Position Overview
An animal care attendant is hired by animal care facilities such as animal shelters, hospitals, and kennels.
The main work of a person working at this position is to make sure that the needs of all assigned animals are handled profoundly while looking out for their interests.
This work is fun only for people who have an inherent love and respect for animals. If you are not an animal lover, this job is not for you.
Position Requirements
A high school diploma or a GED equivalent is sufficient to work as an animal care attendant. If you have prior experience of working in an animal care facility, even if it was in a volunteer capacity, you will be considered a great person to hire. Working at this position means that you will have to be on your feet most of the day, which requires physical skill.
If you are physically active, you will be able to handle the many tasks associated with this work, including restraining and controlling animals.
A gentle and patient nature, compassion and love for animals, and a great ability to manage crises situations is an absolute must if this is the work that you want to do. Moreover, you will need to get your head around doing some unpleasant tasks, such as cleaning animal housing areas, so if you are finicky in that sense, you might not like the job too much!
But if you don’t mind to get your hands dirty, you may look through the following list of job duties, particular to the position of an animal care attendant:
Animal Care Attendant Duties & Responsibilities
• Create and maintain records of all animals housed in the facility, and ensure that records are appropriately updated.
• Examine newly registered animals to determine their conditions, and create documentation accordingly.
• Make housing arrangements for all animals, according to their specific needs and comfort.
• Observe assigned animals’ appearance and activity to determine general physical condition.
• Prepare food for all assigned animals, according to their nutritional needs, and monitor their food intake.
• Take charge and handle animals to restrain them for procedures such as bathing, grooming, and medicine administration.
• Ascertain that all assigned animals remain clean and fresh at all times, and look after their exercise routines.
• Receive animals to be admitted to the facility, and handle proper identification procedures.
• Release animals to their owners, by following established protocols.
• Monitor animals for signs of diseases or injuries, and provide immediate medical assistance.