Integrated Care Assistant, Adoptions (Animal Care)

Summary:

If you are passionate about delivering high-quality care to animals in need, and you thrive in a fast-paced, team environment, the position of Integrated Care Assistant (AdICA) at the ASPCA’s Adoption Center may be for you. AdICAs support the health of animals in the Adoption Center by providing medical treatments and behavioral enrichment, including during all animal care activities. AdICAs interact with animals in their daily life to detect potential problems or changes in their medical or behavioral health, and communicating those effectively to clinical professionals, administer certain medications, provide daily care, engage in behavioral enrichment activities, and document/maintain records of all activities. One of the most critical functions of this role is serving as member of a team of medical, behavior and sheltering personnel, all dedicated to working together to provide holistic care for all our animals.

The Adoption Center provides care and placement for five groups of animals:

Animal victims of cruelty and neglect brought to us by the NYPD, animals brought to us through our Community Engagement team, underage kittens and other medically compromised stray animals, animals surrendered by their owners and in need of adoption into new homes, and animals transferred in from shelter/rescue partners.

AdICAs are based at our 92nd St. NYC location and report to the Manager of Animal Welfare.

Responsibilities:

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Behavior 60%:

• Engage in behavioral and emotional enrichment activities, following enrichment program protocols. Recommend animal-specific changes to regimen, including frequency, duration, or type. 
• Assist in behavioral health evaluations, assessments, trainings, and other animal interventions.
• Exercise and socialize animals and manage playgroups, under the direction and guidance of the Adoption Center behaviorist. Abide by existing dog-walking programs and observe and report reactions with environmental events or human/animal interactions, and/or problems/changes in urination or defecation. Encourage healthy behaviors and interactions throughout, and reward animals appropriately.
• Feed animals, provide clean water, and ensure a clean environment while interacting with animals to encourage and promote healthy behaviors, and detecting, logging, and reporting to clinical professionals any irregularities or changes in animal nutrition, hydration, or behaviors (including responses to your interactions). Observing animals during these interactions is vital to the recognizing medical and behavioral changes/abnormalities early, maximizing the efficacy of potential treatments.
• Monitor the comfort of shelter animals, looking for any signs of distress, anxiety, or physical ailments, and ensure that their physical environment is not resulting in discomfort (e.g., appropriate bedding (clean and fold laundry), space, adverse neighboring animals, including by maintaining the cleanliness of both animal enclosures and other workspaces that facilitate the arrival of new animals. 
• Always provide safe and smooth fear free handling of animals.
• Monitor animal holding areas for appropriate music and/or auditory stimulation and report observations.

Medical 20%:

• Ensure the welfare of animals in our care by attending to their physical and emotional health and comfort, following all ASPCA protocols.
• Maintain shelter records, using the Adoption Center electronic database, including updating animal statuses and documenting observations.
• Read and follow all kennel signage and treatment sheets regarding animal treatment and care.
• Administer medication and medical treatments in a low stress manner, following all medication administration protocols, under the guidance of the Adoption Center medical team.
• Recognize potential medical issues and communicate effectively with medical teams so that they can quickly and effectively attend to animals.

Team Support 20%:

• Send timely medical and behavior observation reports and actively engage with the team to implement interventions.
• Work in partnership with other teams (Medical, Behavior, and across departments) to continually develop knowledge, and support continuity of care for the animals.
• Collaborate with other AdICAs, and attend and actively participate in daily AdICA huddles, to support the continuity of care for the animals.

• Integrate volunteers into daily care, providing guidance and coaching as needed; demonstrate respect and gratitude for volunteer support.
• Transport animals