The Scioto County Dog Shelter is looking for another employee after a recently hired kennel technician submitted her resignation.
Scioto County Commissioners accepted the resignation at Tuesday’s meeting, but Commissioner Merit Smith stressed that this departure wasn’t the result of problems at the shelter.
“We’ve been going through this because we just don’t pay a lot of money out there. Plus it’s a tough job,” Smith said.
He explained that the part-time employee had accepted a better-paying opportunity that would also allow her to pursue her dream of working with a particular type of animal. The new position requires her to move away from the area.
“She was doing an excellent job. No problems. We have had problems out there in the past, but this was not one of those,” Smith said.
The employee will work a two-week notice before leaving.
Commissioner Will Mault also wished her well in her new position.
Tough Work, Modest Pay
Commissioners acknowledged that keeping kennel technicians has been a challenge, in part because the work is physically demanding and the pay isn’t particularly attractive.
“It’s not a glorious job,” Smith said. “You’ll be cleaning kennels and taking care of the dogs in that way, and a lot of people struggle with doing that.”
He said some previous hires discovered the work was more difficult than they expected.
“We’ve had a couple that have come in and said, ‘That’s a little tougher job than what I thought.’”
The most recent available job posting listed the position at $15 an hour for 29.5 hours per week, putting the weekly gross pay at $442.50.
That’s approximately $23,010 annually if the employee works the same hours all year.
And cleaning kennels is only part of the job.
According to the shelter’s September 17 job posting, kennel technicians are expected to:
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Clean kennels, walkways, play yards, and work areas throughout the day.
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Feed, water, walk, and play with the dogs.
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Wash bedding, clean bowls, and keep up with laundry.
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Bathe dogs before adoption or transfer to rescue organizations.
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Assist with vaccinations and deworming incoming animals.
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Monitor dogs’ behavior and communicate concerns to wardens.
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Help prospective adopters meet dogs and answer questions about their behavior.
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Keep track of supplies and maintain shelter inventory.
The position also requires enough physical strength to lift up to 75 pounds.
Commissioners Hope to Find Animal Lovers
Smith said he believes there are people in the community who would enjoy working with the shelter’s dogs, but the pay remains an obstacle.
“We know there are people out there who are true animal lovers who’d love to have a job like this, but they’d like for it to pay more than what it does,” he said.
The resignation adds another chapter to the shelter’s ongoing staffing difficulties, which have included employee turnover and changes in leadership.
However, commissioners emphasized that the departing technician had performed well and was simply moving on to an opportunity she couldn’t pass up.
Commissioners authorized the clerk to advertise for a replacement.
Anyone interested in the part-time kennel technician position can submit a resume to [email protected], the address provided in the shelter’s previous job posting.
Smith encouraged interested applicants to come forward.
“If you’re interested in that, please get a resume to us, and we will look at it and see what we can do.”
