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Animal Care Assistant – Temporary (See description below)

Department: Animal Care

Reports to: Shelter Manager

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Your Role: Compassion in Action

If you love animals and want to make a hands-on difference in their lives every day, this could be the perfect fit. As an Animal Care Assistant at the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, you’ll be a key part of the team that ensures every animal in our care is safe, healthy, and comfortable. This position is essential to our daily operations and directly supports our mission of promoting animal welfare and finding loving homes for pets in need.This is more than just cleaning kennels — it’s about providing enrichment, recognizing health and behavior needs, and ensuring our animals feel cared for and seen. You’ll also support a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for adopters, volunteers, and staff alike.

What You’ll Do

You’ll be responsible for providing daily care and enrichment to animals, including feeding, walking, and interacting with them in ways that reduce stress and promote wellbeing. You’ll maintain clean and sanitary living spaces by following daily cleaning protocols, including laundry and dishwashing duties. As you care for the animals, you’ll keep an eye out for any signs of illness or behavioral changes and communicate observations to the medical, behavior, or supervisory teams.

You’ll interact with the public and volunteers in a positive and educational manner, helping them feel informed and engaged with our mission. You’ll also ensure data is accurately entered into our shelter database system, Shelter Buddy, to help maintain up-to-date records. Facility cleaning and grounds maintenance will also be part of your responsibilities, as will operating and maintaining equipment safely. You may assist with training or guiding volunteers in alignment with department goals.

What You Bring

You have a high school diploma or GED and ideally at least one year of experience handling animals and working in a customer-facing role. You’re comfortable in fast-paced, emotionally charged environments and are capable of handling challenges with professionalism and compassion. You have strong interpersonal and communication skills, the ability to solve problems, and can work well independently or as part of a team. You're comfortable using Microsoft Office and can perform basic math.

Working Conditions

This is a physically active role requiring the ability to lift up to 50 lbs and stand or sit for extended periods. Work may involve exposure to pet dander, animal waste, loud noises, strong odors, and the risk of bites or scratches. You’ll be working in and around a variety of animals and must be comfortable handling them in a shelter environment.

Why It Matters

Every moment you spend caring for our animals helps move them one step closer to their forever homes. As an Animal Care Assistant, you’re not only keeping them safe and healthy — you’re giving them dignity, comfort, and love while they wait. Your work matters. Your compassion matters. And we’re excited to welcome someone just like you to our team.

This position is classified as at-will, meaning that either the employee or the ARL may terminate the employment relationship at any time and for any lawful reason. Please Note: This position is currently a temporary role expected to run through November. However, there is a possibility it could transition into a regular, ongoing at-will position based on organizational needs and performance.

Animal Rescue League is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and/or applicable state regulations, Animal Rescue League will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages prospective employees and incumbents to discuss potential accommodations with Animal Rescue League.