Internship/Seasonal Employment Opportunities 2018 Goals: The goals of the Internship/Seasonal Employment program at DuPage County Animal Care & Control are threefold. The first is to provide an experiential learning opportunity for college students in animal related degree programs to apply knowledge, concepts, and skills gained during their education in real world scenarios. The program will provide an immersive experience that will provide interns/seasonal employees the opportunity to work in all aspects of animal care and shelter function. The second goal of the program is to, through the training opportunities and hands-on experience, provide support for shelter staff and develop efficient and compassionate shelter workers; thus enhancing the quality of life of DCACC s shelter animals and increasing positive outcomes. The final goal of the program program is to create, through a positive and enriching educational experience, a positive exposure to animal sheltering. Benefits: The shelter will benefit directly from the extra trained hands available during peak busy periods (June October) when shelter intakes and community outreach activities are at their highest. The summer season is particularly busy at the shelter, animal populations in the shelter are high during the spring/summer seasons, foster recruitment and adoptions pick up due to the arrival of kittens, summer camps are run through June and July, and the shelter participates in small off-site and large hosted events such as Clear the Shelters. Interns/seasonal employees are essential to maintaining quality of animal care when the population increases and helping DCACC ensure a high level of customer service and safety during summer camps, adoption interactions and adoption events. Students and seasonal workers will benefit by gaining valuable experience in all aspects of animal sheltering from administrative, to community outreach, to animal care. The experience gained at DCACC will serve as a beneficial tool in preparing college students, or anyone considering a career with animals, for real life work in an animal field. Internships can improve student understanding of career choices and improve chances of landing a job after graduation or moving forward into a graduate program. While not the primary focus for each role, interns and seasonal employees will also be exposed to facets of shelter medicine and develop a working relationship with DCACC s Administrator Veterinarian and Veterinary Technician during the season. Timeline: January Begin accepting Intern/Seasonal Employment applications March Intern/Seasonal Employee interviews begin April Final Intern/Seasonal Employee selections made May 21 st Intern/Seasonal Employee start date June 11 th First full week of summer camp Summary of Available Positions: Animal Care Intern/Seasonal Employee (4 Internships / 1 Seasonal Position Available) page 2 Humane Education & Marketing Internship (1 Internship Available) page 4 Veterinary Technician Seasonal Employment (1 Position Available) page 6 1 P a g e
Animal Care Intern/Seasonal Employee (4 Internships / 1 Seasonal Position Available) DuPage County Animal Care & Control is accepting applications for Animal Care Interns/Seasonal Employee to assist the animal caretaking and veterinary staff. Individuals will have the opportunity to participate in all aspects of animal care, training, and enrichment alongside experienced staff in an open-admission animal control facility. The Animal Care Internship/Seasonal Employment program is the perfect opportunity for individuals to gain experience in: shelter intake and adoption procedures, animal care, veterinary medicine, animal behavior and training, and so much more! Participants will gain valuable skills relevant to future careers in veterinary medicine, animal behavior, animal training, and animal husbandry for a variety of species of domestic animal. This opportunity is ideal for someone who has a passion for animal welfare and wants to take an active role in improving the lives of homeless pets. Commitment: Candidates must be able to commit to a 37.5 hour work week for a minimum of 11 weeks beginning on May 21, 2018, to include weekends and holidays as scheduled. Preferred Candidates Will Meet the Following Criteria: o Minimum of 18 years of age o Interns must be a full time student enrolled at an accredited college or university. Nonstudents may apply as a Seasonal Employee. o Previous animal handling experience required o Previous experience in a shelter or veterinary setting preferred but not required o Passion for animal welfare o Strong animal behavior observation skills o Ability to complete detailed tasks as assigned and within required timeframe o Ability bend, lift, walk and stand for long periods of time o Reliability and dependability o Excellent communication skills Primary Responsibilities: o Clean cages, feed and exercise all animals housed in the shelter o Wash dishes, litter pans, and small animal cages o Sort and store donations o Observe, record, and discuss animal behavior, and animal health o Participate in behavioral assessments and participate in group training and informationsharing with Veterinary Behaviorist Consultant Dr. Sarah Bennett, Certified Dog Trainer and Behavior Consultant Allie Bender, etc. o Assist with shelter training and enrichment programs o Counsel potential adopters and help with the pet selection and adoption process o Facilitate animal intakes and reclaims o On a limited basis: support the veterinarian and veterinary technician in surgery prep, health checks, vaccinations, and microchipping Secondary Responsibilities: o Intermediate photography and videography of shelter animals o Documenting adoption and rescue stories o Cropping and sizing images for adoption websites o Writing bios for animals on adoption sites o Working with staff and volunteers to create and post social media content o Data entry and filing o Answering phones 2 P a g e
