Kennel Hand

**POSITION**: Kennel Hand / Assistant

**REPORTS TO**: Dog Sanctuary Coordinator / Manager

**LOCATION**: Philadelphia, Cape Town, Western Cape

**POSITION OVERVIEW**

Kennel staff are responsible for proper husbandry care of all dogs, including feeding, bathing, record keeping and cleanliness of cages, runs and ward areas. In addition, the kennel hand is also responsible for general cleaning duties around the sanctuary, keeping the sanctuary consumables stocked and maintaining a tidy and clean sanctuary.

**DUTIES**
- Provide compassionate care for patients
- Can conduct oneself in a confident and professional manner even when stressed and/or focused on individual tasks.
- Is responsible for the proper identification of animals and for recording their respective locations.
- Ensures that every animal is cleaned and properly groomed.
- Can follow a regular schedule for cleaning and sanitising all cages, runs, wards and related areas
- Can feed each animal as prescribed by the coordinator / manager as requested
- Can accurately record appetite and eliminations
- Understands the importance of prioritising tasks and keeps oneself busy and productive during work shifts
- Can maintain laundry for the sanctuary
- Maintains the sanctuary cleanliness including waste disposal
- Can give baths and brush patients
- Can recognise and report any unusual condition or abnormal behaviour
- can assist staff with simple restraint of dogs when needed
- Cleans equipment and facilities using provided chemicals and supplies
- Understands the importance of safety of use of chemicals in our facility
- Maintains the cleanliness of the sanctuary each day
- Understands and carries out the weekly and monthly chore list to maintain the sanctuary cleanliness, the equipment and overall appearance of the sanctuary
- Understands and carries out oral and written directions
- Maintains positive, cooperative relationships with other employees as well as supervisors
- Performs other duties as assigned

**WORK ENVIRONMENT**
- The kennel hand must be familiar with and competent to work in an environment that poses multiple known hazards and emotionally demanding situations.
- These include but may not be confined to:

- Excessive noise levels from equipment or animals
- Risk of injury from bites and scratches
- Heavy lifting of equipment and animals
- Animals in distress
- Demanding and high-pressure environment requiring high levels of accurate
performance consistently
- Unpleasant odours and cleaning requirements
- The kennel hand is expected to be physically able to bend, restrain, lift and carry animals, sometimes in awkward positions and for prolonged periods of time.
- Prolonged periods of remaining stationary or standing may be required.
- Work requires lifting and carrying animals (will be assisted in lifting animals over 20kg).

**QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS**
- Education Requirements
- High School Certificate
- Experience Requirements
- An animal care background is desirable, but not required.
- Personal Requirements
- Minimum of 18 years old.
- Genuinely enjoys working with animals and is able to deal with them even when
they are stressed, ill or in pain.
- Can work unaffected in an environment where dogs are barking.
- Must be available to work weekends and holidays.
- Well-spoken English and approaches his/her job duties in a mature manner.
- Is experienced in a teamwork atmosphere and works well with all levels of the
sanctuary team members.
- Basic competence with computers and ipads/tablets.

**SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS**
- The employee should be aware that this role involves after hours work and weekend work.
- Occasionally a need for working overtime.
- Ability and expertise in animal care and wellbeing, must genuinely love dogs.

**DRESS CODE**
- Sensible, practical footwear to avoid discomfort, slipping, and maintaining suitable presentation.
- No open toed/ topped shoes at any time.
- Certain piercings pose a safety threat of being pulled on equipment or by animals, etc. For this reason, no ear hoops, free hanging jewellery and such are permitted.
- Further requirements are specified in the employee manual.

**MONITORING**
- Job performance will be monitored on a day-to-day basis by management and by regular performance appraisals

**Language**:

- English (required)