Criteria for Animal Shelter Staff
It takes true animal lovers to work in an animal shelter. A good, hardy work ethic wont hurt, either. As the Department of Labor explains, this work is physically and emotionally challenging because ill-treated and malnourished animals come in to the shelter every day.
Tasks
Animal shelter workers are in charge of training, feeding, cleaning, exercising and playing with the animals in their shelter. According to the Department of Labor, experience shelter workers may even administer vaccinations and euthanize animals.
Work Environment
Depending on the size of the shelter, there could be anywhere from 20 to hundreds of animals awaiting homes. The work environment will be loud and at times hectic. Workers who have direct contact with the animals are constantly walking, bending over, kneeling, crawling and lifting heavy objects in order to exercise the animals and clean their cages.
Qualifications
Most employers prefer hiring workers with a high school diploma or GED equivalent. Some animal care workers may need a higher degree, such as a bachelor's degree in biology or animal science, for specific knowledge on care for and train different breeds. For specific titles such as groomer, certifications may be required as well.
Training
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, animal shelter workers are not required to go through specialized training, but there are training workshops available through the Humane Society, the National Animal Control Association, and the American Humane Association. Workshops include discussion on animal cruelty, euthanasia and dealing with the public.
Concerns
To work at a shelter, the worker has to love what he does. The pay is not great, and there are potential dangers, like aggressive animals or animals infected with rabies. According the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, full-time animal care and service workers experience a work-related injury and illness rate that is higher than the national average.
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