THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST IN JOINING THE CVHS TEAM.  THIS POSITION HAS BEEN FILLED.

We are seeking an organized and dedicated individual willing to roll up his or her sleeves and coordinate our dog program.  This includes facilitating dog intakes and adoption matching, providing daily dog care, training and enrichment, performing behavioral evaluations, and more.

Candidates must be flexible, motivated team players committed to the well-being of companion animals.  A solid work ethic, an outgoing personality, excellent communication skills and a sense of humor are a must.

This is an opportunity to make a difference in an innovative organization operating in a beautiful new facility with a strong community base of support.

Position Description: Adoption Counselor II: Dog Program Coordinator

Primary responsibilities are to enhance the adoptability of all shelter dogs through evaluation, care, enrichment, and outreach.

Adoption Center

• Provide lead role in dog intakes, scheduling, counseling, adoptions and marketing
• Perform all customer service duties as needed in the Adoption Center (including cat or other adoptions as necessary, etc.)
• Ensure that available dogs are listed on CVHS’s website and other marketing tools in a positive way that promotes adoptions
• Photograph dogs for all marketing purposes
• Perform adoption counseling and match making using the ASPCA’s Meet Your Match program
• Follow up on adoptions to ensure that animals have been placed in appropriate homes, and provide support and advice for the adopters
• Maintain all dog information in PetPoint database and other required paperwork in a way that ensures all information is communicated appropriately to staff and adopters
• Act as a resource for questions regarding dog care and behavior

Behavior

• Perform SAFER, Canine-ality, and Puppy-ality evaluations on all dogs
• Communicate recommendations for proper dog placement and match-making to staff and Options Committee
• Provide enrichment and training opportunities for shelter dogs, including communicating to staff and volunteers each dog’s daily or ongoing needs
• Design and implement individual behavioral modification programs for dogs with minor behavioral needs

Health

• Monitor all signs of illness, establishing and implementing treatment criteria with the Medical Team, as required
• Communicate with Medical Team about all dog medical needs prior to Options Committee, or making dogs available for adoption
• Assist with animal check-in’s and medical care as needed
• Assist in euthanasia of dogs, cats, and other small mammals as needed

Animal Care

• Perform routine housekeeping duties necessary for the optimal cleanliness and sanitation of all animal quarters and other routine assignments to maintain the shelter appearance and presentation
• Provide feed, water, medication, care, exercise, and enrichment in a manner necessary to improve the overall health and comfort of shelter dogs
• Monitor supply levels in kennels and make proper requests for purchases or maintenance

Other Duties

• Coordinate Options Committee meetings regarding dog needs
• Performs other work as required
• Train and nurture staff and volunteers to assist in dog program
• Communicate with other organizations such as breed specific rescue groups about alternative placement options for special needs dogs.

Position Details and Conditions

• ADA physical requirements checklist to be available at interview (this is a physically demanding position)
• Reports to Adoption Center Manager
• Full time, 40 hours per week position with health insurance and other benefits
• Routine schedule is eight hours a day, five days a week, including Saturdays.  Schedule is usually 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, or 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
• Position is full-time, non-exempt at $11.00 to $13.00 per hour depending on experience
• Position available beginning November 6th

Position Requirements

• Generalized computer and database proficiency
• Minimum of 2 years of professional experience in animal care and customer service, with animal shelter experience preferred (caring for your own pets and/or pet sitting are not sufficient)
• Demonstrated knowledge of positive reinforcement based dog handling and behavior modification
• Valid driver’s license required

Application Information
Send the items below to Anne at: operations@cvhumane.com or: PO Box 687, Montpelier, VT 05601.  Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

• Letter of interest including written answers to the following:
  • Please describe your philosophy and practice of dog behavior and behavior modification.
  • Please describe behaviors or conditions that would lead you to recommend euthanizing a dog.
  • In 100 to 300 words, please write a description of a real dog that you have met but don’t know well (neighbor’s or friend’s dog, etc.), as though you were making the dog available for adoption and advertising the dog on www.cvhumane.com.  Please attach a photograph of the dog that you have taken recently.
• Resume
• Contact information for 3 professional references

More about CVHS’s Dog Program:

• Open-admission
• Intakes from stray contracts, owners relinquishing pets, transfers from other organizations, transports from out of state, and some cruelty cases
• Accepts 350-400 dogs annually
• Position responsible for 6-25 dogs at a time (opportunities to develop relationships with all of the dogs in care)
• 90% live release rate for dogs