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Ministry-approved title: Animal Care
Animals are important members of our families and play a significant role in society. Animal care and veterinary assistants perform in varying animal care settings to help ensure animals are cared for so they can enjoy a high quality of life. Through the Animal Care program, you will learn about animal behaviour, nutrition, basic nursing and wellness, animal interactions and handling, including large animals, wildlife, and exotics, legislation, and ethics to give you the required knowledge and skills to be a valued member of an animal care team.
Durham College (DC) offers pre-admission assessment testing to mature domestic applicants to meet admission requirements in English and/or math. Domestic applicants that are 19 years of age or older as of the start date of their program, and who do not have the required program credit(s) i.e., Grade 12 English and/or Grade 12 math are eligible to take an admissions assessment test.
Learn more about how to book Pre-Admission Assessment Testing here.
DC also offers Academic Upgrading. Courses are FREE and designed to help you meet the admissions requirements for this program. Available to individuals 18+, these courses are offered on-campus at DC. Boost your qualifications with:
Learn more about Academic Upgrading and connect with our team to get started.
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The Animal Care certificate program is designed for individuals passionate about working with animals and seeking a rewarding career in the animal care industry. This program equips students with the knowledge and practical skills needed to provide quality care as a veterinary assistant and animal attendant for a variety of animals in a range of settings, from veterinary hospitals to animal shelters and boarding facilities. The program prepares graduates to meet the growing demand for skilled animal care professionals by focusing on topics like:
Understanding the science behind what motivates behaviour is necessary for safe interactions with animals. You’ll delve into the study of animal psychology and behavioural patterns, learning how factors like environment, genetics, and health influence an animal’s actions. This knowledge is critical for ensuring safe handling and identifying stress or discomfort in animals, enabling you to respond effectively as an animal attendant in various situations. Whether you're working with a nervous dog or an uncooperative cat, understanding behaviour will help you provide better care while minimizing stress and risks to both yourself and the animal.
Effective client relations with pet owners are fundamental to providing quality care. As part of the Animal Care program, you’ll develop strong communication skills that are essential when working with pet owners. It’s important to be able to explain an animal's needs or health conditions in a way that owners can understand and act upon. This aspect of the program ensures that you’ll be able to build trust with clients as their animal care attendant, fostering better cooperation when it comes to the care and well-being of their pets. You'll also learn how to participate in medical discussions with veterinary medical professionals in the veterinary setting. Assisting in client communication and education in parasite prevention, nutrition, behaviour, and including sensitive topics, such as discussing an animal's illness or end-of-life care, with compassion and professionalism.
Knowing the proper standards of care for common species offers an opportunity to assist with improving animal welfare. You'll gain expertise in providing species-specific care as an animal care attendant, including understanding their nutritional needs, exercise requirements, and living environments. You'll explore the importance of regular wellness checks and vaccinations and how to spot early signs of illness or injury.
Our one-year, two-semester Animal Care program will give you the knowledge and skills to become a valued member of an animal facility. The hands-on training throughout the Animal Care program ensures you’ll be comfortable handling animals in real-world settings. Whether you're interested in working with domestic pets or other animals, this program offers a comprehensive foundation to help you thrive in the animal care industry.
Please note: Some courses may be offered during a different semester due to changes in program delivery. Students will still receive the same curriculum and have to meet the same learning outcomes. Questions related to program delivery can be directed to Admissions.
Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.
Hybrid
The rest of the coursework will be delivered using hybrid, flexible or online formats. Detailed schedules, with course-specific delivery information, will be available after registration. Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.
Your learning experience will be complemented by a field placement in an animal care environment, which will provide you with practical, hands-on experience and the opportunity to apply the theories and concepts learned in the classroom throughout the duration of the Animal Care program.
You must (at your expense) provide:
ACAR - Placement Requirements
Qualified graduates may be eligible to apply their academic credits towards further study through Durham College’s partnerships with many Canadian and international colleges and universities.
Please visit our pathways page to learn more about how you can transfer your credits towards a degree.
Looking for more pathway opportunities or to transfer to Durham College? Click here for more information.
To help students have the best remote learning experience possible, Durham College’s IT Services department has identified technology recommendations for each program based on course needs and software requirements. While not required, students may want to consider these suggestions if they are purchasing a computer or laptop for the upcoming academic year.
Processor: i3 RAM: 4GB Storage: 256GB SSD Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Professional or Education x64 SP1 Internet Browser: Internet Explorer 11 or Google Chrome (newest version) or Firefox (newest version) Network Adapter: 802.11ac 2.4/5 GHz wireless adapter Camera: Webcam/built-in camera Internet connection
Questions regarding technology recommendations can be directed to the IT Service Desk.
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