Profession animal welfare inspector

Animal welfare inspectors investigate alleged reports of animal cruelty or neglect, rescue or collect animals in immediate or potential risk, liaise with internal and external agencies and other animal welfare establishments, educate and advise owners and carers of animals, seek to improve or maintain the welfare of the animal(s), and prevent or alleviate suffering.

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Personality Type

• Realistic / Social
• Enterprising / Conventional
• Realistic / Investigative
• Realistic / Conventional

Knowledge

• Signs of animal illness

  Physical, behavioural and environmental signs of health and ill health in various animals.

• Safe work practices in a veterinary setting

  Safe work practices in a veterinary setting in order to identify hazards and associated risks so as to prevent accidents or incidents. This includes injury from animals, zoonotic diseases, chemicals, equipment and working environment.

• Animal production science

  Animal nutrition, agronomy, rural economics, animal husbandry, hygiene and bio-security, ethology, protection and herd health management.

• Animal behaviour

  The natural behavioural patterns of animals, i.e. how normal and abnormal behaviour might be expressed according to species, environment, human-animal interaction and occupation.

• Anatomy of animals

  The study of animal body parts, their structure and dynamic relationships, on a level as demanded by the specific occupation.

• Environmental enrichment for animals

  Types, methods and use of enrichment for animals to allow the expression of natural behaviour, including the provision of environmental stimuli, feeding activities, puzzles, items for manipulation, social and training activities.

• Biosecurity related to animals

  Awareness of hygiene and bio-security measures when working with animals, including causes, transmission and prevention of diseases and use of policies, materials and equipment.

• Sociocultural contexts in which animals are kept

  An awareness of the human social and cultural contexts in which animals are kept and the impact on their use, care and human-animal interactions.

• Animal welfare

  Universally recognized animal welfare needs as applied to species, situation and occupation. These are: need for a suitable environment need for a suitable diet need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns need to be housed with, or apart, from other animals need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.

• Physiology of animals

  The study of the mechanical, physical, bioelectrical and biochemical functioning of animals, their organs and their cells.

• Animal welfare legislation

  The legal boundaries, codes of professional conduct, national and EU regulatory frameworks and legal procedures of working with animals and living organisms, ensuring their welfare and health.

Skills

• Liaise with animal welfare agencies

  Liaise with animal welfare agencies about the animal's conditions and situation in order to comply with regulations and gain insight regarding the next steps that should be taken. Negotiate an end result on how to fix the situation.

• Instruct animal owners

  Instruct and provide advice to animal owners and carers to enable them to improve and maintain the welfare of the animal(s).'

• Advise on animal welfare

  Prepare and provide information to individuals or groups of people on how to promote the health and well-being of animals, and how risks to animal health and welfare may be reduced. Provide recommendations for corrective actions.

• Assess animal's condition

  Inspect the animal for any external signs of parasites, disease or injury. Use this information to determine own actions and report your findings to owners.

• Rescue animals

  Rescue animals found in situations which present an immediate or potential threat to their welfare.'

• Monitor the welfare of animals

  Monitor animals’ physical condition and behaviour and report any concerns or unexpected changes, including signs of health or ill-health, appearance, condition of the animals' accommodation, intake of food and water and environmental conditions.

• Make decisions regarding the animal's welfare

  Make a choice from several alternative possibilities that promote the animal's well-being.

• Treat animals ethically

  Carry out activities according to accepted principles of right and wrong, including transparency in work practices and conduct towards clients and their animals.

• Handle veterinary emergencies

  Handle unforeseen incidents concerning animals and circumstances which call for urgent action in an appropriate professional manner.

• Manage animal biosecurity

  Plan and use appropriate biosafety measures to prevent transmission of diseases and ensure effective overall biosecurity. Maintain and follow biosecurity procedures and infection control when working with animals, including recognising potential health issues and taking appropriate action, communicating site hygiene control measures and biosecurity procedures, as well as reporting to others.

• Promote animal welfare

  Promote good practice and work with compassion to sustain and promote high standards of animal welfare at all times by adapting personal behaviour and managing environmental factors.

• Maintain relationships with animal welfare establishments

  Ensure good relations with other animal welfare establishments and agencies.

• Deal with challenging people

  Work safely and communicate effectively with individuals and groups of people who are in challenging circumstances. This would include recognition of signs of aggression, distress, threatening and how to address them to promote personal safety and that of others.

• Provide mentorship

  Guide and support less knowledgeable or less experienced colleagues.

• Apply safe work practices in a veterinary setting

  Apply safe work practices in a veterinary setting in order to identify hazards and associated risks so as to prevent accidents or incidents. This includes injury from animals, zoonotic diseases, chemicals, equipment and work environments.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB