Pooled Position Not Applicable Category Technical Location Austin Animal Center, Bldg A 7201 Levander Loop Bldg A Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in positive reinforcement based training and playgroups/dog socialization.
• Ability to have a flexible work schedule.
• A desire to continue learning and growing, while also sharing your knowledge with others.
• Experience walking dogs of various sizes and temperaments.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities
Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.


Provides and ensures enrichment to animals through regular exercise, including interacting, walking, and training dogs at the shelter. Assists behavior team with in/out of kennel enrichment activities and playgroup. Assists animal care with shelter space. Performs animal behavior assessments. Safely and humanely handles animals of unknown health and temperament, with the ability to manage dogs of higher-level behavior. Creates support programs for animals with behavior challenges. Consults with supervisors/managers about shelter enrichment activities to improve adoptability and to treat and prevent behavior problems. Assists in monitoring the medical/behavioral status of animals and performs related health care activities. Contributes to the programs and services that support the shelter’s live outcome goal. Ensures the safety of animals and people in the shelter. Accurately maintains all required records in the shelter’s database. Provides information to the public. Trains shelter staff and volunteers on animal behavior and safe handling of cats and dogs. Maintains facility and grounds in a clean, neat, and organized manner.

Responsibilities- Supervision and/or Leadership Exercised:
None
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Knowledge of disease management and safety protocols.
• Knowledge of animal services and related programs.
• Knowledge of applicable processes, techniques, and principles.
• Skill in safely handling animals of all sizes, including those with unknown temperament.
• Skill in safely lifting and handling animals of varying sizes and weights.
• Skill in maintaining stamina during long periods of standing, walking, or performing manual tasks.
• Ability to quickly assess and address unexpected situations, especially when dealing with animals of unknown health or temperament, and to make sound decisions that ensure safety and well-being.
• Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with city employees and the public.

Criminal Background Investigation This position has been approved for a Criminal Background Investigation. EEO/ADA
The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.

The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual’s AIDS , AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk.
Information For City Employees: If you are an employee within the department, are in good standing and meet both the minimum and preferred qualifications, then you will receive an initial interview.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
* The minimum qualifications for this position are: Graduation from high school or equivalent, plus six (6) months of work experience. Do you meet these minimum qualifications?

• Yes
• No

* Please describe your experience in positive reinforcement based training and playgroups/dog socialization.
(Open Ended Question)
* Are you able to work weekends, holidays and extended shifts as required by the position?

• Yes
• No

* Please share what a desire to continue learning, growing, and sharing your knowledge with others looks like to you.
(Open Ended Question)
* Please describe your experience walking dogs of various sizes and temperaments.
(Open Ended Question)
* This position requires a criminal background investigation (CBI). By selecting the following, you are acknowledging that you understand if you are selected as a top candidate for this position, you will need a successful CBI to be hired.

• I acknowledge and understand this position requires a Criminal Background Investigation.

Optional & Required Documents

Required Documents Optional Documents Resume

• 

• City of Austin

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