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Up
to 10,000 dogs and 3,500 cats stay in
Battersea in a year and staff working here
cannot fail to gain a wealth of experience
with all types of dogs and cats. The work
can be demanding, is always busy, at times
distressing, but it is also extremely
worthwhile. It goes without saying that
anyone wishing to work in this field must
have a genuine care and love for
animals. Kennel
staff Rehomers Veterinary
staff Ambulance
drivers Home
visitors Administrative
staff Training
for above posts Battersea
at Old Windsor and Battersea at Brands
Hatch. We
have two small teams of around 20 staff
who run our two country sites, which are
miniature versions of our main site in
Battersea. Volunteers Dog
Walking: involves taking dogs (one
at a time) into Battersea Park. Dogs are
walked on a rotational basis and can be
anything from a German Shepherd to a Jack
Russell! Walkers must therefore be
experienced in handling dogs of all
sizes. Dog
Socialising: involves spending time
in a quiet area of the Home with dogs that
are, for vet reasons, not able to go to
the park. Although unwell, these dogs can
be very boisterous, so experience of
handling dogs of all sizes again is a
must. Cat
Socialising: involves spending time
with nervous cats, helping to build their
confidence so that they can go on to be
rehomed. These cats are often very
stressed so experience of handling nervous
cats would be an advantage.
There is a large team of Kennel Hands at
The Home who spend the entire day looking
after the welfare of up to 750 dogs and
100 cats - every day.
Duties
Cleaning kennels out every morning and
whenever required during the day. Feeding
the dogs and cats, twice a day. Making
sure they have enough water at all times,
and clean blankets to lie on. Bathing
dogs.
In addition the Kennel Hands build up a
rapport with the animals they work with,
and are able to see if a dog or cat is
unwell, or not its normal self, and can
alert the Veterinary staff, or give the
dog or cat the extra special attention it
requires.
Qualifications
No specific qualifications are required
for Kennel Hands and training is given on
the job. Applicants must be fit and
healthy as the work is physically
demanding. They must have a genuine care
for dogs and cats and not be afraid to
'muck in' and be part of a team.
Battersea Dogs Home rehomes up to 6000
dogs and 3000 cats each year. At all times
we want to ensure that when a new home is
found for a dog or cat, it is for life.
For this reason we have a team of
Rehomers, who are involved in vetting the
new owners, and making sure the right
matches are made.
Duties
Full Kennel clean out with the Kennel
Hands in the morning
Interviewing the public
Recommending Home-visits
Matching dog/cat with owner and
vice-versa
Advising new owners on dog behavioural
issues
Advising new owners on how to settle dogs
into new homes
Taking dogs & cats into The Home from
the public
Behavioural assessment of dogs and
cats
Experienced Rehomers will also be called
upon to give advice to new owners
experiencing problems with their new
pets.
Qualifications
Applicants for a Rehomer position must
have at least 2 years prior experience
working in kennels, whether in Battersea
or elsewhere. Additional qualifications
such as NVQ Level II and any Dog
Behavioural qualifications would be an
advantage. Applicants must be mature with
an ability to cope under pressure and be
able to make swift decisions. Prior
experience of dealing with the public is
also essential. They must also be
physically fit.
Battersea Dogs Home has a veterinary
department consisting of one full time
veterinary surgeon, 6 qualified nurses and
6 trainee nurses. Their duties involve all
areas of veterinary nursing treatment,
including assisting the surgeon with
operations, administering treatments for
ill dogs, carrying out full health checks
as dogs come into The Home, giving
vaccinations and advising the public on
the health of their new dog.
Qualifications
To be accepted as a trainee veterinary
nurse, a minimum of 4 O' levels or GCSE's
is required which must include English and
one science subject. Previous experience
of working in kennels or with a veterinary
surgery is useful but not essential.
The Dogs Home employs a team of Ambulance
Drivers who collect stray dogs from police
stations all over the London Metropolitan
Area on a daily basis. Drivers often work
on their own, driving through heavy
traffic.
A full clean driving licence is required
and a minimum of two years driving
experience. It is also essential to have
dog handling experience, and knowledge of
how to deal with aggressive and dangerous
dogs. Ambulance drivers must be mature and
responsible.
The Dogs Home employs a team of part-time
Home Visitors. Most Home Visitors also
have their own full time job. They are
responsible for carrying out home checks
on potential owners, or visiting homes of
new owners to see that the dog or cat has
settled in without any serious
problems.
Home Visitors work on their own and need
to be experienced with dogs, especially
rescue dogs, and be able to deal with the
public, giving sound advice on dog
ownership.
Battersea Dogs Home has a department of
administrative staff including
receptionists, secretaries and customer
liaison staff. Previous administrative
experience is preferred in these posts,
including an ability to deal with the
public on all levels.
The Dogs Home provides in depth training
for all the above posts.
If you are interested in working at
Battersea Dogs Home, Battersea at Brands
Hatch or Battersea at Old Windsor email
your details to: [email protected]
There are 3 areas in which volunteers are
able to help with the dogs and
cats.
Commitment required - one full day/week
(Monday - Friday only)
Commitment required - half a day/week
(Daily)
Commitment required - half a day/week
(Daily)
If you are interested in becoming a
volunteer please e-mail [email protected]