Our team of night staff do an incredibly important job here at Mayhew, taking care of all of our animals during the wee small hours. We caught up with Pamela, Animal Night Care Assistant, to find out what really goes on at Mayhew after dark!

What exactly does your role involve?

As night staff part of my role is to look after all our animal residents in cattery and kennels and to monitor and medicate any sick or injured animals in vet clinic throughout the night. I also have plenty of not-so-glamorous jobs such as cleaning the animal accommodation and lots of laundry! My team and I must make sure everything is all in order and ready for the day staff coming in the following morning.

Nights are very quiet in terms of noise, so it is the perfect time to do some rehabilitation and basic training with the dogs, as well as socialising with animals that need a bit of extra TLC and exercise. Kennels can be stressful for some dogs so I like to do activities that offer a distraction and get their brain working, such as setting up an agility course or using activity balls where they have to work for a reward. Some animals are quite scared and nervous in the shelter environment so often I’ll simply spend some time sitting quietly in a cat or dog’s cabin, letting them get used to having a human being around and allowing them to interact with me when they’re ready.

What is your favourite part of the job?

I don’t have a particular favourite task as I enjoy and love my job as a whole! Every night is different and I always come in to work with the biggest smile on my face. I work with such a great team and we can all rely on each other to pull together as everyone works so hard. Also, it’s so rewarding to see a positive transformation on an animal that may not have had the best start in life, and that’s all down to Mayhew staff and volunteers.

What is your least favourite part of the job?

Laundry! I must admit it’s not my favourite task but at times it can be therapeutic to be folding and sorting towels and linens.

What advice would you give to others wanting to get into animal care?

My main advice to anybody that wants to get in to animal care is to do some volunteer work first and see if it’s the right career for you. Working with animals isn’t just about having cute cuddles and playing with puppies and kittens, you also need to be incredibly strong and be able to put your emotions aside in order to help an animal. In addition to volunteer work, I would strongly advise you do some research on potential careers and what they may involve first, as there are so many animal courses and employment options to choose from. This may help you decide what path you want to take.

If you’re interested in working for us, head here to see what positions are currently available.