Program Overview

Animal Care Program Overview

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.

Intakes and Availability

Program Highlights

• Success Stories
• Resources

Admission Requirements

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
• Grade 12 English (C or U)
• Grade 11 or 12 biology (C, M or U)

Are you missing admission requirements? We are here to help.

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.

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:

• Grade 12 Math (MAP4C equivalent)
• Grade 12 English (ENG4C equivalent)
• Grade 11 Biology (SBI3C equivalent)
• Grade 12 Chemistry (SCH4C equivalent)

Tuition

• Year one domestic: $3,149 (CAD)

Semester 1 Courses

• Animal Handling & Restraint (ACAH 2202)
• Computer Technology In Animal Care (ANIM 1104)
• Wildlife and Exotic Animals (ANIM 2202)
• Animal Legislation & Ethics (ANLE 1201)
• Domestic Animal Science (ANTY 2011)
• Animal Behaviour I (BHAV 1100)
• Animal Care Field Placement Preparation (FDPL 1100)

Career Options

• Veterinary assistant
• Animal care attendant
• Kennel attendant
• Wildlife rehabilitation assistant
• Farm worker
• Salesperson
• Animal research assistant
• Zoo husbandry, keeper
• Animal trainer

Field Placement

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.

Pre-Placement Requirements

• Current Level C CPR certificate from a recognized provider
• Current standard first aid certificate from a recognized provider

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

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.

Tech Requirements for the Animal Care Program

• 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

Animal Care Program Details

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:

• Animal behaviour, nutrition, wellness and welfare
• Animal interactions and handling of domestic animals including large animals and exotics
• Basic animal nursing care procedures
• Animal legislation and ethics
• Client service skills

Animal Care Program Learning Outcomes

1. Assist with managing animal behaviour by interpreting animal body language and applying restraint techniques when appropriate.
2. Contribute to the implementation of a plan of care to enable and enhance health, wellness, and safety of animals.
3. Assist with basic clinical procedures on animals.
4. Respond to diverse needs of clients by providing customer service in animal care environments.
5. Assist with daily administrative tasks, reception, and basic bookkeeping duties in animal care environments.
6. Provide professional, humane and ethical care for the basic needs of animals within the scope of the regulation, laws, and statutes governing animals and the veterinary profession.

Animal Care Courses

Semester 1

• Animal Handling & Restraint (ACAH 2202)
• Computer Technology In Animal Care (ANIM 1104)
• Wildlife and Exotic Animals (ANIM 2202)
• Animal Legislation & Ethics (ANLE 1201)
• Domestic Animal Science (ANTY 2011)
• Animal Behaviour I (BHAV 1100)
• Animal Care Field Placement Preparation (FDPL 1100)

Semester 2

• Issues In Animal Care & Welfare (ACIS 2203)
• Animal Clinical Nursing and Medicine (ANIM 2100)
• Surgical and Laboratory Preparation (ASLP 2100)
• Animal Behaviour II (BHAV 2100)
• Introduction to Facility Operations (FACL 2100)
• Field Placement and Seminar (FWK 2206)
• Animal Nutrition & Wellness (NUTR 1203)

Costs for the Animal Care Program

Animal Care Year 1 Costs