Working at an animal shelter is a rewarding experience that can make a meaningful difference in the lives of countless animals every day. As someone who has done it, I can personally attest to the fact that it can be a challenging job that requires dedication, but it is also incredibly rewarding. From getting to know the animals, to developing relationships with the staff, to witnessing the transformation that takes place for animals that come through the door, working at an animal shelter can be an incredibly rewarding experience. In this blog post, I will provide an overview of my own experience working at an animal shelter, including the ups and downs, the challenges, and the rewards. I will also offer advice to anyone considering a job at an animal shelter, and provide insight into how to make the most of it.
Careers and job roles in animal care
Consider some of the following job roles if you’re interested in working with animals and supporting animal shelters in order to advance your career:
The main responsibilities of a kennel technician are cleaning and disinfecting animal kennels, walking animals, feeding and watering animals, and providing shelter for animals in boarding kennels and shelters. Additionally, veterinarian medication administration and animal health monitoring may be required of kennel technicians. They must also keep records of the daily tasks they carry out in the upkeep and care of kennel facilities.
To enforce local animal laws and ordinances, animal control officers typically work for government animal organizations. They carry out animal law enforcement in support of humane handling and care of animals. To stop animal neglect and abuse issues, control officers may frequently patrol public areas. In order to decrease animal control issues and inform the public about animal care and safety, many animal control officers collaborate with community members.
Primary responsibilities: Kennel technicians and animal caregivers may carry out similar tasks, but animal caregivers in shelters and adoption centers frequently take on extra responsibilities like keeping track of behavioral and physical changes in animals and sharing this information with shelter veterinarians. When animals are admitted to the shelter and up for adoption, animal caregivers can assist the front desk staff.
Veterinary technicians’ main responsibilities include assisting veterinarians with a variety of tasks while working under the direction of a qualified veterinary doctor. They support surgeons during operations, monitor vital signs, and aid veterinarians in diagnosing and treating sick and injured animals. Additionally, veterinary technicians help doctors when they conduct routine check-ups that advance the health and wellbeing of animals.
Veterinary care assistants may carry out duties resembling those of a veterinary technician, but they are frequently in charge of duties that combine routine animal care with veterinary medical care, such as assisting veterinarians and veterinary technicians during examinations, bathing and grooming animals, and carrying out dental cleaning procedures for animals. In addition to a veterinarian, they may also be supervised by a veterinary technician.
Primary responsibilities: In veterinary clinics and animal shelters, veterinary assistants frequently collaborate with vet techs under the direction of a veterinary doctor. These specialists support veterinary technicians and veterinarians by keeping an eye on and tending to the animals during routine and invasive procedures. Additionally, they help technicians keep veterinary exam rooms, animal kennels, and other areas clean. Numerous veterinary assistants also perform common lab procedures, including taking X-rays and gathering fluid samples for analysis.
The primary responsibilities of animal care technicians in animal shelters are to look after and maintain the health of animals in boarding kennels and veterinary offices. These experts frequently interact directly with animals; they might walk dogs, bathe animals, give them food and water, and give them medicine as needed. When adopting out shelter animals, animal technicians may also help with the training and adoption processes.
Primary responsibilities: Assisting shelter veterinarians and veterinary technicians in providing medical care to animals entering the shelter. They also give fostering animals that are getting ready for adoption medical attention. Additionally, medical technicians are in charge of administering veterinary medications, providing triage services to animals entering shelters, conducting lab tests, and occasionally carrying out euthanasia procedures.
Primary responsibilities: Managing all aspects of a volunteer program is the responsibility of volunteer managers and coordinators who work in animal shelters. Potential volunteers may meet with managers to assess their suitability, process volunteer paperwork, and provide a record of volunteer hours. Within nonprofit animal organizations, volunteer coordinators frequently work to place volunteers in animal shelters that require additional assistance.
A veterinary receptionist’s primary responsibilities include many of the administrative tasks that receptionists in the healthcare and medical fields perform. They work in the front office of a vet office or animal shelter, where they set up appointments, send and accept bills, and interact with customers. In an animal shelter setting, they also keep veterinary records, admissions records, and adoption records to assist their employers’ administrative procedures.
Primary responsibilities: An outreach coordinator who works in an animal shelter may undertake a range of tasks to assist with fundraising and promotion initiatives. They frequently collaborate with advertising and marketing specialists to raise awareness of their nonprofit facility and build relationships with donation sources to secure funds for keeping the shelter’s operations running. In order to secure more funding for their organizations, outreach coordinators frequently collaborate with volunteer coordinators and managers. Outreach coordinators could also promote adoption programs at shelters and pet care education in their communities.
Primary responsibilities: Assessing animal temperaments and working with animals that are adoptable are frequently assigned to animal trainers who work in animal shelters. Dogs in animal shelters are primarily trained by trainers to ensure good behavior and obedience prior to adoption. Animal trainers may also help in the assessment of other animals in a shelter to make sure they don’t exhibit aggressive or temperamental traits.
Animal shelter managers are in charge of a number of crucial tasks that support the operations of an animal shelter. Managers, for instance, frequently oversee the staff at shelters, the documentation and intake procedures for taking in stray animals, the adoption procedures, and the general day-to-day operations of a shelter. Shelter managers may also be in charge of overseeing a budget, raising money, and promoting charitable causes.
The main responsibilities of adoption managers and coordinators in animal shelters are to work with the managers of the shelter and incoming guests to place animals in adoption-eligible homes. They facilitate the processing of adoption paperwork, make sure adoption criteria adhere to local and state laws, and frequently set up pre-adoption screenings so prospective pet parents can assess whether the animal they want to adopt can fit into their way of life. To promote adoptions from shelters and the health and welfare of animals, adoption coordinators and managers also assist in educating communities about adoption programs, costs, and procedures.
Veterinarians are qualified medical professionals with a primary focus on the care and treatment of animals. They assess and care for animals in government animal shelters, nonprofit organizations, and private veterinary clinics. To ensure the safety and care of animals, veterinarians perform surgical procedures similarly to doctors and surgeons and offer pre- and post-operative care to pet owners and shelter staff.
What is working at an animal shelter like?
Working in an animal shelter can be a very fulfilling career that gives you the chance to take on challenges that will allow you to develop special skills and an in-depth understanding of animals. In order to guarantee the security and proper care of the animals housed in shelter facilities, professionals who work in animal shelters frequently assume a variety of responsibilities. You might be in charge of a variety of duties that support the functions and effective operation of an animal shelter, depending on the position you’re applying for.
A variety of entry-level, mid-level, and director job roles are available in animal shelters and other facilities that provide care for animals. Candidates must be able to collaborate effectively with others in order to support the mission of their shelter and successful outcomes in order to work at an animal shelter. It’s also crucial to realize that depending on your specific job responsibilities at an animal shelter, you might need to put in extra time to assist other team members with animal care and manage shelter operations.
Tips to find jobs working with animals
You can choose from a wide variety of animal-related careers. You can enter your career in a variety of ways depending on your goals. Think about the following advice if you’re interested in a career working with animals:
Working at an Animal Shelter | My Experience, Pros and cons (my first job)
FAQ
Is working at an animal shelter depressing?
While working with animals on a daily basis may seem enjoyable, certain stressors put veterinarians and animal shelter volunteers at risk for depression, anxiety, and even suicide.
What is the job called when you work at an animal shelter?
In addition to stables, zoological parks, aquariums, and natural aquatic habitats, animal caretakers typically work in boarding kennels, pet shops, animal shelters, and veterinary hospitals and clinics. Caretakers may work outdoors in all weather conditions.
