Part Time Animal Rescue Jobs in Des Moines, IA (NOW HIRING)

Help Pets Find Loving Homes Every Day

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa (ARL) is seeking compassionate, customer-focused individuals to join our team as an Adoption Assistant. In this role, you will help connect homeless pets with loving families while creating a welcoming and positive experience for adopters, visitors, volunteers, and community partners.

If you enjoy working with animals, helping people, and being part of a mission-driven nonprofit organization, this is an opportunity to make a direct impact every day.

Want to learn more about the role from someone who lives it every day?

Watch Adoption Supervisor, Brian Madison, share what makes this position rewarding, what a typical day looks like, and the qualities that help team members succeed on the Adoption team.

???? Watch the Adoption Assistant Career Spotlight Video

This short video offers an inside look at the team, the work, and the impact you'll have helping pets find loving homes.

The Adoption Assistant provides excellent customer service while guiding visitors through the pet adoption process and facilitating successful matches between people and animals. In this role, you will answer questions from potential adopters, assist with adoption applications, facilitate safe interactions between adopters and pets, and help educate families on animal behavior, medical needs, and adoption expectations.

This position supports the daily operations of the adoption department by maintaining clean and organized lobby and work areas, assisting with retail purchases, processing transactions, and balancing a cash drawer. Adoption Assistants also support off-site adoption events and community outreach opportunities by transporting animals, setting up and tearing down event spaces, assisting adopters during events, and helping create positive partnerships within the community.

In addition, this role works closely with volunteers and staff to create a supportive and welcoming environment while practicing low-stress, compassionate animal handling techniques that promote animal health and wellbeing. Following all safety protocols, sanitation standards, and organizational policies is an essential part of the position.

Qualified candidates must have a high school diploma or GED and a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record. Candidates should possess strong customer service, communication, and interpersonal skills, along with basic computer proficiency and working knowledge of Microsoft Office programs.

Previous experience in customer service, retail, hospitality, animal handling, animal welfare, veterinary clinics, shelters, or community events is preferred. The ideal candidate is dependable, organized, adaptable, and able to remain professional and compassionate in a fast-paced and sometimes emotionally challenging environment.

At the ARL, our work is grounded in compassion, collaboration, and service. As Iowa’s largest nonprofit animal welfare organization, we provide care and support to thousands of animals each year while helping pets and people build lifelong bonds through adoption and community programs.

As an Adoption Assistant, you will play an important role in the adoption process by helping visitors find the right pet for their home, supporting community adoption events, and ensuring animals receive compassionate handling and care throughout their stay. This position combines customer service, animal care, community engagement, and teamwork in a fast-paced and rewarding environment.

We are currently hiring for both part-time and full-time opportunities.

Employment in this position is at-will, meaning that either the employee or the ARL may terminate the employment relationship at any time.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and/or applicable state regulations, the Animal Rescue League will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages prospective employees and incumbents to discuss potential accommodations.