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Animal Adoption Jobs in Rochester, NY (NOW HIRING)

Adoption Counselor

Fairport, NY ยท On-site

$18.50 - $20/hr

The Adoption Counselor's role is to match available pets with homes looking to expand their ... Provide overall animal maintenance-supply animals with food and water, clean cages, kennels and ...

Animal Care Supervisor

Batavia, NY ยท On-site

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

As a Companion Animal Supervisor , you are a trusted subject-matter leader responsible for the ... Ensure proper handling, care, and documentation of adoption animals. * Act immediately and ...

Animal Care Specialist

Batavia, NY ยท On-site

$14.50 - $19/hr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Ensure proper handling, documentation, and care of relinquished and adoption animals. * Serve as the primary resource for animal care education for customers and PCC partners. * Adhere to and promote ...

As a Companion Animal Supervisor , you are a trusted subject-matter leader responsible for the ... Ensure proper handling, care, and documentation of adoption animals. * Act immediately and ...

Animal Care Specialist

Batavia, NY

$14.50 - $19/hr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Ensure proper handling, documentation, and care of relinquished and adoption animals. * Serve as the primary resource for animal care education for customers and PCC partners. * Adhere to and promote ...

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Showing results 1-20

Animal Adoption information

See Rochester, NY salary details

$13

$21

$26

How much do animal adoption jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average hourly pay for animal adoption in Rochester, NY is $21.23, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.07 and $24.18 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is animal adoption?

Animal adoption is the process of taking responsibility for a pet that needs a home, typically from an animal shelter or rescue organization. Instead of buying a pet from a breeder or pet store, adopting means giving a second chance to an animal that may have been abandoned, lost, or surrendered. Adoption usually involves an application process, fees to help cover veterinary care, and sometimes a home check. The goal is to match animals with loving, responsible families and reduce the number of homeless pets. Adopting a pet can be a rewarding experience that saves lives and enriches both the animal's and adopter's lives.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in animal adoption, and why are they important?

To thrive in Animal Adoption, you need a solid understanding of animal care, behavior assessment, and adoption protocols, often supported by experience in animal shelters or related certification. Familiarity with shelter management software, pet health databases, and basic veterinary tools is typically required. Excellent communication, empathy, and problem-solving skills help build relationships with adopters and support positive outcomes for animals. These skills and qualities are crucial for ensuring animal welfare, facilitating successful adoptions, and promoting community trust in adoption programs.

What are some common challenges faced by animal adoption coordinators and how can they be addressed?

Animal adoption coordinators often encounter challenges such as managing high volumes of applications, ensuring compatibility between adopters and animals, and handling emotionally charged situations. To address these, coordinators typically rely on clear communication, thorough screening processes, and strong organizational skills. Collaborating closely with veterinary staff, volunteers, and other animal care professionals also helps ensure the best outcomes for both animals and adopters.

What is the difference between Animal Adoption vs Animal Care Specialist?

AspectAnimal AdoptionAnimal Care Specialist
Required CredentialsNone or basic background checkVeterinary assistant certification or related training
Work EnvironmentAnimal shelters, rescue centersVeterinary clinics, animal shelters
Employer & IndustryAnimal rescue organizations, sheltersVeterinary practices, animal care facilities
Common Search/ComparisonAdopting a pet vs caring for animals professionally

Animal Adoption involves helping individuals find and bring home pets from shelters or rescue groups, focusing on matching animals with new owners. Animal Care Specialists provide professional care, medical attention, and support to animals in shelters or clinics. While both roles involve working with animals, adoption is more about facilitating pet placement for the public, whereas animal care specialists are involved in the health and well-being of animals in a professional setting.

What are the most commonly searched types of Animal Adoption jobs in Rochester, NY?

The most popular types of Animal Adoption jobs in Rochester, NY are:

What cities near Rochester, NY are hiring for Animal Adoption jobs?

Cities near Rochester, NY with the most Animal Adoption job openings:

Infographic showing various Animal Adoption job openings in Rochester, NY as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, and 6% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $44,152 per year, or $21.2 per hour.

$18.50 - $20/hr

Part-time

Re-posted 7 days ago


Job description

Description

Lollypop Farm is hiring a part-time Adoption Counselor. ย The Adoption Counselor's role is to match available pets with homes looking to expand their families, as well counseling adopters through the transition period with their new pet. The ideal candidate would thrive in a fast-paced environment and have excellent customer service skills.ย 


Schedule: Monday, Tuesday, Friday & Saturday. 5 hours each day.


Essential Job Duties:

  • Conduct adoption consultations/conversations and show animals
  • Provide exceptional customer service to guests who are inquiring about adoptionsย 
  • Answer questions about animals and the adoption process
  • Provide compassionate care to all animals in the shelter
  • Ensure accuracy of recorded information and process paperwork to adopt animals
  • Exercise patience and tact when working with guests in crisis
  • Perform adoption follow-up counseling
  • Perform screened adoptions for animals with specific medical or behavioral needs
  • Maintain knowledge of different animal species and be able to troubleshoot common problems and solutions seen in adoptive homes
  • Provide overall animal maintenance-supply animals with food and water, clean cages, kennels and litter boxes
  • Maintain sanitary conditions for animals and work areasย 
  • Carry out responsibilities in accordance with the company's policies and applicable state/ federal laws
  • Observe all safety rules and regulations for self and others
  • Perform other duties as requested



Requirements

ย Education & Experience: High school diploma or equivalent education. Minimum one year of animal experience (personal or professional) and one year of customer service experience strongly preferred. A combination of education and experience will be considered if aligned with the position.

Skills: Ability to interpret simple instructions, short correspondence and memos. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations. Ability to apply basic mathematical concepts. Must possess the ability to understand detailed and involved instructions and to apply common sense to carry out instructions, as well as the ability to deal with problems involving few concrete variables in standardized situations. Strong animal handling skills preferred. Strong computer skills such as word and excel; ability to learn internal software. Ability to learn to operate animal chip scanner, cash register, as well as use cleaning supplies.ย 

Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to remain in a stationary position during shift, move throughout the building and move weight up to 20 pounds. Frequently required to communicate with others. Occasionally required to move excessive weight.


Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties of this position.


Must Align with the Company Mission, Vision and Core Values:
Mission: Together with our community, we better the lives of animals through justice, prevention, and life-saving care.

Vision: A just and compassionate world for all animals.

Core Values: We embrace and recognize that Lollypop Farm donors are the heroes of our work - voluntarily offering time or money, no matter the amount - to support our mission. Together, our core values unify and guide us to provide the best service to the animals, our community, our organization and ourselves.ย 

  • Compassion: We show empathy and sympathy for what people and animals are experiencing through positive and constructive actions.ย ย 
  • Communication: We exchange thoughts, feelings, and ideas in pursuit of mutually-accepted goals.
  • Flexibility: We are willing and comfortable adapting to new circumstances and conditions.ย 
  • Commitment: We are steadfast in our efforts to achieve our mission.
  • Teamwork: We collaborate and communicate to achieve common goals, understanding that the organization thrives when unified.ย 
  • Integrity: We act with honor, fairness, and respect for animals, individuals, the organization, and our community.ย 
  • Respect: We are considerate and professional regard for all aspects of our work.ย 

Commitment to Diversity: At Lollypop Farm, we believe that people are our greatest strength. We are united by our mission - Together with our community, we better the lives of animals through justice, prevention, and lifesaving care. Our values inspire us to promote and support a diverse and equitable environment of mutual respect where all staff, volunteers, and community members feel a sense of inclusion and belonging.ย ย 


EOE/ADA