Pooch Pals
Knowledge/Skill Qualifications:
- Experience with dogs (have at least lived with one)
Primary Responsibilities:
- Undertake training, handling, environmental enrichment activities and behaviour modification programs as directed by Behaviour Training Team. These activities include:
- Teaching dogs basic manners such as to sit for pats, attention, loose lead walking, and coming when called;
- To enjoy being handled, patted, and massaged;
- To accept being groomed;
- To learn to be relaxed and calm around people
- To click for calm around the kennels;
- Participate in Shelter dog classes when scheduled on your rostered day;
- Participate in continuing education programs run by the Behaviour Training Team; and
- Filling Kongs, treat balls, and other food puzzles.
An initial training session of 2 hours is required before the commencement of any voluntary duties.
Dirtiness factor (on a scale of 1-10, 1 being a clean job and 10 being a dirty, horribly messy job):
- 8 - You will be required to pick up dog droppings and will come across droppings in your other related cleaning duties.
Working Environment
- Possible exposure to infectious organisms, animal waste, allergens, chemical materials requiring OH&S Material Safety Data Sheets and potential hostile persons and / or vicious animals;
- It is recommended that all volunteers are up to date with their tetanus vaccination status before commencing their voluntary positions.
Potential volunteers please note:
- The RSPCA is an animal welfare organisation and not an animal activist organisation;
- RSPCA ACT has comprehensive policies and procedures in place to govern how we make decisions regarding the euthanasia of animals which present at our shelter. A committee involving many of our senior staff review the specifics and determining factors on a case by case basis. We consider that euthanasia is a final resort and should only be performed when absolutely necessary.
- All applicants for employment, paid or unpaid, may be subject to a police check and medical examination. Due to the requirements of our insurance policy, volunteers at RSPCA ACT must be aged between 16 and 70 years of age. RSPCA ACT reserves the right to refuse paid or unpaid employment to those who do not meet our age, security, or Occupational Health & Safety requirements.
