Conditions (Agreements)
- You could work in any one of a number of different types of kennel or cattery.
- Some are boarding kennels where owners leave pets to go on holiday; others are where cats or dogs are bred, animals are kept in quarantine, or where abandoned animals are kept. There are also charity kennels such as those run by Guide Dogs (working name for Guide Dogs for the Blind Association).
- The working conditions can be dirty, smelly and noisy.
- Animals can sometimes bite or claw.
- The working hours can be long and unsocial, including weekends, evenings and sometimes shift work.
- In some cases you might have to live-in.
- Boarding kennels are busier at holiday times.
- It can be upsetting when animals are ill or injured, have been badly treated or are unwanted.
You may also need to be,
- confidence in handling animals
- the ability to take initiative or work in a team
- good observational skills to notice changes in animals' behaviour
- the ability to cope with the physical demands of the job – walking dogs and cleaning out kennels
- good communication skills with a range of people