o Process adoption applications and assist with customer service and other miscellaneous volunteer projects as needed Requirements: o Interview with Humane Educator, Lead Animal Caretaker, & Intake/Adoption and Client Services Coordinator. o Complete Animal Care & Control Volunteer Orientation and Animal Handling Training o Attend New Hire Orientation through DuPage County Supervision: Directly supervised by the Lead Animal Caretaker Compensation: Interns/Seasonal Employees will earn $10 an hour. Housing will not be provided. What Participants Will Take Away: o The history, services, and basic operations of DuPage County Animal Care & Control o Opportunity to learn from and interact with a wide variety of shelter animals with a wide range of medical and behavioral needs o Gain professional hands-on animal care experience at an open admission county animal shelter o Receive a basic education in animal handling, animal behavior, animal body language, animal training, animal sheltering and shelter medicine from staff and leading experts o Gain a basic understanding of open admission animal shelter operations, volunteer management, herd health management, animal control, and the laws that govern each o Work with like-minded animal-loving professionals 3 P a g e
Humane Education & Marketing Internship (1 Internship Available) DuPage County Animal Care & Control is accepting applications for a Humane Education Intern to assist experienced education staff in engaging and educating youth and building a community of caring and knowledgeable individuals. The Humane Education Internship is an opportunity for college students looking for experience in: education, program development, project evaluation, communication, and so much more! Interns will have the opportunity to develop and implement their own animal education program during summer camp. This is an ideal position for the individual who is passionate about education, animal welfare, and would like to make a difference in the community. Commitment: Interns must be able to commit to a 37.5 hour work week for a minimum of 11 weeks beginning on May 21, 2018. May include some weekends and holidays. Preferred Candidates Will Meet the Following Criteria: o Minimum of 18 years of age o Interns must be a full time student enrolled at an accredited college or university. o Previous animal handling experience preferred. Humane Education Interns will be asked to handle shelter animals and ensure safe interactions with children. o Passion for animal welfare o Ability to complete detailed tasks as assigned and with required timeframe o Interest in Humane Education o Enthusiasm for working with kids 4-15 years of age o Sensitivity to different learning styles o Commitment to camp dates must be available all weeks of camp o Excellent communication skills and attention to detail o Strong computer skills o Ability to bend, lift and work in all types of weather conditions Responsibilities: o Set up/tear down materials for camp each day o Provide general supervision for camp participants o Create programs that promote responsible care for animals, respect for animals, and safety around animals. Create materials to serve as teaching aids and distribute education and outreach materials to further the goals of DuPage County Animal Care & Control. o Research, write, and evaluate humane education programs to engage children and foster respect of animals. o Participate in hands-on animal handling and supervising interactions between shelter animals and camp participants. o Assist with guided tours of the shelter with the possibility of acting as an independent tour guide o Participate in community activities to raise awareness of DuPage County Animal Care & Control and services offered. o Assist in coordinating and staffing special events that pertain to community education and awareness. o Represent DuPage County Animal Care & Control at public speaking engagements for the community. o Handle student and teacher requests for information regarding animal behavior and health. o Research and/or order supplies for humane education activities when needed. o Intermediate photography and videography of shelter animals 4 P a g e
o Documenting adoption/rescue and humane education stories o Cropping and sizing images for adoption websites o Writing bios for animals on adoption sites o Working with staff and volunteers to create and post social media content o Data entry and filing o Answering phones o Process adoption applications and assist with customer service and other miscellaneous volunteer projects as needed Requirements: o Interview with Humane Educator, Lead Animal Caretaker, & Intake/Adoption and Client Services Coordinator. o Complete Animal Care & Control Volunteer Orientation and Animal Handling Training o Attend New Hire Orientation through DuPage County o If available, attend basic First Aid (for humans) training Supervision: o Directly supervised by the staff Humane Educator (primary) and Lead Animal Caretaker (secondary) Compensation: Interns will earn $10 an hour. Housing will not be provided. What The Intern Will Take Away: o The history, services, and basic operations of DuPage County Animal Care & Control o Gain a basic understanding of open admission animal shelter operations, animal control, and the laws that govern each o Gain professional skills in program development, evaluation and oversight that can be applied to future education and employment, how to engage youth using technology, media, and group activities o Training in animal care, animal handling, animal body language, online marketing, copywriting and event planning o Exposure to emergency preparedness, emergency response, and first aid for beginners 5 P a g e
