Specifically, I’m trying to get a job at an animal shelter in St. Louis. I’m moving, so I figure now is a good time to get away from being an admin/secretary, which I hate. Well, not hate, but it’s nowhere near what I want to be doing, and I’d rather take a pay cut to do something I’d be happier with.
Unfortunately, I doubt I’m going to get the job b/c while I’ve had animals of various kinds my whole life, I’ve never “worked” with them in the professional sense. The job is as an adoption counselor, and the description said that experience working with animals is preferred.
For anyone in this type of work, how can I get into this type of work? I do have some experience working for non-profit and some volunteer work, but none with animals. What is it like working full time at a shelter, or a rescue league? What kind of jobs will be open to me in the future? Public Relations, I’d guess, promoting education about spaying/neutering and other healthcare issues, etc.
I guess I just want to know what I’m getting myself into, and how I can get myself into it.
Well, shelters have admin people too, and so do vet clinics. I know you said that you wanted to get out of that line of work, but it might be a good way to slide yourself into having experience working with the animals.
Lots of shelters need volunteers. Call around and help out doing whatever they need doing.
Large animal vets will often let you do a “ride along” where you just accompany them on their rounds without helping directly all that much. Some large animal vets treat small animals like dogs and cats on their farm rounds, but either way, learning how to approach and restrain injured animals is a good thing to learn. The best part is picking the vet’s brain while you drive around. Call around and ask if you can ride along, explaining why you want to get this experience.
What’s it like working with animals? The worst part about it is the people. You’re going to encounter a lot of people who have (or you suspect have) abused, abandoned, or neglected their animals. This can be upsetting and frustrating. The best part is doing a lot of good, which is rewarding. I think it is a job that invites burnout, kind of like working for Child Protective Services. People just give it everything they have until there’s nothing left.
Animal shelters often have a lot of turnover. Find out early whether you’ll be expected to perform euthanasia, and decide early whether that’s something you’re willing to do. If you are, then if you’ve got a decent work record, you stand a decent chance of getting the job. You may want to impress them, you could spend awhile browsing Animal Sheltering Online’s resource library. Specifically, this subsection on animal care and handling might be useful.
I got some training in dealing with animals (and children) when I volunteered at my local environment protection agency. I never dealt with animals previous to this experience, but I loved it once I began. I wasn’t really given any advice with handling the animals prior to when I was expected to, but I just dove right in. Mind you, these were small animals–fish, gerbils, turtles,hamsters, lizards, and a lone chicken. I was careful in handling and I supplemented my knowledge by reading books provided with the agency. I got along pretty well with the critters, and the only time I had a problem was when I was asked to bathe the chicken. Whaaaaa? I couldn’t even get the chicken out of her cage so I recruited an elementary school intern to do the task. I left to do something else, but I didn’t hear anything about a 10 year old being pecked
to death.
Ok, so I really don’t have any advice about getting a job working with animals, other than volunteering first. What I do advise is asking for help if you don’t know how do handle an animal
or feel uncomfortable doing something you are asked.
As someone who hires people to work at a vet clinic, I do get lots of applicants/ new hires with little experience. One thing I would not do is over-emphasize that you “love animals”. We all love animals, thats why we do this- but EVERY SINGLE PERSON puts that on their application and it really doesn’t mean much to me except that the applicant probably hasn’t ever been pooped on or bit by one of the animals they love ;). It doesn’t turn me off of someone who otherwise has a good application, but I would never hire a person who only offered that as a reason I should hire them. When you apply, emphasis practical work experience- the physical jobs (waitressing, janitor service, anything that requires getting out from behind a desk) are important. Working with animals involves more cleaning than cuddling, I like to see that a person has had experience doing those types of tasks. I also look at work history- I don’t hire people with a string of 2-3 month long jobs. If you are applying to work with the public (adoption counselor), emphasize your customer service skills, and be prepared to answer questions about working through difficult situations or calming down angry/emotional folks. In a vet clinic or shelter , you are often dealing with an emotionally charged situation- and people will be difficult at times. I’d much rather see someone who applies for the front office say that they enjoy working with people than that they “love animals”. Animals are much easier to like- people make you want to pull your hair out sometimes :).
If you are just started out, don’t be surprised if you are doing alot of kennel work initially. Its the best place for you to learn about general animal care and especially handling a multitude of animals. It is also very hard, physical and dirty work. This is very important stuff for you to learn- it needs to become second nature to you (the handling part). If you show initiative, hard work and ability- you will get moved out of there to better (although some folks really like kennel work, its a thankless job in many ways) things. I can work with a variety of folks and teach them to do kennel work, but my techs and receptionists are practically irreplaceable. I’ve worked at several hospitals and this was true at each one- any person who worked hard and was bright would be trained to do higher skills. You can’t go wrong if you work hard, listen well, and ASK if you don’t know what to do.
Also, at least in my area- all of the shelters seem like horrid places to work. The local SPCA is better but the main city/county shelters are so over crowded and badly managed that I hear really bad stuff going on at them. Stuff I know I couldn’t stomach being around for long, and judging from the turnover- very few people can. There will be very difficult situations that you will witness and possibly be involved in. You may be asked to help euthanize healthy pets, or if you work the intake desk- you may be asked to be polite to folks that you would rather lynch for their treatment of their animals. If you can, focus on the areas with positive results (like adoption) if you want to stay happily in the business for many years. Or consider vet work instead, we get happy endings all the time and most people showing up to our doors care about the pets they brought.
One last thing… if you are going to be an adoption counselor- read up on dog & cat breeds and which are most suitable for certain situations. I see both adoption counselors and pet store employees make really horrible suggestions all the time. (For example- never, ever tell somone its easier to get two puppies at once or that chow/heeler mix will make a great family pet!)
Thanks for the advice! Unfortunately, I haven’t heard back from the SPCA shelter I sent my resume to last week (that was the adoption counselor position). Should I call? They also had an admin. position available.
While I DO want to get out of admin, I would rather do it there than somewhere where I’m just making rich people richer and not being any happier for it. I have worked for non-profit, and done physical work as well (both restaurant and bartending), but non of that is on my resume, mostly because I have “better” jobs to put on it now, that I have been doing for longer. I don’t want my resume to be too long, but I don’t want it to look like I have huge periods of unemployment, either (because I don’t).
I think I will also look around at veterinary offices in the area (St. Louis, if anyone is in the vicinity). Perhaps I can start in reception and work my way up / get some more education?
Have you considered going back to school to get licensed as a Vet Tech? I’m not sure of the law in Missouri, not every state requires Techs to be licensed. If it is not required, you can work your way up to that position in a Vet’s office. Once you have experience or a license employment opportunities are pretty numerous.
Veterinary Technician is a hands-on job doing stuff like taking blood, prepping for surgery, pre-and post-op animal care, restraining animals for the vet, all kinds of things. The “dirty work,” if you will.
I have thought about it, but I’d really like to get my hands in there, even for a couple of months, before deciding to go back to school. I have a BA, but I’d really like to further my education. My problem is that I really want to try a few things (mostly the animal thing, really) before I put a lot of time and money into more school.
Thanks a lot for the link! I’ve been wasting time at my current job looking for vets in my new area, and that is something to think about in the next few years. I’m still in Boston, so it’s hard to really pursue any leads, though. I guess I’ll have to keep plugging away until I’m actually there, which isn’t for another two weeks.
I’m also understandably nervous about going without a job for an undetermined amount of time.
