After graduating from her course in Animal Conservation, Behaviour and Welfare at UCW, Grace applied for an Animal Care Assistant position at the RSPCA! We caught up with her to find out all about how it’s going.
As part of the application process, she was invited to an interview and asked to prepare a short presentation about the history of the RSPCA and the work that they do. Following a successful interview, Grace was selected for a trial day – a full day of hands-on work to demonstrate skills and suitability for the role. “It is important to note that a few candidates were selected for a trial day so I was highly motivated to do my absolute best.”
Now working in this role, Grace says there’s plenty to love about the role. “It’s hard to pinpoint my favourite part of the role because there is so much to love. However, I do believe being able to help animals everyday whether they need medical attention, love or reassurance is my ultimate favourite.”
A typical day starts early, with feeding, medicating, and cleaning the animals’ accommodation. “We currently have a range of animals on site including, dogs, cats and rabbits. It can often include other small animals like hamsters, guinea pigs and ferrets. Along with a not so occasional – Cockerel,” she said.
Each day varies, filled with a mixture of exercising dogs, setting up enrichment activities, performing health checks, grooming, observing animal behaviour, and even carrying out viewings for potential adopters. The day ends with more feeding and medicating, final cleaning, and settling down the animals for bedtime.
Reflecting on their journey, Grace credits much of their success to their time studying at Weston College and UCW. “When at UCW I found being able to get stuck in and gain practical experience was highly valuable. That includes my time at Puxton Park and the range of work experience I carried out within different environments in the animal industry. My lecturers pushed me to experience all parts of the industry which ultimately helped me decide where I wanted to go with my future.”
This work experience and time at Puxton Park forms part of the Animal, Environment and Biological Studies Careers Excellence Hub; which is committed to preparing learners for success in a rapidly evolving job market which is reflected in our offer via our bespoke Career Excellence Hubs, which form an integral part of all college programmes. In a world where professional networks and industry-specific skills are integral to landing employment, these hubs provide a unique solution to bridge the gap between education and industry demands.
The academic side of their course has also proved invaluable. “A lot of the modules I covered still help me to this day, including health, anatomy and the importance of animal behaviour. Everything I learnt along my journey at Weston College and UCW I still carry with me and it aids me to excel within my working role and personal life.”
Offering advice to current and future students, Grace said: “I would say, get stuck in! Dig deep in your modules in the classroom and out in the field. Gain as much knowledge and practical experience as you can because it is so fundamental to be able to work in animal welfare.”
When it comes to choosing where to study, Grace couldn’t recommend UCW more highly. “The animal courses at UCW are so accessible and the team of lecturers for the animal courses are so kind, welcoming and are always there if you need any help. The learning environment they create is supportive and positive which makes it that much easier to achieve. The resources that are available to UCW students are great too, whether you need support with your assignments or just need someone to talk to, there is always someone there.”
If you want to experience the great animal facilities and support at UCW, apply for our Animal Conservation, Behaviour and Welfare course now!
