SUMMARY

Under the leadership of the Breeding and Puppy Care Supervisor, this position is responsible for caring for our Breeding Stock Dog and Litters of Puppies.  This position is responsible for cleaning, feeding, medicating, and enriching our Breeding stock dogs and litters of puppies.  This position is also responsible for assisting breeding, puppy development and veterinary health departments completing processes for our breeding stock dogs and puppy litters. This position will work varying shifts and hours. This position requires availability across all days, weekends, and holidays as needed. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for feeding, medicating, bathing, and grooming breeding stock dogs on a one-on-one basis and puppy litters.
• Responsible for providing enrichment for our breeding stock dogs and puppy litters ensuring a safe and humane kennel environment.
• Responsible for daily and other scheduled cleaning activities of the Canine Development Center.
• Responsible for maintenance of Canine Development Center areas and related equipment.
• Participates in socialization and activities to reduce kennel stress on dogs and interaction evaluation of breeding stock dogs and puppy litter dogs.
• Trains new team members and volunteers as to proper work procedures related to canine care.
• Responsible for working with Volunteer Team Members setting expectations and developing their skills.
• Assists with canine health care and routine procedures when necessary.
• Assists vet clinic with follow-up care of dogs and puppies in the area; support the needs of dogs requiring special care.
• Assists breeding department with routine procedures.
• Assists puppy development team with routine placement of puppies and host homes.
• Meets with volunteer puppy raisers to place puppies in host homes including setting expectations and distributing materials.
• Responsible for data entry and administrative tasks.
• Maintains puppy care and breeding area supply stock and equipment.
• Assists with whelp kits and whelping equipment assembly for host homes.
• Perform other duties as assigned.   

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Three to six months previous related experience in animal care required; previous experience in cleaning and maintenance preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Must possess rapport with animals and ability to maintain humane treatment and care of dogs and puppies
• Must be available for any day, any shift.
• Must be able to handle multiple tasks well and be able to maintain work load. 
• Must possess sound business judgment, exercise professional conduct, understand and follow business ethics and standards, and maintain a high level of confidentiality in all duties

• Must be able to work independently with little supervision and accept direction on given assignments.
• Must work effectively with volunteers in the organization.
• Must be comfortable with and willing to work around large dogs.
• Must be proficient in latest version of Microsoft Office products.
• Must be willing to perform general public relations duties on behalf of Leader Dog (perform tours, answer general questions, be a professional and courteous representative of Leader Dog, etc.).
• Must be able to establish and maintain professional, productive and courteous interactions with employees that promote positive teamwork, as well as with volunteers, donors, clients and all constituents of Leader Dog.  This encompasses going beyond giving and receiving instructions and includes but is not limited to (a) performing work activities requiring interacting or speaking with others; and (b) responding appropriately to constructive feedback or suggestions for improvement from a supervisor.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Upon receiving notice, reasonable accommodations may be made, if possible, to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use the phone, and talk or hear.  The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms.  The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel or crouch.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds.

Leader Dogs for the Blind reserves the right to change, amend, add, delete, and otherwise assign any and all duties, responsibilities and position title as it deems necessary to meet the needs of its business.

Leader Dogs for the Blind is an at-will employer.  This means that the employment relationship may be ended at any time without notice by the employer or employee for any reason.  Neither this document, nor any manual issued by Leader Dogs for the Blind, is a contract of employment.