The National Detector Dog Training Center (NDDTC) plays a crucial role in safeguarding America's agricultural and natural resources from harmful pests and diseases by training specially selected dogs and their human handlers. The Animal Caretaker performs a wide range of duties in support of the NDDTC's mission by providing for the care, feeding, health, and comprehensive well-being of the animals, and maintaining their enclosures.
To qualify, you must show you have had training and experience of sufficient scope and quality to provide you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Your answers to the vacancy specific questions must be supported by the work experience in your resume. For example, if you respond in the affirmative when questioned whether you have experience in animal care taking your resume must include this experience, mindful that experience may not be inferred by job title. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
The duties may include, but are not limited to:
Observes animals daily for changes in appearance and/or activity.
Bathes, grooms, and cares for dental, aural, and dermal hygiene of all animals and transports them to the veterinarian for routine and emergency visits.
Prepares veterinary service requests, presents documentation and animals for veterinary evaluation and treatment for monthly on-site veterinary visits.
Provides this same care for all animals in the veterinary quarantine building.
Maintains animals’ digital and hard copy health records.
Assesses the overall wellness of the animals, addresses many issues on-the-spot.
Restrains animals for their own and human safety during blood samples draws or other similar work.
Cleans, disinfects, and prepares animal enclosures daily.
Assists higher graded employees as requested, and as appropriate.