POSITION SUMMARY:  The relief behavior modification technician conducts pre-adoption behavior support sessions with shelter dogs and cats that are enrolled in a behavior support program.  The relief behavior modification technician maintains organized and concise documentation pertaining to program sessions, provides recommendations for counseling conversations with adopters, and conducts dog introductions and oversees introductions and play sessions.

DEPARTMENT: Behavior & Sheltering
REPORTS TO: Animal Behavior Manager
STATUS: Part-time, hourly, non-exempt
SCHEDULE: Scheduled only as needed and as employee is available to work, 8-10 hour shifts

MISSION

Foothills Animal Shelter’s mission is: Providing support to our surrounding community through education, services that strengthen the human-pet bond, and humane care for the animals we serve.

VALUES

All employees and volunteers are expected to embody the Shelter’s Values which are to have honesty and integrity in all that we do, with the following values as our guide: 

• Stewardship: Assume responsibility and ownership for our actions within our shelter and our community.
• Positive Culture: Create a safe, supportive environment for the health, wellbeing, and development of staff and volunteers.
• Openness: Nurture an innovative, inclusive, and creative environment that cultivates conversations and relationships that actively work towards the future.
• Team Oriented: Build relationships, embrace teamwork, and foster collaboration in pursuit of our Mission.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Under the direction of the animal behavior manager, provides sessions for animals enrolled in a behavior support program, including fearful or anxious behavior, dog/dog interactions and/or reactivity, resource guarding, and impulse control.
• Alerts the department manager or director of concerns or changes in animal behavior that may preclude their continued participation in a behavior program.  Actively participates in daily rounds and case studies, provides recommendations and timely updates.
• Under the direction of the animal behavior manager, administers medication to animals on behavioral pharmaceuticals.  Acts as primary observer of impact of medication on an animal’s behavior and performance and provides timely feedback to the animal behavior manager and/or the associate director of the animal experience to support appropriate dosage and maximized benefit.
• Strives to minimize length of stay of shelter animals and works creatively with behavior team members to maximize impact of sessions for behavior support enrolled animals.
• Identifies and coordinates enrichment opportunities for long-term residents including court hold and protective custody animals, animals under bite quarantine, and those housed in administrative offices.
• Models and fosters a supportive, inclusive, and judgement-free environment within the s