Attendant, Dog Care and Welfare

Position Title

Attendant, Dog Care and Welfare

Location

CNIB Guide Dogs Canine Campus

Reports To

Manager, Canine Care

Scope and Summary of Primary Responsibilities

As an attendant, Dog Care and Welfare, the employee is responsible for providing a high level of care for the dogs and puppies staying at the CNIB Guide Dogs Canine Campus, achieving skills and knowledge checks and maintaining a high standard of cleanliness. The Attendant, Dog Care and Welfare will act as an ambassador for CNIB Guide dogs, promoting good public image for the visitors and volunteers to CNIB's Canine Campus and supports the Association's strategic direction while working at the campus.

Essential Functions

The Attendant, Dog Care and Welfare position entails, but is not limited to the following general responsibilities:

• provide daily care for dogs who are boarding at the campus while on shift
• assist with kennel maintenance. This includes cleaning, disposing of dog feces, scrubbing and drying dog pods
• Complete required theoretical and practical inputs to pass dog care and welfare skills and knowledge checks.
• handling dogs appropriately in all situations following advice from Manager Canine Care, Technical Training Team and Veterinary Health Team
• receive dogs at campus intake and prepare dogs for campus exit
• bathing, grooming, feeding, exercising and enrichment of dogs
• checking dog's health and administering treatments, medications
• monitoring the behaviour of the dogs in their care including monitoring for signs of stress and any behaviour issues that need to be addressed with the dogs' trainer
• maintain records of dogs' behaviour while living in the dog pods, health and any other issues and enter into Salesforce DogTracker
• help handle dogs who are being checked by veterinary team or trainers
• support Canine Enrichment Volunteers on shift
• other duties as assigned

Relationships with Manager, Canine Care

• mentor and provide ongoing support for role
• schedule shifts

Other Attendants, Dog Care and Welfare

• work collaboratively to attend to the day-to-day needs of all dogs and puppies at the Canine Campus

Veterinary Advisor

• work collaboratively to ensure all dogs health needs are met
• arrange vet appointments for local puppies and dogs in training
• advise on hygiene and safety procedures and protocols to protect the health of dogs
• advise and assist with physical and mental health issues of individual dogs
• help with regular health checks on dogs
• assist to maintain a healthy nutrition plan for all dogs at the Canine Campus

Guide Dog Trainers / Guide Dog Mobility Instructors

• communicate regarding the individual needs of dogs in training – health, behavioural, training
• discuss day-to-day routines of each dog in training

Puppy Development Trainers

• discuss boarding needs of puppies
• provide details of new dogs as they enter Canine Campus for training

Volunteers (Puppy Raisers and Boarders)

• discuss care and/or boarding needs at Canine Campus
• arrange for provision of dog food as necessary

Lead, Buddy and Ambassador Dog Trainer

• communicate regarding the individual needs of future Buddy Dogs – health, boarding, behaviour, training
• assess the health and other care needs of individual and groups of dogs to ensure the highest quality of care possible
• act immediately and effectively when facing emergencies involving dog health
• act immediately and effectively when dealing with other serious dog/puppy issues, e.g. lost dog

Qualifications

• knowledge and understanding of dog care needs, canine health and diseases and basic veterinary care
• ability to effectively administer dog health treatments
• knowledge and understanding of small animal husbandry, especially the maintenance of a high standard boarding facility for dogs, e.g. control of infectious diseases, provision of a safe and happy accommodation for all dogs in their care
• knowledge of environmental enrichment programs to maintain good mental health in all dogs in their care
• good dog handling skills, especially with larger breed dogs and groups of dogs
• ability to perform various health and care procedures such as grooming, bathing, basic health checks and nail trimming.
• knowledge of dog nutrition and weight maintenance
• good understanding of dog behaviour
• professional, compassionate and understanding when working with both people (staff, vets, volunteers and the general public) and dogs
• physical stamin