Our Sanctuary is growing! FarmHouse Fresh Animal Sanctuary is a nationally-recognized 501(c)(3) animal rescue organization featured in People Magazine and the Today Show. It is funded by public donations and the financial support of FarmHouse Fresh skincare which celebrates its 19th year of business in 2023. The company’s “skincare that saves animals mission” ensures profits from each product fund the rescue and rehabilitation of neglected farm animals – cared for on the company’s hilltop ranch in McKinney, Texas. Currently 42 rescued animals call FarmHouse Fresh Animal Sanctuary home (horses, donkeys, goats, and sheep) -- all requiring daily regimented medical treatments, specialized food, and enrichment for injuries and chronic conditions.
Role Summary:
Join our skilled caretaker team! Do you have large animal experience? Are you a vet tech? Are you looking to grow your farm and ranch career? This full time role is outdoors – rain or shine, on an active sanctuary/ranch with multiple outdoor living spaces, and a small team of compassionate individuals who apply their skills to provide total healthcare and wellness to once-neglected animals, so they can heal and thrive.
Full time position requires 5 days a week, weekend rotations, and full breadth and scope of animal caretaking, tours, volunteer programs, and groundskeeping.
Daily Animal Caretaking Responsibilities:
- Detailed mixing specific food and medicines for daily feedings
- Calling animals into stalls for feeding (pan and bowl delivery) specific food and nutrition regimens
- Equine daily care- hoof picking, haltering in a field
- Assessment of daily animal health, looking for subtle changes in body condition, walking, vibrancy and general love of life
- Medical basics – administering oral and muscle shots, leg wrapping, chronic wound management, taking temperatures
- Rotating animals in and out of pastures for exercise and integration
- Grooming, washing, brushing and general care of animals on a rotation
Daily Grounds Keeping Responsibilities:
- Maintenance of barn, stalls, grounds, and tack room
- Re-bedding stall shavings
- Washing patios and doors
- Cleaning and refilling water buckets and feed containers
- Daily refilling of hay bags throughout the property
- Maintaining water troughs, hoses, door latches, hooks
- Restocking supplies (grain bins, hay stacks, etc.)
- Keeping ahead and planning for weather changes preparations
- Ensure stock of medicines and equipment ordered arrive on schedule
Seasonal Ongoing Maintenance:
- Spring cleaning stall walls, fans, and replacing fans and heaters
- Hiring fencing, construction, vehicle inspection crews as needed
- Winterizing - adding water trough heaters, testing heating units, purchasing salts and emergency supplies
- Prepare and plan for cleaning and animal rotations for sanctuary guests and small tours
- Be prepared to talk with guests and share stories and moments with animals
- Maintain optimal schedules and coverage for one another when team members are not at work
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Education:
The ideal candidate has:
- College Degree in Animal Sciences or related field
- Large animal experience required
- Vet Tech experience preferred
- 1-2+ years of previous professional experience in farm and ranch
- History of reliability in farm environments, maintaining the health and wellness of animals
- Experience administering or assisting with shots, wrapping small cuts, working as a team to catch and assess goat and sheep health
- Knowledge of large animal basics including general safety guidelines to minimize opportunities for injury to both person and animal, while walking animals to and from pastures, loading onto trailers, reworking pasture grazing, feeding and more.
- Reliability throughout inclement weather to ensure safety of the animals in rain, frost, etc.
- This is a physically demanding outdoor position that includes daily responsibilities of lifting feed sacks and hundreds of hay bales weekly (up to 50lbs), moving temporary cattle panel fencing, tipping troughs and more. Prior injuries that would not make these duties viable should not consider our open positions as these activities go on daily and are core to the position.
- Critical thinking and being steady on your feet working around large animals up to 2500 pounds, walking across pastures, uneven dirt areas and surfaces.
- Joyful attitude, comradery in a team, and compassion in caring for animals who are recovering from various injuries.
- Enjoyment in hosting small tours, welcoming guests, and sharing stories and moments with animals.
- Basic handyman skills and ability to drive work vehicles on property
Valid driver’s license with a good driving record, to drive truck and trailer for medical visits.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From $20.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
- 8 hour shift
- Day shift
- Monday to Friday
- Weekend availability
Ability to commute/relocate:
- McKinney, TX 75071: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)
Experience:
- large animal: 1 year (Required)
Work Location: In person