Animal Scientist jobs in Lake Charles, LA

This is the first of five levels in the Animal Care series. 

Incumbents clean and sanitize the animal shelter and provide care to the animals.  Responsibilities may include assigning incoming animals to kennels; administering medications and vaccinations; euthanizing animals; preparing heads for rabies checks; cremating animals; microchipping animals; cleaning kennels and public areas; assisting the public in selecting an animal and completing paperwork; and feeding and watering animals.

(The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.  Other duties may be assigned.)

• Cares for animals, which includes: cleaning and disinfecting animal holding areas; maintaining facility aesthetics; feeding, watering, and grooming animals; opening and closing facilities; monitoring animals for illness, disease, and/or injury; evaluating animals for adoption potential; socializing animals in custody; administering vaccines and oral dewormers; microchipping animals; and/or performing other related activities.
• Participates in euthanizing animals, which includes: injecting animals with applicable serums; performing surgical decapitation of deceased animals for rabies testing; transporting carcasses of deceased animals to landfill for disposal; incinerating animals as requested; and cleaning the incinerator.
• Prepares and maintains a variety of files, records, reports, agreements, logs, adoption records and forms, and/or other related information.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
This position does not require supervisory responsibilities.

• Customer service principles;
• Basic animal handling techniques and applications;
• Basic animal care and nutrition requirements;
• Basic animal anatomy;
• Cleaning and sanitizing methods;
• Recordkeeping practices;
• Computers and related software applications.

• Caring for animals;
• Cleaning and sanitizing animal holding areas;
• Observing and documenting animal behavior;
• Identifying sick animals;
• Handling animals;
• Preparing and maintaining records and reports;
• Using computers and related software applications;
• Communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Positions in this class typically require: reaching, standing, walking, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.
• Heavy Work: Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of forces constantly to move objects.
• Incumbents may be subjected to fumes, odors, dusts, poor ventilation, chemicals, blood and other bodily fluids, inadequate lighting, work space restrictions, intense noises, and a threatening environment.

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, moving mechanical parts, toxic or caustic chemicals, outside weather conditions, extreme heat, animal bites, repugnant odors and sights inherent within a shelter environment, and possible exposure to diseases associated with animals, to include blood-borne pathogens. The employee is occasionally exposed to high, precarious places; extreme cold; and risk of electrical shock.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually very loud.