Reports to: Adoption Counselors
Work Location: DAWG Shelter
Commitment: At least 3 months or 1 internship period

Purpose of the Position: Adoption Attendants help match DAWGs with their forever homes while creating a positive experience for prospective adopters, the general public and volunteers.

Responsibilities

• Actively reaching out to and interacting with the general public, specifically talking with prospective adopters to find out what they are looking for in a dog.
• Interacting with/getting to know the available dogs.
• Photographing adoptions and keep record of positive adoption stories.
• Helping people through the adoption process, sharing information about dog care and behavior, and interviewing applicants in a conversational way. Decisions about adoptions must be made by the paid Adoption Counselors.
• Following up on adoptions by phone to check in one month after the dog has been placed in the new home.
• Maintaining accurate and updated records in the Animal Shelter Manager database.
• Learning dog behavior, common issues, and ways to address them in order to make good adoption matches and to keep animals in homes.
• Assisting with the cleaning of the office and animal areas as needed, including spot cleaning of animal and public areas throughout the day.
• Transporting animals, cages and other equipment to and from off-site events.
• Treating all animals humanely, properly, and with compassion at all times, regardless of the situation or circumstance and promoting a humane and caring attitude toward all animals.

Preferred Qualifications

• Enthusiastic support of the no-kill philosophy.
• Professional demeanor with exceptional customer service skills.
• Familiarity with dogs either through formal training or work experience.
• Ability and initiative- able to work with minimal supervision and direction. Ability to communicate effectively with a culturally diverse staff, volunteers and community in a professional manner.
• Ability to lift and move objects and animals weighing up to 50 pounds for short distances and to humanely restrain a dog when necessary.
• Comfort and ability to work with dogs of unknown disposition and those who may exhibit medical and other problems, as well as aggressive tendencies.

Benefits

• Use your customer service skills and love of animals to match dogs with their forever homes.
• Recognition by DAWG staff and board in a variety of ways.

Please email Ashley Algieri at ashley.algieri@sbdawg.org if you are interested!