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- Investigate complaints about animal cruelty and provide medical treatment
- You'll need the ability to handle animals confidently
- Progress to chief inspector then regional superintendent
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Advise owners on proper care and issue warnings
- Rescue animals and arrange medical treatment
- Put animals down humanely
- Take a case to court
- Inspect kennels, pet shops and agricultural shows
- Work with local authorities to rescue injured deer or foxes
- Write reports
- Give talks to educate the public
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
You could work at an abattoir, in a court, on a farm, on the streets, in the community or at a client's home. To rescue animals, you may need to climb cliffs or trees. Your working environment may be dirty, physically and emotionally demanding and outdoors some of the time. You'll travel locally and you may also need to wear a uniform.
You'll need
This role would be ideal for someone with a love for animals, the ability to handle animals confidently, excellent communication skills, the ability to handle confrontational or distressing situations, and accurate report writing skills.
For this role you'll need to have a good level of fitness, have the ability to swim 50 metres fully clothed, pass enhanced background checks, have a full UK or EU driving licence, held for at least 12 months and be able to cope with working at height.
You can apply directly for trainee inspector vacancies. You should be willing to move to another part of the country to do your training, if necessary.
To be taken on as a trainee you'll need 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) including English and maths and experience of working with animals. If your application is successful, you'll be invited to a selection day where you'll complete a series of assessments and an interview.
You can get experience by volunteering with an animal welfare charity, animal refuge or at one of the RSPCA's own animal care centres. Do-it also has more information on local opportunities for work with animals. You could do a course in animal care while you're volunteering, which may help when you come to apply for a training place with the RSPCA.
CAREER PROSPECTS
With experience, you could progress to chief inspector then regional superintendent. You could move into management or training roles at the RSPCA headquarters.