Thursday, December 24, 2015

Work In An Animal Shelter In North Carolina

Animal shelter staff and volunteers assist those who are looking to adopt homeless animals.


Staff at animal shelters care for homeless animals and help them find owners. Most North Carolina animal shelters are run by county agencies or are affiliates of the Humane Society of the United States. Employees at these shelters come from varied backgrounds and experience, but most share a love of animals. Staff and volunteers must clean cages, walk dogs, socialize animals, administer feedings and medicine, work with the public in answering questions about the animals available for adoption, and in some cases, participate in the euthanasia of animals. Positions at animal shelters range from phone receptionists to shelter directors who oversee all aspects of shelter operation.


Instructions


1. Contact an animal shelter in your county or city. Perform an online search or call the Humane Society of the United States to inquire about the shelters in North Carolina nearest to your location. Research the shelter to determine whether or not it is a no-kill (non-euthanasia) shelter, its policies and its reputation in the animal welfare community. Determine if the shelter is one in which you would like to volunteer or work. Call and ask if any employment opportunities exist, and if so, what the qualifications are for the position.


2. Become a volunteer. Build relationships with shelter staff while you learn the inner workings of the shelter. Gain as much experience as you can, and volunteer for multiple duties. The more you learn, the better qualified you will be when applying for employment. Be friendly toward other volunteers and the staff to gain a pleasant reputation.


3. Take animal service classes at a community college or state university. For example, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College offers a Veterinary Medical Technology program for aspiring veterinary technicians or technicians who assist veterinarians without practicing animal medicine or surgery. Other programs offered at state colleges include animal grooming and veterinary care.


4. Use your existing skills, training and experience to apply for other positions as they become available. Animal shelters need receptionists, filing clerks, animal adoption counselors, marketing directors, humane educators and general helpers. Utilize your experience in accounting, marketing, media relations or education to apply for a support staff position.

Tags: North Carolina, animal shelters, animals Staff, homeless animals, Humane Society