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WELFARE AND ADOPTION COORDINATOR

Save the Dogs and other Animals is an international animal welfare organization with a 20 years history of operations in Southern East Romania.

At our headquarters, Footprints of Joy, based in Cernavoda, we provide free sterilization and registration services for pet animals, while managing a modern dog shelter and a cattery. Animals housed are treated as necessary and rehomed through our adoption services, both within and outside the country.

Background and purpose of the role
We are looking to recruit an Animal Welfare and Adoption Coordinator, who will ensure that animals entrusted to Save the Dogs receive excellent treatment based on the latest international guidelines and that all staff follow procedures that guarantee high animal welfare standards. The person will coordinate 2/3 adoption managers and will supervise the international and national adoption program, in order to keep the numbers of animals present low enough to apply the capacity for care principle.

Main requirements to fill the position
The employee preferably carried out ethology and welfare studies for dogs and cats, which allow the evaluation of the welfare standards of animals guested in shelter and catteries and has gained sufficient work experience in shelters managing entry criteria, animal handling and movements, infectious disease epidemic risk management. The candidate has a basic knowledge of the main diseases of dogs and cats and basic notions of shelter medicine. The candidate has strong organizational and communication skills and can work methodically, monitoring the entire path of the animals since their arrival, the movements in the different locations till their departure.

The coordinator will report to the General Manager of the association.

Requirements

Must be an EU (including Switzerland) or SEE resident
Driving license B
Knowledge of Romanian will be considered a prerequisite
Must be passionate about animal welfare and show full commitment to individual and shelter animal welfare
Previous experience in shelter medicine and/or animal welfare work

Soft skills

Be open minded, flexible, able to adapt to new and challenging working environments
Management and leadership skills
Good interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills
Is used to work under pressure.

To apply for this position please send your CV and cover letter stating your suitability for the role and motivation to adriana@savethedogs.eu.

ANIMAL ADOPTION AND WELFARE ASSOCIATE

Romania is unfortunately renowned for the prevalent issue of stray animals and the abandonment of cats and dogs, leaving these animals to fend for themselves in a constant struggle for survival.

Since its inception and the initiation of the inaugural sterilization program for dogs living on the streets in Cernavoda in Romania, back in 2002, Save the Dogs has remained committed to developing new projects aimed at addressing these challenges. Today, the organization employs a team of 50 individuals and is a leader in animal welfare in Romania. Its animal shelter is recognized as the best facility operating in the entire country.

Save the Dogs’ INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION program radically changes the lives of abused and abandoned dogs and cats that have been rescued from the streets in Romania, offering them the opportunity of a better life by finding them adoptive families.

In addition, among other activities, Save the Dogs conducts sterilization campaigns for cats and dogs in order to reduce uncontrolled births, rescues horses and donkeys and takes care of them for the rest of their lives, and works with members of local communities to improve the welfare of all their animals.

Job Description

As a staff member at the Save the Dogs’ shelter in Cernavoda, Romania, you will be part of Save the Dogs’ Animal Adoption and Welfare team. You will have the opportunity to promote adoptions in the countries where Save the Dogs’ international partners operate. You will adhere to Save the Dogs’ procedures and guidelines to ensure that all the animals at the center receive excellent, high-quality care.

Duties:

Assess the behavior of the dogs and cats to determine their suitability for adoption in conjunction with other team members,
Monitor the animals’ health and communicate any changes to the veterinary staff,
Provide photos, videos, and descriptions of animal behavior to partner organizations for adoptions in other countries,
Assist the adoption process by offering accurate information and guidance to assist partners in selecting suitable dogs and cats,
Collaborate with community members to improve care for privately-owned animals and arrange transportation of the animals to the shelter for veterinary care when needed,
Manage the shelter’s software data, generate reports when required, and update records to allow staff to monitor the impact of STD activities,
Update individual animal records using customized software programs, Excel files, and paper documents,
Perform other tasks as needed,
Promote and encourage local adoptions by assessing potential adoptive families and visiting interested families for home visits to ensure compatibility between the family and the animal, and vice versa.

Essential requirements:

Availabilty to relocate to Cernavoda, Romania for a minimum of 6-12 months,
Familiarity with the behavior and welfare needs of dogs and cats,
Previous work or volunteer experience in animal care facilities, including kennels and catteries, veterinary clinics, and animal shelters,
Willingness to work outdoors at an animal shelter and in rural communities during all seasons of the year,
Strong written and verbal English communication skills and excellent proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook,
Basic understanding of photography and video editing concepts.

Additional qualifications

Knowledge of the Romanian language,
In-depth understanding of and experience in cat behavior and veterinary care.

Soft skills / Other competencies

Multi-tasking skills and the ability to work well under pressure
Excellent communication skills and a predisposition to teamwork
Strong organizational skills
Adaptability and flexibility
Ability to take initiative and solve problems independently or seek advice as needed.

Place of work: Cernavoda, ROMANIA.

Contract: Fixed term for 6-12 months (with the possibility of renewal and a permanent contract).

Benefits: Housing, food vouchers, daily round-trip transportation from the animal shelter and round-trip flights to the country of origin.

To apply: Please send your CV, a letter explaining why you would be a good fit for this position, and contact information for three referees to francesca.dematteis@savethedogs.eu.

VETERINARIANS

Volunteering for minimum 2 weeks: addressed to surgeon/clinician vets with at least 3 years experience. The charity offers to cover the flight to/from Romania and roundtrip transportation with our driver from Bucharest to Cernavoda. Free accommodation in hotel/apartment. Meals up to the volunteer.
Contract of professional collaboration for 3/6/12 months: addressed to surgeon/clinician vets with at least 2 years experience willing to move to Cernavoda, in Romania. Depending on individual experience, the activities will focus on sterilizations or medical assistance to the dogs/cats leaving for adoption abroad. A package of benefits is offered depending on the length of the contract.

Requirements only for paid positions

For Vets

Providing daily checks and treatments of shelter animals as necessary
Assist with the routine treatments to be provided to shelter animals ( internal/ external parasite treatment, vaccinations etc)
Perform routine sterilizations of shelter animals (dogs and cats) as required and of Owned Dogs and Cats and possible other surgical procedures as required (plenty of surgical experience is required)
Assist in the checkups and health checks needed for animals departing in the international adoption program as required
Able to cope with an extensive workload

Requirements:

Full commitment to individual and shelter animal welfare
Good level of medical and surgical experience and proficiency , preferably 5yrs of experience
Be open minded, flexible, passionate and able to work in a team

If interested and in order to learn about the contractual conditions, please send your CV accompanied by a motivation letter at info@savethedogs.eu.