Animal Welfare Specialist (Pawling)

Summary :

Are you passionate about helping animals in need and eager to advance the field of animal welfare? Do you thrive in a dynamic, complex, highly collaborative environment? If so, the role of Care & Enrichment Technician at the ASPCAs new Recovery & Rehabilitation Center (R&R Center) in Pawling, NY might be right for you!

The individual in this role is responsible for providing sheltering that is conducive to the behavioral and medic al health of resident animals. Care & Enrichment Technicians ensure a safe, healthy, clean, and enriched environment, and assist in providing the mental and physical activities animals need to regain and maintain their wellbeing.

Successful candidates for Care & Enrichment Technician are adaptive, resilient, collaborative, curious, and capable of prolonged physical activity. The person in this role must be comfortable working with dogs with significant behavioral and medic al needs.

Recovery & Rehabilitation Center Overview & Upcoming Launch

The R&R Center in Pawling, NY, is a unique program dedicated to providing integrated sheltering, behavioral, and medic al care for canine victims of cruelty. The R&R Center team works closely with ASPCA teams in New York City to help animals rescued in partnership with the NYPD.

The target start date for this position is in October 2025.

Responsibilities :

Responsibilities include but are not limited to :

Functional Duties (85%)

Maintain working knowledge of all Care & Enrichment daily protocols

Maintain working knowledge of relevant regulatory requirements, and keeps accurate records of compliance activities

Clean, sanitize, and prepare animal housing areas according to established protocols

Perform repeated daily checks of animal holding areas, spot cleaning, feeding, watering, and providing enrichment according to relevant protocols

Create and maintain safe and comfortable enriched kennels for all dogs

Provide enrichment activities according to the daily enrichment schedule

Provide food, water, and medication based on veterinary orders and behavior modification plans

Monitor the eating, drinking, and elimination habits of every animal

Monitor the population for signs of physical or mental decline, promptly reporting concerns through the appropriate channels

Assist in overseeing volunteers as they perform animal related tasks, providing coaching and encouragement; demonstrate respect and gratitude for volunteer support

Assist with handling and documentation during dog playgroups

Assist with the transport of dogs to and from emergency and specialty veterinarians, and between ASPCA facilities as needed

Assist with the physical movement of animals into and out of the shelter using low-stress animal handling techniques and following applicable organizational policies and protocols

Collaborate with behavior and veterinary team members, working together to ensure open and ample communication, excellent care, and close monitoring of every animal in the shelter

Send timely medic al and behavior observation reports and actively engage within and across teams to implement interventions

Attend all required huddles throughout the day, reporting on progress, asking for or providing assistance as needed

Attend and participate in training classes as scheduled by the Manager, Care and Enrichment

Continually support teammates, working together to stay on track in order to best serve the animals

Keep animal care and enrichment equipment and supplies organized, efficiently located, and in good repair, reporting missing, broken, or inadequate tools to management

Monitor the inventory and conditions of animal care and enrichment supplies, requesting additional supplies before stock is depleted

Be willing to deploy locally or nationally as part of an ASPCA response when the opportunity arises and approved by the Manager, Care and Enrichment.

Operational and Administrative Duties (15%)

Maintain meticulous records for every animal in appropriate databases

Attend and meaningfully contribute to all relevant R&R Center and ASPCA meetings

Accurately track and report time worked, time off, and work-related expenses

Responsibly steward R&R Center assets

Core Values

Exemplifies the ASPCAs 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

Education and Work Experience

High School Diploma or GED required

Professional, academic or volunteer animal care experience with dogs is required

6 months of professional or volunteer animal care experience with dogs is strongly preferred

Animal shelter experience with dogs strongly preferred; dog boarding or veterinary clinic experience with dogs preferred

Previous experience working in an animal shelter preferred

Fear Free Shelter Program certification (approximately 5 hours) required or completed within 60 days of hire

Qualifications

Valid drivers license and ability to pass a motor vehicle history check demonstrating safe driving

Ability and willingness to travel up to 10% of the time

Able to work a flexible schedule, including days, evenings, weekends, and holidays

Dependable and ability to demonstrate regular and reliable attendance

Fluent in the use of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint; familiarity with shelter software systems or Salesforce a plus

Excellent written and ora