Our Mission is to build a safer, more supportive community for pets and people.

Animal Care Associate

As an Animal Care Associate, you'll play a vital role in providing compassionate care, supporting successful adoptions, and helping create a safe, healthy environment where animals can thrive.

Job Summary

The Animal Care Associate provides hands-on daily care for shelter animals while ensuring their health, comfort, and well-being. This role combines animal care, customer service, and teamwork to support shelter operations and help pets find loving homes. If you're dependable, compassionate, and thrive in a fast-paced environment, this is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in your community every day.

What You'll Do

• Provide exceptional daily care for shelter animals, including feeding, cleaning, enrichment, grooming, medication, and vaccinations.
• Monitor animal health and behavior, reporting concerns and supporting appropriate treatment and movement within the shelter.
• Assist with animal intake, care protocols, and maintaining clean, safe, and sanitary shelter facilities.
• Create positive adoption experiences by assisting visitors, answering questions, and facilitating dog meet-and-greets.
• Work collaboratively with staff and volunteers while following established policies, safety practices, and animal welfare standards.

What You'll Bring

The ideal candidate is compassionate, dependable, and committed to providing outstanding care for both animals and people. You communicate effectively, remain calm under pressure, work well independently and as part of a team, and are motivated by serving the organization's mission. You'll also bring strong customer service skills, sound judgment, and the ability to learn animal care procedures, applicable laws, and shelter protocols.

Requirements

• At least 18 years of age.
• High school diploma or GED.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills.
• Ability to perform humane euthanasia compassionately and obtain required certifications.
• Ability to pass a Washington State Patrol background check.

Preferred (Not Required)

• Shelter or animal handling experience.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish.

What We Offer

We value the people who make our mission possible and offer a competitive benefits package, including:

• Paid time off
• Retirement plan with employer matching contribution
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Why Work With Us?

Every day brings the opportunity to improve the lives of animals and strengthen our community. Join a dedicated team that values compassion, accountability, collaboration, and professional growth while making a lasting impact through high-quality animal care and successful adoptions.

Work Environment

This is a physically active, fast-paced role requiring frequent standing, walking, bending, reaching, and crouching throughout the day. Team members regularly work in noisy environments and are exposed to animal odors, dust, allergens, and animal illnesses. The role also requires emotional resilience, including the ability to compassionately assist with humane euthanasia and cope with challenging situations while maintaining professionalism and focus.