Pros
Working with the dogs and helping them find a home is the main positive. Also there are some nice friendly staff that help brighten your day and offer support when needed. The knowledge gained from being a canine carer covers quite a few areas and can be very helpful for future careers with animals.
Cons
Where do I start! There are 2 key problems within this company that cause the majority of issues. 1 financial greed and 2 shocking management. The company used to act more like a charity where the priority was the dogs and their care whilst in kennels for as long as it took to find the right home. Now it's about manipulating the system and lying to get as much money as possible whilst trying to maintain a squeaky clean image. The rehoming process is pretty much pointless because anyone can get any dog as long as they complain to head office. Want a dog that's known to kill cats but you have 3 cats? Sure why not just ignore all the advice complain to head office and they will force the centre to rehome the dog to you. Dogs are now brought over mainly from Ireland but only if they are cute and friendly enough to be rehomed quickly. If there are any doubts about temperament they are sent back and who knows what happens when they get back. Instead of helping every dog as much as possible they are now carefully selected according to breed and likelihood of being rehomed quickly. Management at all levels are a disgrace. Micro management seems to be the only way they know. Having a bad day? Why not make yourself feel better by bullying the little people that keep the place going. Very few managers are capable of doing a canine carers job and therefore fail to understand why you can't look after 24 dogs and their kennels single handedly as well as spend time speaking to potential owners. I have heard comments towards staff that are quite frankly disgusting and rude and occasionally within earshot of the public. Majority of the staff are quite young and often in their first employment. To be treated like this is very damaging to confidence and self esteem and creates a horrible atmosphere. Myself and several other colleagues would have a sense of dread coming into work. If for some reason you want to stay and progress then you have no chance unless you are one of the managers little favourites in which case job roles are created especially for you. Otherwise you will be completely forgotten about and left to rot in the same role until you manage to leave. If you manage to survive for a few years don't expect any acknowledgment for your loyalty unless of course you are managers pet then there will be a spread in the local paper. When you get ill which will happen working in all weathers, you will be made to feel like a liar even if it's been 2 years since your last sick day. Don't expect any sympathy for family bereavement either. You will be asked just how close the family member is because if they are not immediate family then you do not require any time to grieve. You must then decide if you want the day of their death off or their funeral if you want both then expect to use annual leave. The job role itself although demanding is not the problem here. If it was a case of come in give 100% to the care of the dogs and the daily tasks and leave tired but with a smile then there wouldn't be a problem. Unfortunately it's not that simple and a major shake up is needed within management and the top end of the company.