Veterinary Technician Seasonal Employment* (1 Seasonal Position Available) DuPage County Animal Care & Control is accepting applications for a seasonal, part-time Veterinary Technician to assist with providing medical care for animals in the shelter and veterinary services to our rescue partners and the public via the newly launched specialty veterinary vehicle program. The seasonal Veterinary Technician position is an opportunity for professionals looking for experience in: shelter medicine, mobile veterinary services, high volume spay/neuter, TNVR programs, working with rescue groups, community veterinary outreach, animal handling, and so much more! This is an ideal position for the individual who is passionate about veterinary medicine, animal welfare, and making a difference in the community. Commitment: Candidates for Veterinary Technician Internship must be able to commit 37.5 hours per week for a minimum of 13 weeks from approx. June 1, 2018 August 30, 2018. May include some weekends. Preferred Candidates Will Meet the Following Criteria: o Minimum of 18 years of age o Previous experience as a Veterinary Technician or performing Vet Tech duties in a shelter, high volume spay/neuter clinic or veterinary clinic setting preferred o Interest in Veterinary Medicine and Shelter Medicine o Passion for animal welfare o Basic knowledge of animal behavior and body language o Strong animal handling and behavior observation skills o Excellent record-keeping skills o Self-starter who is able to multi-task, complete detailed tasks as assigned and within required timeframe o Reliability, dependability and professionalism o Excellent communication skills and attention to detail o Strong computer skills o Ability to bend, reach, lift up to 50 lbs. and stand for long periods of time o Strong interpersonal skills; able to work and communicate well with veterinarians, public and staff o Ability to wear PPE, work in small, confined spaces and in a variety of weather conditions o Capable of venipuncture, administration of vaccinations and microchip Responsibilities: o Coordinate mobile spay/neuter unit appointments, reminders and communication to owners o Prepare and maintain patient records, forms and materials o Prepare/package/set up/tear down supplies and materials for each mobile spay/neuter event o Clean and sterilize mobile unit surgical equipment and prepare surgical packs o Manage specialty veterinary vehicle inventory, storage and re-stocking o Provide general supervision for mobile spay/neuter event volunteers o Clean cages, feed and exercise animals housed in the shelter or participating in a mobile spay/neuter event o Clean and maintain specialty veterinary vehicle clinic, instruments and equipment o Administers medication and fills prescriptions (e.g. as injections, oral medications, topical treatments, etc.) as directed by Veterinarian o Prepares animals for surgery, monitors patients under anesthesia and recovers patient after general anesthesia 6 P a g e
o Maintains pharmacy, surgical, controlled substance, anesthesia and laboratory records and inventory o Prepackages unit dose medications and refills bulk medications o Obtains vital signs of animals (e.g. temperature, pulse, respiration, etc.) o Injects microchips o Adhere to all established protocols and guidelines o Works with veterinarian to maintain complete and accurate medical records o Observe, record, and discuss animal behavior and animal health o Counsel owners on post-surgical instructions and care o Facilitate mobile spay/neuter client check-in and pick-up o Support DCACC veterinarian and veterinary technician with in-shelter surgery prep, health checks, vaccinations, venipuncture, and microchipping o Data entry and filing o Answering phone calls and email messages o Process adoption applications and assist with customer service and other miscellaneous volunteer projects as needed o Other assignments as necessary Requirements: o Interview with Administrator Veterinarian & Veterinary Technician o Complete Animal Care & Control Volunteer Orientation and Animal Handling Training o Attend New Hire Orientation through DuPage County o If available, attend basic First Aid (for humans) training Supervision: o Directly supervised by the Administrator Veterinarian (primary) and Veterinary Technician (secondary) Compensation: Seasonal employees will earn $10 an hour. What The Candidate Will Take Away: o The excitement of playing an active role in the development and launch of DCACC s brand new specialty veterinary vehicle program o The history, services, and basic operations of DuPage County Animal Care & Control o Gain a basic understanding of open admission animal shelter operations, animal control, and the laws that govern each o Gain professional skills in high volume spay/neuter, TNVR veterinary community outreach, shelter medicine o Training in animal care, animal handling, animal body language, veterinary medicine, mobile veterinary operations * Individuals who are currently enrolled with an accredited college or university may qualify for Veterinary Technician Internship. If interested in Veterinary Technician Internship, please use Job Code #9170 on your employment application. The rate of compensation for interns is also $10/hour. 7 P a g e
How to Apply: To apply all applicants must for through the official Human Resources Department of DuPage County. The following link: http://www.dupageco.org/hr/ will take you to the Human Resources page. Please list the appropriate Job Code on your application: Intern Job Code 9170 (available to full time students only) Animal Caretaker Seasonal Employee Job Code 9172 Veterinary Technician Seasonal Employee Job Code 9172 When applying please include a cover letter indicating which program you are interested in (Animal Care, Humane Education, or Veterinary Technician). Please also send an email to Humane.Education@dupageco.org when you have submitted your application to Human Resources so that our staff can follow up on it. Once an application is submitted to Human Resources it will be reviewed and sent to Animal Control. Once applications have been received a staff member at DuPage County Animal Care & Control will reach out for a phone interview and to schedule an in-person interview to follow. Applications will be accepted through April 1 st. Internships will begin mid-may. Questions: If you have any questions regarding the application please contact DuPage County Animal Care & Control at Humane.Education@dupageco.org or 630-407-2800 and a staff member will be happy to assist you! 8 P a g e