FOOTHILLS ANIMAL SHELTER·Golden, Colorado
Coordinate animal intake, conduct behavior and health evaluations, and manage foster family recruitment and matching. Perform humane euthanasia and maintain accurate animal records to ensure optimal outcomes for shelter pets.
As an open admissions shelter, we are committed to being here for families and their pets in Jefferson County, Colorado. We identify as a socially conscious shelter, caring for over 9,000 dogs, cats, and small animals every year with a compassionate team of staff and volunteers who are committed to the physical and emotional wellbeing of every pet we serve. What You Bring You thrive in fast-paced environments where no two days are the same. You can pivot quickly between completing an intake, conducting a behavior assessment, and coordinating a foster placement—all while maintaining your composure and attention to detail. You have a gift for reading animals. Whether you're evaluating a nervous cat or assessing a high-energy dog, you can observe body language, recognize behavioral needs, and make thoughtful recommendations that set animals up for success. You understand that every animal's journey starts with their intake experience. You take pride in ensuring that first interaction is as low-stress as possible, setting the foundation for positive outcomes. You're comfortable with the hard parts of animal welfare. You can perform euthanasia with compassion and professionalism when it's the most humane choice, and you support your teammates through emotionally challenging situations. You value teamwork and collaboration. You know that your work directly impacts every other department in the shelter, and you take ownership of keeping things running smoothly for the whole team. You believe in our mission. You recognize the significance of the human-animal bond, and you are proud to support the formation and continuation of these powerful relationships. What You'll Do Complete intakes, vaccines, and initial behavior and health evaluations for animals of all sizes, setting them up for their best possible outcome. Conduct behavior assessments for dogs and cats, including physical restraint and handling of animals of all sizes, and coordinate dog-to-dog interactions for assessment, enrichment, and behavior change. Lead enrichment and behavior maintenance programs under the direction of department leadership. Recruit, screen, and support foster families by conducting phone screens, background checks, home inspections, and ongoing training for active foster homes. Match animals to appropriate foster homes and coordinate logistics for pick-up and drop-off appointments. Support the shelter's transfer program by loading and unloading animals, processing arrivals, completing paperwork, and coordinating foster care as needed. Maintain accurate animal records using the shelter's animal management database to streamline animal processing and movement. Perform euthanasia as dictated by organizational policies in a timely and compassionate manner, following all safety procedures and DEA documentation requirements. Serve as a positive role model for staff and volunteers, treating all animals humanely and with respect in line with Fear Free sheltering philosophies.
Let's start with the obvious: we offer truly meaningful work that positively impacts the lives of thousands of animals each year. You will work with a team of animal welfare professionals who work hard, care deeply, and are 100% dedicated to the well-being of our shelter animals. We strive for a healthy work-life balance, and we offer generous time off including six paid holidays, additional floating holidays (awarded annually on your employment anniversary), three weeks of accrued vacation, and paid sick leave. We offer a full spectrum of employee benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts, and a retirement plan with up to 4% employer match and immediate vesting. Currently, two of our medical plans and our dental and vision plans are offered at no cost for employee-only coverage. The pay rate for this position will be $21.00 per hour. Employees in this position are eligible for incremental base pay increases up to $23.00 per hour upon demonstrated proficiency in each of the following areas: administrative tasks specific to the role, animal processing tasks, animal assessments, dog-to-dog introductions, behavior support sessions, foster coordination, and specialized adoption counseling. Foothills Animal Shelter is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer. View complete job description here. QualificationsEDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE Professional or educational experience with basic veterinary procedures such as vaccinations, medication delivery, observation documentation, and Fear Free veterinary restraint strategies Professional or educational experience in animal learning theory, animal behavior, and positive-based force-free animal training preferred Experience in animal sheltering or similar professional animal care field preferred LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS Must obtain and maintain euthanasia certification within six months of hire Must obtain and maintain rabies pre-exposure vaccination series within six months of hire Must obtain Fear Free Shelter certification within 60 days of employment Valid driver license with insurable driving record preferred KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES General knowledge of animal care, treatments, disease, and proper, fear-free restraint of animals of various sizes, weights, and temperaments Working knowledge of animal sheltering practices; highly supportive of open admissions philosophy Excellent verbal and written communication skills Strong analytical and problem-solving skills Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office including word processing, spread sheets, meeting software and email; proficient with animal management software and databases Ability to multi-task and maintain composure in a fast-paced environment while providing courteous service to potentially difficult, emotional, or frustrated clients Ability to maintain the highest levels of confidentiality when dealing with proprietary information and sensitive situations Ability to communicate and collaborate with a variety of people and personality types PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS Ability to stand and walk for the majority of a 10-hour shift on hard surfaces with minimal sedentary work Ability to bend, twist, kneel, and squat frequently throughout the shift Ability to lift, carry, and move up to 50 pounds regularly throughout the shift Ability to physically restrain and handle animals of all sizes and temperaments, including dogs weighing over 100 pounds Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions year-round including heat, cold, rain, and snow Manual dexterity to handle veterinary equipment including needles, syringes, and restraint tools Ability to respond quickly to emergency situations requiring immediate physical intervention WORKING CONDITIONS Ten-hour shifts with at least one weekend day required; schedule may include holidays Noise, odors, chemical fumes, and animal hair/dander are encountered due to equipment and animals Exposure to common allergens including animal dander, feathers, hay/straw, latex, peanut butter, dairy products, and other food items used for animal enrichment Exposure to zoonotic diseases and infectious agents through contact with animals and their bodily fluids (urine, feces, vomit, blood, saliva) Exposure to cleaning chemicals, disinfectants, and sanitizing agents used in animal care and facility maintenance Exposure to emotionally challenging situations including sick or injured animals; euthanasia procedures; and end-of-life decision-making Frequent hand washing and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) as required Subject to animal bites and scratches Work in areas with fluctuating temperatures, humidity, and limited climate control EQUIPMENT USED Animal handling equipment and assessment tools including slip leads, catch poles, and cat nets Veterinary equipment and tools including needles and syringes Animal and shelter management software Vehicle use (company provided and personal) Chemicals and cleaning tools to provide care for the animal
Requires experience in basic veterinary procedures and animal behavior, with a preference for animal sheltering backgrounds. Must obtain certifications in euthanasia, rabies pre-exposure, and Fear Free sheltering within specified timeframes.
Market context
In Colorado, dental roles often draw steady interest because practices need reliable support for patient flow, chairside assistance, and front-office coordination. These positions can be competitive when they require prior clinical experience, comfort with fast-paced teamwork, and availability for long shifts, nights, weekends, or holidays. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, then confirm your experience matches the schedule and stress level before applying.