Careers with Animals in Canada
- Employment opportunities are often available at local shelters.dog image by Michal Tudek from Fotolia.com
Like the United States, Canada has many locations for organizations such as the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Humane Society. A desire to improve conditions for homeless and neglected animals is necessary for work in this field. It is likely that many of the animals you are working with will be scared or even aggressive. Remaining calm is key to working in such establishments. - The SPCA is a nonprofit organization "dedicated to protecting and enhancing the quality of life for domestic, farm and wild animals," according to the Animal Jobs website. Divisions of the SPCA in Canada include British Columbia and Ontario.
The organization's provincial office is located in Vancouver and 36 branches exist in British Columbia alone, enabling the SPCA to provide a wide range of services for more than 40,000 homeless, abandoned, abused or injured animals in the area.
Jobs include Animal Attendant/Animal Control Officer, an on-call position that responds to notification about injured or abused animals. Knowledge of area by-laws is also key as the position demands animal control by-law enforcement.
British Columbia SPCA Provincial Office
1245 East 7th Ave.
Vancouver, BC V5T 1R1
800-665-1868
www.spca.bc.ca - The Ottawa Humane Society is a nonprofit organization that provides shelter and medical care to "thousands of sick, injured and homeless animals" since 1888. Besides jobs as animal attendants and control officers, there are also numerous volunteer opportunities.
Whether you choose to work or volunteer in the animal shelter or adoption center, or work for one of the Society's fundraising event,s there are many ways you can help animals in this region of the country. Should no jobs be available at the time you apply, try volunteering as many volunteer positions can lead to paying jobs.
Ottawa Humane Society
101 Champagne Ave.
Ottawa, ON K1S 4P3
613-725-3166
www.ottawahumane.ca - The Seeing Eye in Toronto, Canada, is the oldest guide dog school in the world and employs about 190 people at a time. Jobs include kennel workers, clerical staff, database specialists and veterinary technicians. Full-time employees include seeing eye dog instructors who have college degrees from assorted fields of study and "have successfully completed three years of specialized on-the-job training," according to the Seeing Eye website.
As this job is physically demanding and requires a lot of work outdoors, it is preferred that applicants be physically fit.
The Seeing Eye Organization
C/o TH1017
P.O. Box 4283, Station A
Toronto, Ontario M5W 5W6
(973) 539-4425
www.seeingeye.org
