Casual Animal Shelter Worker
(Posting #2026.45C)
Department: Community Services
Division: Municipal Law Enforcement
Location: Georgina Animal Shelter
Status: Casual, On-Call/As needed
Reason: New Position
Number of Positions: 2
Hourly Wage: $24.88
Date Posted: September 2, 2026
Date Closing: September 16, 2026
Come work with us!
Employment with the Town of Georgina offers an opportunity to make a positive difference in our community. We are a progressive, forward-thinking organization focused on continuous improvement, innovation and providing exceptional customer service. We offer a collaborative team environment and an excellent place to take charge of your career.¿
Position Purpose
Ensures the humane treatment of all shelter animals, maintains the animal shelter facility and keeps it organized, clean and sanitized, provides daily enrichment to the animals in care and follows their animal welfare plans, provides adoption consultations, assists with public education, keeps animal records up to date, and ensures preventative measures are taken to ensure the safety and health of animals, staff and visitors within the centre.
Minimum Qualifications
- Ontario Secondary School Graduation diploma or equivalent academic level. Additional animal related courses/ education considered an asset;
- Minimum of three months professional experience in a comparable role required.
- For full details on duties and qualifications, please see attached job description.
How to apply
Qualified applicants are invited to submit a resume and cover letter, identifying the Job Title and Job ID#. Please apply by visiting the www.georgina.ca/careers no later than 11:59 pm on the closing date. The assessment process may include a practical test and/or interview.
Committed to diversity and a barrier-free environment
The Town of Georgina is an equal opportunity employer committed to inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection processes and work environments. We encourage applications from people with disabilities and will accommodate the needs of applicants under the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process. Please advise the Human Resources Team if you require an accommodation(s) and we will work with you to meet your needs throughout any stage of the process. Please be advised that this information will be treated in a confidential manner.
We thank all candidates for their interest, however only those being considered will be contacted.
Personal information collected will be used in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the purpose of candidate selection. Further information concerning the collection of personal information should be directed to the Human Resources Manager, Town of Georgina, 26557 Civic Centre Road, Keswick, ON L4P 3G1 (905) 476-4301
JOB DESCRIPTION
Title: Animal Shelter Worker
Department: Community Services
Division: Municipal Law Enforcement
Date Created: January 2023
Reports To: Animal Shelter Supervisor
Ensures the humane treatment of all shelter animals, maintains the animal shelter facility and keeps it organized, clean and sanitized, provides daily enrichment to the animals in care and follows their animal welfare plans, provides adoption consultations, assists with public education, keeps animal records up to date, and ensures preventative measures are taken to ensure the safety and health of animals, staff and visitors within the centre.
Administrative
- As required, responds daily to public inquiries in person, by telephone, email and social media with respect to adoption, redemption, animal/pet care, surrenders, lost and found pets, volunteering, donations, and all other animal control matters;
- Assists with animal file processing of pet redemptions, rehoming and adoptions;
- Admits animals brought in by animal control, other animal welfare organizations and/or the public daily. Creates animal file and logs all necessary information into computer software and medical reminder program;
- Ensure animal records are entered and kept up to date in electronic file and on printed daily animal charts/forms, animal welfare plans and reports concerns to Shelter Supervisor and/or Coordinator;
- As required, liaises with Animal Services Officers, veterinary professionals and animal welfare partners in regards to stray/sick/behavioural injured domestic and wildlife animals;
- Generate and utilizes animal care reports to aid in daily animal care planning;
- Works with electronic mail to communicate with the public, animal welfare partners and co-workers;
- Exposure to people who may be impatient, irate or unpredictable: dealing with complaints;
- Utilizes social media as needed to promote lost / found pets;
- Other administrative duties as assigned;
Animal Care
- Cleans, scrubs and disinfects all cages of the shelter on a daily basis;
- Provides clean water and fresh food to the animals on a daily basis;
- Follows cleaning and disinfection protocols for all dishes, etc. used to feed and water the animals;
- Washes floors within shelter including the hosing down of outside kennels and walkways;
- Other housekeeping duties i.e. laundry, staffroom dishes etc.;
- Removes animal feces on a regular basis and cleans and disinfects area; as well as litter boxes, indoor dog drains, etc;
- Will often come in contact with zoonotic diseases;
- Completes health examination of animals upon intake; including vaccines and anti-parasitic treatments/prevention. Reports any abnormalities seen during health examination. Aids in creating animal care plans including; calculating diet nutritional requirements, medical treatment and behaviour modification plans;
- Collects and processes specimens for external laboratory testing as deemed necessary by veterinarian, public health or Animal Shelter Supervisor or Coordinator. May complete in-house laboratory tests (fecal, urinalysis etc.) of specimens on occasion;
- As directed, dispenses medications as indicated or recommended by a veterinarian and ensures that medications are recorded in Shelter Buddy and on animal charts;
- Monitors the health and observes the animals on a daily basis; advises the Supervisor/Coordinator of any concerns about the animals so that the appropriate action may be taken;
- Administers prescribed medications as directed;
- Provides environmental enrichment, socialization, and physical activity (such as walking the dogs, socializing cats etc.) to the animals within the facility on a daily basis:
- Completes and documents behavioural/temperament assessments to ensure the animal is not threating or a health and safety concern to staff, and the public prior to adoption. Documents concerns in file/daily charts/animal welfare plan etc. and advises Coordinator and/ or Supervisor;
- Participates in daily rounds.
- Occasionally handles aggressive dogs / cats; using proper PPE to ensure health and safety to staff / animal i.e.: cat nets/catch poles.
- Assists Coordinator with ensuring that pets are up to date on all required treatments and behaviour assessments prior to being placed up for adoption.
- May occasionally handle/ process deceased animals brought in by patrol/public. Documents animal description on appropriate cremation tag.
- Conducts in-person adoption consultations with members of the public.
- Reports equipment failure and or health and safety concerns to Animal Shelter Coordinator/Supervisor.
- Seasonally completes winter maintenance; shovelling, salting and de-icing (walkways, kennels etc.).
- Picks up shelter supplies, donations, and transports animals for veterinarian appointments, animal transfers, and adoption opportunities (using the town vehicle provided) as necessary.
- Assists with euthanasia as needed.
- May on occasion participate in on or off-site events and appear on televised programs for the promotion of the animal shelter.
- Participates in continuing educational training seminars.
- Assists with the training and development of animal shelter workers, co-op students and volunteers as needed.
The foregoing is intended to outline the general description of the duties and responsibilities for this position. It is not intended nor should it be interpreted as a complete description. The Town of Georgina reserves the right to amend this position description at any time provided that such change does not represent a substantive change in the purpose or essential nature of the position.
- Ontario Secondary School Graduation diploma or equivalent academic level. Additional animal related courses/education considered an asset;
- A minimum of three months professional experience in a comparable role required;
- Working knowledge of legislation as it applies to a municipal animal shelter. ie: Pounds Act/ Animals Research Act considered an asset
- Knowledge of and exposure to WHMIS and related safety hazards an asset;
- Knowledge of Shelter Buddy or a similar animal care software considered an asset;
- A team player with strong interpersonal skills including excellent written and verbal communication skills;
- Ability to understand verbal and written instructions to perform all of assigned duties
- Customer service experience preferred;
- Proficient with Microsoft and Social Media applications;
- Ability to restrain large dogs and to lift light to heavy items, as necessary;
- Minimum G Class Drivers¿ license required;
- Drivers¿ Abstract in good standing required to operate Corporation vehicles;
- Available to work weekends and holidays;
- Three (3) months period of adjustment, orientation and adaptation on the job.
