Kennel Assistant

This volunteer role is crucial to the mental and physical wellbeing of the dogs in our care. We rely on our kennel assistants to help us to maintain our high standards of cleanliness in our kennels, to help our dogs adjust to their new environment and to encourage the dogs to come out of their shells in hopes of finding new homes.

What you will be doing

The main task for a kennel assistant are:-

• Ensuring that the full morning clean of the kennels is completed to a high standard.
• Assist staff with feeding the dogs.
• Clean and disinfect the side yard.
• Clean and disinfect the meet and greet room.
• Perform spot cleans throughout the day to ensure that the pen is always clean for the dog living in it.
• Prepare enrichment activities for the dogs.
• Taking dogs into the meet and greet room or side yard and providing mental or physical enrichment.
• Washing and drying all of the dirty pet bowls.
• Emptying the bins.

A big part of this role is to play with the more energetic dogs, have a cuddle with the more affectionate dogs or simply talk to the more timid dogs to help them become more confident around people and ultimately help them on their journey to being adopted.

We also encourage our volunteers to take photos of our dogs that we may be able to use on our social media or website to get the animals adopted.

At times you may be asked to “buddy-up” with other volunteers or members of staff for some tasks. However, this role may also include working on your own.

Skills, experience and qualities needed

All of the volunteers at our shelter have to be a minimum of 18 years of age (21 + for dog walking) as a matter of health and safety and for insurance purposes.

Ideally our kennel assistants will have:-

• A real passion for the health and wellbeing of dogs.
• Previously worked with or owned dogs.
• A minimum of two references.

All of our volunteers need to have an up-to-date Tetanus vaccination in case of any scratches or bites that may occur.

When and where

The kennel assistants work on site at the shelter every day usually between the hours of 8am to 11am Monday to Saturday. With the hours being 10am till 12pm on a Sunday and bank holidays. However, this is flexible so please come and talk to a member of the management team about your volunteering hours!

Support offered

We rely on our volunteers to help to make our shelter a safe and comfortable place for our animals to find their forever home. If there is anything that we can reasonably do to support you – please come and have a chat with a member of the management team.

There will always be members of staff on site when you are here at the shelter. If you ever feel uncomfortable around an animal please let a member of staff know.

What you could get out of it

Our kennel volunteers will get immense satisfaction that their help is making such a big impact on the lives of many of the local abandoned dogs. As well as gaining valuable hands-on experience working with dogs of all different breeds, ages, sexes and temperaments.

Other relevant information

Please do note that when working with any animals it is possible that injuries may occur – in the form of scratches or bites.

Any and all injuries, no matter the severity MUST be reported to a member of staff and logged in the accident book.

What to do if you’re interested

If you think you would be the right fit for our kennel assistant team please contact the shelter on:

We get lots of volunteer applications here at the Destitute Animal Shelter every day and not everyone will be suitable for this role if you do not hear back from us you have been unsuccessful in this instance but please apply again when we are looking for future volunteers.