IGS students have worked in shelters and dog daycare in Hawaii, Boston, Auckland, Sydney and other locations. Shelter work focusses primarily on cats and dogs who could no longer be cared for, have been abandoned, or were born feral.

Shelters protect both the animals and society from an unsafe relationship and interactions. They provide immunizations and create a safe space for the animals to integrate into human society if possible. Our students help the staff check-in new animals. They accompany the staff to board meetings. They do daily rounds to check in on animal welfare and health. When medical care is needed, they accompany the dogs or cats to the veterinarian.

Dog daycare facilities are in upscale locations and cater to pets whose owners work 9-5 jobs. These facilities provide an active social life instead of long days of sitting at home. Intern job duties include overseeing “the pack” – usually 7-14 dogs – in their resting area. Your role is to make sure they play nice and to settle the hyper dogs and enable healthy interactions. Walking dogs is another aspect of the placement. Interns walk up to three dogs at a time. Most daycares have a grooming station. If needed, you will hold the dogs and keep them focused while they are getting trimmed.