Entry Level Animal Shelter Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $16.38 - $19.57 Hourly
Location : Cabarrus County, NC
Job Type: Part-Time
Job Number: FY26-01339
Department: ANIMAL SHELTER
Opening Date: 05/26/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
Description
Applicants are encouraged to apply early. The application review process will take place immediately and continue until the position is filled. This recruitment may close any time after the first review or when a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received.
Hiring range for this position is $16.38 to $19.57 per hour. Initial placement for new employees is customarily at entry level through 35% percentile. Pay grade for this position is 10.Please note this is a part-time position with no benefits.
Work schedule: Shifts will vary. Rotating weekends and holidays are required.
Must be at least 18 years old to work at Cabarrus County Animal Shelter.
General Definition of Work:
Performs intermediate semiskilled animal care and custodial work for the Cabarrus County Animal Shelter. Work is performed under regular supervision of the Animal Shelter Care Supervisor. Part time position including weekend and holiday coverage.
Examples of Duties
Essential Functions/Typical Tasks:
Responsible for the daily care and maintenance of the animal population and the Animal Shelter.
(These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)
Animal Care:

• Provides for the daily care of animals to include feeding, providing water, medicating, cleaning and sanitizing animal enclosures and animal areas.
• Monitors animals and immediately reports health or behavior abnormalities to supervisor.
• Practices and encourages the humane treatment of animals.
• Follows cleaning and disease prevention protocols to maintain sanitary conditions in animal enclosures and kennel areas.
• Maintains clean and organized work environment.
• Basic cleaning and maintenance duties.

Facility Care:

• Responsible for the cleaning and organization of the shelter to include storage rooms, supply areas, outside play areas, etc.
• Maintains an inventory of animal food, cleaning supplies, various chemicals and other shelter supplies.
• Maintains equipment in working condition, reports equipment or supply needs to supervisor.
• Maintains work and general areas in organized manner.

People Care:

• Limited interaction with the public based on schedule.
• Provides quality customer service to the public, volunteers and staff.
• Greets the public courteously and fields any questions when approached.
• May be asked to assist the public in identifying a missing pet; and/or assist with the reunification of a pet with their owner.
• Performs related tasks as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
General knowledge of basic animal care, animal husbandry, identification of various animal species, and basic cleaning and disinfectant. Ability to read and comprehend instructions and follow protocol. Ability to work in a variety of temperatures and conditions, including outdoor work in winter and summer. Basic knowledge of animal behavior, appropriate care and housing, common health problems, disease symptoms and humane handling techniques. Ability to work as part of a team to accomplish tasks.
Minimum Education / Experience requirements
Education and Experience:
Requires graduation from high school or GED equivalent with at least 6 months related animal care experience and/or training strongly preferred.
Some county job postings indicate that you can qualify with an "equivalent combination of education and experience." If this language is included in the job description, it means you may qualify through either education, your years of directly related experience, or a combination of both.
If you have indicated that you have earned a certificate, diploma, or degree from a technical school, college, or university, please note that Cabarrus County will verify your educational credentials. Official transcripts must clearly show the specific credential awarded to ensure accurate validation.
Physical Requirements:
This work is performed in an office and shelter setting. Tasks involve the ability to exert heavy physical effort in heavy work with greater emphasis on climbing and balancing but typically also involving some combination of stooping, kneeling, crouching and crawling and the lifting, carrying pushing and/or pulling of moderately heavy objects and materials (20-50 pounds); may occasionally involve heavier objects and materials (up to 100 pounds with assistance). Requires the ability to perform coordinated movements. Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate color, sound, odor, visual perception and oral communication. Tasks may risk exposure to adverse environmental conditions such as disease, noise, odors, wetness and toxic chemicals.
Supplemental Information
Supplemental and Contact Information:
Cabarrus County selects applicants for employment based on job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities without regard to race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, political affiliation or political influence.
Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Transcripts, degree evaluations and cover letters may be uploaded with your application. Applicants who obtained their education outside of the United States and its territories are expected to assume responsibility for having their academic degrees validated as equivalent to a degree conferred by a regionally accredited college or university in the United States.
Please be sure to complete the application in full. Resumes may be uploaded with your application, but will not be accepted in lieu of a fully completed application and will not be considered for qualifying credit. "See Resume" or "See Attachment" will NOT be accepted.
If multiple applications are submitted to an individual position, only the most recent application received prior to the posting closing date will be accepted. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM on the closing date.
Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone.To check the status of your application, please log in to your account. Processing applications will take an average of 6 - 8 weeks due to the high volume of applications received. It is not necessary to contact the Human Resources Office to check the status of an application. Upon the closing date, applications are "Under Review" and will be screened by Human Resources for the most qualified applicants.
For technical issues with your applications, please call the NEOGOV Help Line at 855-524-5627. If there are any questions about this posting other than your application status, please contact HR at 704-920-2200.

• Earned vacation & sick leave
• 11-12 paid holidays per year
• Floating Holiday
• Paid Personal Day
• Bereavement Leave
• Paid Parental Bonding Leave

• Participation in the Local Government Employees Retirement System
  • Mandatory 6% employee contribution

• 5% employer-paid contribution to NC401K, with no employee match required
  • Employees have the option to contribute additional monies to the NC401K plan or to a 457 retirement savings plan

• Health Insurance plans
  • Consumer driven plan including a health savings account
  • PPO Plan
  • Optional dependent coverage - employee/spouse, employee/children, & employee/family

• Comprehensive health & wellness program
  • On-site exercise equipment & programs
  • Health & wellness themed instructional classes
  • Employee health clinic
  • Employee assistance program (ex. Individual & family counseling, legal & financial services, child & elder care location assistance, etc.)

• Choice of optional dental plans
  • PPO (Preferred Provider Option) or non-PPO
  • Optional dependent coverage - employee/spouse, employee/children, & employee/family

• Vision Plan
  • Includes an annual routine eye exam for individuals on the health insurance plan.
  • Optional eyewear plan available

• $20,000 of term life insurance & accidental death & dismemberment coverage with employer-paid premiums
  • Employee option for up to $50,000 of additional term life coverage

• Optional dependent life insurance coverage for spouses & children

01
I understand in order to be qualified for this position, the description of my work experience must clearly reflect the required education and experience as well as the posted knowledge, skills and abilities for this position. I have included all of this information within my application. (If you haven't completed the application requirements, please return to your application to finish it before submitting your application.) Resumes may be uploaded with your application, but will not be accepted in lieu of a fully completed application and will not be considered for qualifying credit.

• Yes
• No

02
Applicants must be 18 years or older to work at Cabarrus County Animal Shelter. Are you able to meet the age requirement.?

• Yes
• No

03
Do you have 6 months of volunteer or working experience caring for animals. In order to receive credit for the 6 months of working/volunteer experience the experience must clearly be reflected on the application.

• Yes
• No

04
Do you have any experience working or volunteering at an animal shelter?

• Yes
• No

05
I understand that I must be available to work a rotating schedule that includes mornings, afternoons, evenings, weekends, and holidays? Are you able to meet this requirement?

• Yes
• No

06
Please list your days and hours of availability.
Required Question