Shelter Associate

Posting Date

05/21/26

Application Deadline

05/24/26

Pay Range

Anticipated Hiring Range: $18.50-24.50 hourly
Full Pay Range: $18.50 - $30.50 hourly
Salary offers are based on the candidate's equivalent experience and internal equity with other employees within the same job classification. This position is eligible for overtime compensation for all hours worked over 40 in the designated workweek.

Job Type

Unclassified

Department

Animal Care and Control

About the Position

Are you a passionate animal advocate who is motivated to care for animals by providing a clean and caring kennel environment for the dogs in our care?

As one of the largest animal shelters in the Nation, we need your support to make a difference! We want you to be our next diligent Shelter Associate, providing daily care and support for our shelter dogs. You’ll be an advocate for the dogs and promote the health, safety, and welfare of the people and animals of Maricopa County.

This position requires the employee to be in the office and or customer-facing for all hours worked.

About Us

Maricopa County Animal Care & Control employees are committed to animal welfare and strengthening the human-animal bond in our community, and we are always looking to add talented individuals to our team, either at our West or East Valley Animal Care Centers. As one of the nation’s largest open-admission shelters, we work with our community to serve the animals and people of Maricopa County. Our adoptions, shelter, clinic, and animal services officer teams learn first-hand about the proper care of homeless and stray animals and work hard to help find them new homes.

Proud to Offer

• Work with a greater purpose

• Tuition reimbursement

• Exceptional work-life balance

• Opportunities for growth and development within Maricopa County

• Low-cost, high-value healthcare for you and your qualifying dependents

• Child care benefits, including access to our on-site center Maricopa County Kids Club, dedicated to serving Maricopa County families

• Paid vacation, sick time, and parental leave

• Extensive wellness program, including an incentive

• Enrollment in the Arizona State Retirement System, a defined retirement benefit requiring a 12% per paycheck contribution rate that includes a 100% employer match on Day 1

• Want to learn more about the County’s Qualifying and Compensation Philosophy? Follow this link to learn more!  Work With Us | Maricopa County, AZ

We Require

• Six months of experience working with animals in a veterinary hospital, humane society, or other animal facility
• High school diploma or GED

Other Requirements

• Candidates must be flexible and able to work all shifts, including starting as early as 6 AM and finishing as late as 7 PM. Weekends and holidays are required. Shelter Associates are assigned to any shift, with any combination of days off, as determined by the Department's needs. May be assigned to work at other shelter locations based on operational needs.
• Must complete department-required animal handling training within 30 days of hire.

We Also Value

• Six months of in-person customer service work experience
• Bilingual speaking skills in Spanish and English
• Fear Free Certification

Job Contributions

• Performs animal care and related duties, including feeding, cleaning, exercising, and monitoring the behavior and health of animals in our care.
• Responsible for the daily care of animals, including providing appropriate food and water, cleaning animal kennels, and performing general housekeeping of the shelter.
• Ensures all shelter animals are properly housed and cared for within the guidelines of the Five Domains of Animal Welfare and that positive reinforcement training and Fear Free methods are utilized.
• Follows all feeding, handling, and care policies and expectations within the guidelines of the Five Domains of Animal Welfare and ensuring low stress handling and Fear Free methods are utilized.
• Conducts daily shelter welfare rounds, assists with the movement of animals, and records and addresses concerns following standard protocols.   
• Ensures that shelter areas, such as yards and meet-and-greet rooms, are maintained throughout the day.  Keeps supply areas stocked and clean, and ensures tools and equipment are kept in good working order. Reports broke items timely.
• Updates animal records and performs data entry at the shelter, including animal identification, photographs, kennel cards, animal bios, and medical and behavioral information. Ensures animal records are updated throughout the shelter stay process.
• Assist with in-shelter animal adoption meet-and-greets by interacting with customers in person and providing exceptional customer service.
• Assists with in-shelter animal enrichment in accordance with the daily enrichment schedules.

Working Conditions

• Work is performed in an animal shelter with exposure to extreme and varying temperatures, excessive noise, dogs and cats with unknown temperaments or behaviors, animal waste and fluids, deceased animals, cleaning chemicals, and zoonotic diseases
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand and walk on all types of surfaces that are sometimes slippery, uneven, and rough
• Exerting 50-100 lbs. occasionally, 10-25 lbs. frequently, or up to 10-20 lbs. constantly

Selection Procedure

• Consideration will only be given to candidates who submit online applications

• Candidates will be contacted primarily through email and their Workday online application profile

• Must pass a pre-employment background and/or fingerprint investigation as required by statute or policy, including drug and alcohol testing requirements for positions designated as safety-sensitive

Maricopa County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application process or to perform the essential functions of the position under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact [email protected] to initiate the interactive process.

Apply Now!