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Animal Adoption Jobs (NOW HIRING)

City of Elk Grove

Animal Care Assistant

Elk Grove, CA · On-site

$41K - $55K/yr

Collects fees and issues receipts for adoptions, the sale of dog licenses and spay/neutering ... Animal related codes and laws pertaining to care and welfare. Methods and techniques used in ...

coctx

Animal Care Specialist

Carrollton, TX

$14.75 - $19.25/hr

Photographs animals for inclusion on the animal adoption website. Responds to inquiries from the general public regarding animals included on the website. * Performs other duties as assigned.

LTD Global

Animal Protection Investigator

San Mateo, CA · On-site

Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, it provides a wide range of services, including animal adoption, wildlife rescue, veterinary care, humane education, and enforcement of animal-related laws. The ...

Maricopa

Animal Care Associate

Phoenix, AZ

$18.50 - $24.50/hr

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 ...

Maricopa County

Animal Care Associate

Phoenix, AZ · On-site

$18.50 - $30.50/hr

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 ...

City of Selma

Animal Services Technician

Selma, CA

$46K - $60K/yr

Under general supervision, cares for impounded animals; assists with animal adoption and licensing; cleans and maintains animal care facilities; and performs related work as required. SUPERVISION ...

Maricopa County, AZ

Animal Care Associate

Phoenix, AZ · On-site

$18.50 - $30.50/hr

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 ...

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All JobsAnimal Adoption Jobs

Animal Adoption information

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$13

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$26

How much do animal adoption jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 17, 2026, the average hourly pay for animal adoption in the United States is $21.51, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.31 and $24.52 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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 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 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.
More about Animal Adoption jobs
What cities are hiring for Animal Adoption jobs? Cities with the most Animal Adoption job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Animal Adoption jobs? The most popular types of Animal Adoption jobs are:
What states have the most Animal Adoption jobs? States with the most job openings for Animal Adoption jobs include:
Animal Adoption jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animal Adoption job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, and 25% Part Time. Highlights an 96% Physical, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $44,749 per year, or $21.5 per hour.

Animal Care & Adoption Specialist

Joybound People & Pets

Walnut Creek, CA • On-site

$25 - $27/hr

Part-time

Posted 24 days ago

Job description

Position Summary:
The Animal Care & Adoption Specialist supports Joybound's mission by ensuring the humane care of animals while providing exceptional service to the public throughout the adoption process. This hybrid role combines direct animal care, behavior enrichment, and medical observation with adopter engagement, education, matchmaking, and adoption facilitation.
This role balances responsibilities equally between Animal Care and Adoptions, starting each day with hands-on animal care duties (feeding, cleaning, etc.) and transitioning to the Adoption department at mid-day to support peak operational needs.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Interact and communicate with colleagues, volunteers, and the public in a manner that advances a culture of positivity, professionalism, trust, transparency, empathy, and excellence at Joybound.

Animal Care & Handling
  • Provide daily care, exercise, enrichment, feeding, and cleaning for shelter dogs and cats.
  • Administer medications as prescribed by Veterinary Clinic staff.
  • Monitor animal health and behavior, reporting signs of illness or distress.
  • Assist with behavioral training and follow behavior plans as directed.
  • Clean and sanitize animal areas and equipment.

Adoptions & Public Engagement
  • Guide potential adopters through the adoption process and ensure a positive experience.
  • Match animals with suitable adopters based on lifestyle, behavior, and needs.
  • Conduct meet-and-greet sessions with animals and potential adopters.
  • Educate the public on responsible pet ownership and post-adoption care.
  • Facilitate accurate and complete adoption paperwork, fee collection, and data entry.

Collaboration & Communication
  • Work closely with veterinarians, trainers, volunteers, and other departments to ensure animal well-being and adoption success.
  • Participate in off-site adoption events and community outreach programs.
  • Promote and maintain a respectful and compassionate environment for animals and people alike.

Record Keeping & Administration
  • Maintain accurate records of animal care and adoptions in databases.
  • Uphold confidentiality of sensitive information.
  • Assist with boutique sales using Shopify and help maintain store presentation.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Experience, Abilities and Qualities Required:
  • 6 months in an animal care setting and 1 year of people centered, relationship based service experience, required.
  • Strong interpersonal, communication, and problem solving skills.
  • Comfortable working with diverse populations including volunteers and the general public.
  • Proficient with Microsoft Office and capable of learning new software.
  • Familiarity with dog and cat breeds, behavior, and common diseases.
  • Ability to assess animal temperament and match pets with appropriate adopters.
  • Affection for animals, concern for their welfare and a willingness to accommodate animals in the workplace.
  • Pre employment background screening required.
  • Must have a valid California Driver's License and must not have more than two at fault incidents in a three year period and no major at-fault violations in the last ten years and must be insured.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
  • Constant exposure to animals and allergens.
  • Lift and carry animals/items up to 50 lbs; walk dogs up to 150 lbs.
  • Ability to kneel, stoop, bend, and be on feet for long periods.
  • Work indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions.
  • Work environment includes constant exposure to animals and animal allergens.
  • Tetanus and rabies inoculations are required or must be waived.
  • Drive an automobile for extended periods of time.

Hours:
Part-time, nonexempt position requiring a minimum of 24 hours per week, including evening and/or weekend work. Hours and workdays may vary according to the needs of the department.
At Joybound, we value diversity and treat all employees and job applicants based on merit, qualifications, competence, and talent. We do not discriminate on the basis of or traits historically associated with race; color, religion, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status), domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, and any other status protected by state or federal law.

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