Stages of the Program

Stage 1: Animal Enrichment (10 hours)

1. Assist in dog walking and other physical enrichment
2. Assist in animal socialization (dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens) via cuddling and other social enrichment
3. Learn dog and cat body language and communication styles
4. Assist in teaching basic dog manners

In order to proceed to the next section of the program, the student must pass a quiz on the tasks and demonstrate the ability to safely approach and remove dogs from kennels, apply collars and/or harnesses correctly, and pick up and hold cats and kittens.

Stage 2: Assisting the Health Care Technicians in Receiving (15 hours)

1. Assist in the processing of animals including administering de-worming medication, flea treatment, and vaccinations
2. Photograph animals as they enter and load images onto the Center website
3. Assist in delivering medication

In order to proceed to the next section, the student must pass a quiz on the information learned in this portion of the internship.

Stage 3: Animal Husbandry (10 hours)

1. Feeding and watering cats/dogs/pocket pets
2. Cleaning and sterilizing feeding bowls and toys
3. Cleaning kennels or cages for cats/dogs/pocket pets
4. Laundry
5. Preparation for the next day such as stocking litter boxes or food

In order to proceed to the next section of the program, the student must pass a quiz on the tasks. Students must also demonstrate the ability to identify signals of aggression in dogs and cats.

Stage 4: Assisting the Veterinary Staff (15 hours)

MORNING AVAILABILITY REQUIRED- 9:00am-12:00pm

1. Clean instruments and wrap surgical packs
2. Check animal health status
3. Identify animals in need of medical attention
4. Assist with patient preparation for surgery
5. Assist with restrain of animals for physical examinations

To pass the final section of the program, the student will receive literature about common shelter illnesses and diseases and be quizzed on the information.

Physical Requirements:
Several sections of the program can be physically demanding such as husbandry, dog walking, restraint in receiving, etc. Any student with any chronic injuries should consult their doctor prior to beginning the program. Any student that has any allergies to dogs, cats, rabbits, etc. should consult their doctor prior to beginning the program.