Because the animals often spend a lengthy period of time at the shelter, workers must feed, play with, train, and care for the animals as if they were their own. As with veterinary assistant jobs, some special trained workers give vaccinations to the animals and carry out euthanasia when necessary. Transportation to a vet office may be necessary for wounds, spaying, and neutering. The staff at a shelter should enjoy spending their days with four legged friends.
Another must for animal shelter staff is the ability to withstand different movements and noises. Most shelters will house at least 20 or more animals that need a home. The animals are often noisy and loud. They need constant tending. Workers continuously walk the grounds checking animals and showing potential families the selection. They are always bending over, crawling, and lifting to care for pets, clean cages, and feed animals.
In many cases, there are no degree requirements for workers at animal shelters. However, some employers prefer having at least one person on staff with a degree in animal science. It is also a plus for staff members to have knowledge of caring for different types of breeds of dogs and cats. Other staff members hired for specialty areas of care may need a training certificate. These include some groomers and trainers. Other workers can receive training and further knowledge of their job through special workshops hosted by the National Animal Control Association, Humane Society, and American Humane Association.
Staff members must learn how to cope with animal cruelty, how to report cruelty of animals, and how to deal with the public when it comes to matters such as euthanasia. These topics can be very emotional and even physically hard to face. Therefore, animal shelter workers must love animals but also be able to remain in control when dealing with mistreated pets and the possibility of euthanizing them.
Unlike veterinary jobs, working in an animal shelter is not a high paying salary job. Many that work for animal shelters actually work on a volunteer basis. Those with veterinary assistant jobs often help out at animal shelters. Most shelters need to ask for donations of food and money to keep the shelter running smoothly and give veterinary care to the pets. Therefore, it is important that these staff members enjoy their work and feel passionate about helping animals. Those that work in an animal shelter are greatly rewarded by the licks and tail wags that they receive from saving the life of an animal.
