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Keeper for the DayBook Now »
Location: Broomfield Hall
Years: 1
Weeks: 1
Hours: 6.00
Start: Various Dates (Please press the Book Now Button to View Dates)
Days / Times: Contact Us
Tuition (£): 95.00*
Interview: N
Course Summary
This experience aims to provide you with an understanding of the principles of animal husbandry and care through working on the animal unit at the Broomfield Hall campus.
We currently have over 47 species of animals that require our care. As part of your role, you will assist with preparing the animals' food, cleaning, health checking, exercising, handling, providing enrichment, and much more.
You will get to work on all sections of the animal unit and gain valuable insights into what it is like to work as a zoo keeper.
Please ignore the date shown on the booking page as the experience is run at different times throughout the year. If you would like to put a note on your booking form with a desired date and then contact jonathan.taylor@derby-college.ac.uk, we will do our best to accommodate you.
Entry requirements
You need basic literacy and numeracy skills plus some basic knowledge of animal care. You should be aged at least eight years.
Course Content
The course will cover:
- Feeding the animals
- Health checking the animals
- Cleaning their accommodation
- Making enrichment for the animals
- Maintenance of the animal unit
- Exercising the animals
- Handling the animals
How will I be assessed?
There is no assessment.
Are there any additional costs or specialist equipment required?
You will be required to supply your own boots or wellingtons, preferably steel toe-capped. Alternatively, you can borrow some from the animal unit.
What can I do after this course?
Derby College offers a range of one-day, weekend and evening courses relating to Animal Care, as well as a wide variety of other land-based topics - please see the Derby College Part-time Prospectus for a full list and details.
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* Tuition - This figure is the tuition fee to be paid - There are no concessionary fees available.
Annie Dowell
Kennel owner Annie loved every minute of Animal Care course
For former Derby College student Annie Dowell getting a job working with animals was inevitable.And, thanks in part to the practical work experience and the qualifications she gained on her Animal Care level 3 course; she now runs a boarding kennels.Annie first got to know Coppice Kennels and Cattery in Melbourne while at Derby College and later took a Saturday job there as a dog walker.After leaving College with a triple distinction she went on to take a dog grooming course at Broomfield and then worked at dog re-homing centres in Wales and Spain.In 2012 she took over the running of Coppice Kennels and is now responsible, with fiancé Matt for looking after 40 dogs, 15 cats as well as up to five foster dogs.Annie loved her time at College – especially the caring for wildlife part and gaining work experience at Twycross Zoo.
She said: "I loved absolutely every minute of my course and wish I could do it all again. I'm always recommending Broomfield to our dog walkers, who are young and keen to get into animal care."
