16 Animal Shelter Worker Skills for Your Career and Resume

Animal shelter workers have the important job of taking care of animals that have been abandoned, abused, or lost. They provide food, shelter, and medical care to these animals, and work to find them new homes. Animal shelter workers need to have a variety of skills to be successful in their jobs. If you’re interested in working with animals, learning about the necessary skills for this job may help you decide if it’s the right career for you.

Flexibility

Flexibility is the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Animal shelter workers often need flexibility because their work environment can change quickly. For example, if a stray animal comes in one day and an owner claims it later that same day, the animal shelter worker may need to alter their schedule to accommodate both animals.

Flexibility also helps animal shelter workers be more productive by allowing them to adjust their methods when needed. For example, if they find that certain training techniques aren’t working for some of the animals, they may try different approaches to see if those are more effective.

Inventory Management

Animal shelters often have a large supply of pet food, medicine and other supplies. Animal shelter workers need to manage these resources effectively so they can provide the right items for each animal’s needs. They also use inventory management skills when ordering new supplies or restocking existing ones. This ensures the shelter has enough of everything it needs to care for its animals.

Communication

Communication is the ability to convey information clearly. Animal shelter workers often communicate with pet owners, volunteers and other staff members. They also need to be able to explain animal care procedures and policies to clients. Strong communication skills can help you work well with others and ensure that everyone understands what’s expected of them.

Record Keeping

Animal shelter workers should be able to keep accurate records of the animals they care for. This includes information about their health, behavior and any other details that may help staff members when adopting out an animal or making treatment decisions. Animal shelter workers also need to record incoming donations so they can properly account for all of the supplies they have on hand.

Customer Service

Customer service skills are important for animal shelter workers to have because they help you interact with people who come into the shelter. You may need to answer questions about animals, explain adoption procedures and take payments from customers. Customer service skills can also help you be a friendly and welcoming member of your staff.

Cleaning & Maintenance

Animal shelter workers must be able to clean and maintain the facility where animals are kept. This includes cleaning kennels, feeding animals and maintaining records of incoming and outgoing pets. Animal shelter workers also perform maintenance tasks such as repairing broken equipment or fixing leaks in the water system.

Marketing

Marketing skills are important for animal shelter workers because they can help you promote the animals in your care and encourage people to adopt them. You may also use marketing skills when creating advertisements, designing fliers or posting on social media. For example, if you want to increase adoption rates, you might create a discount that encourages people to visit the shelter more often.

Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share another person’s feelings. Animal shelter workers often use empathy when interacting with animals, as they may feel sad or happy about an animal’s situation. Empathy can also help them connect with people who have lost pets or are considering adopting a pet.

Adoptions

Adoption is the process by which an animal shelter worker may help a pet owner find a new home for their pet. This can include providing information about local adoption agencies, helping to promote pets and finding homes for animals that are no longer wanted. Animal shelter workers with strong adoption skills can be instrumental in reducing the number of homeless pets in their community.

Community Outreach

Community outreach is the process by which an organization or business reaches out to their local community. Animal shelter workers often perform community outreach as a way of educating people about pet care and animal welfare. This can include hosting educational workshops, providing free veterinary services and offering resources for pet owners who need them.

Physical Stamina

Animal shelter workers may need to work long shifts and perform physically demanding tasks. For example, animal shelter workers often clean cages, feed animals and maintain the shelter’s grounds. They also may have to restrain or capture stray animals that enter the shelter. Animal shelter workers should be able to lift heavy objects and remain active for several hours at a time.

Fundraising

Animal shelter workers often need to raise money for the animals they take in. This can include raising funds for medical treatment, food and supplies or building materials for new animal housing. Animal shelter workers may also be responsible for organizing fundraising events like bake sales, car washes and raffles.

Animal Care

Animal care skills are necessary for animal shelter workers to have, as they may be responsible for feeding and cleaning the animals’ living spaces. Animal care also includes knowing how to handle different types of animals, including those that might bite or scratch. It’s important to know how to calm an animal down if it seems anxious or scared.

Attention to Detail

Attention to detail is a skill that can help animal shelter workers ensure they meet the needs of each animal in their care. This may include knowing which animals are compatible with one another, ensuring all necessary medical treatments have been administered and keeping track of pet records. Attention to detail can also be helpful when caring for individual pets as it ensures employees know how to handle any situation an animal might present.

Shelter Operations

Shelters often have strict regulations regarding the care of animals, and animal shelter workers must be knowledgeable about these rules. Animal shelter workers also need to know how to operate the equipment used in shelters, such as cages, kennels and other types of housing for animals. Shelter operations include record-keeping, cleaning duties and maintaining a safe environment for both staff members and animals.

Patience

Animal shelter workers must be patient with the animals they care for. Animals may have different personalities and needs, so it’s important to understand how each animal responds to certain situations. For example, some animals may need time to adjust to their new surroundings while others may need help learning basic commands. Animal shelter workers should also be patient when working with potential adopters as this can help ensure that the right pet goes to the right home.

How Can I Learn These Animal Shelter Worker Skills?

There are a few ways that you can learn the necessary skills to work in an animal shelter. Many community colleges offer certificate programs in animal care and shelter management. These programs will teach you the basics of animal care, shelter operations, and customer service. You can also volunteer at your local animal shelter to get a feel for the work that is done there and to learn some of the necessary skills. Finally, there are many online resources that can teach you the basics of animal care and shelter management.