Elements and Performance Criteria
- Identify personal duty of care for companion animals
- Maintain personal safety and hygiene when handling companion animals
- Wash hands before and after handling animals and cleaning animal environments
- Check own skin and cover cuts and abrasions before handling animals to prevent infections
- Observe animal behaviour for safety risks and make a decision that it is safe before approaching or handling the animal
- Select and fit appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) according to task and organisational requirements
- Care for the welfare of companion animals
- Supply clean water, appropriate food and bedding or shelter to promote animal health and wellbeing
- Confine or restrain animals safely and humanely to protect from potential injuries, accidents and diseases and prevent behaviours that disturb others
- Treat animals in a humane manner to avoid pain and suffering and maximise wellbeing
- Identify simple strategies that can be used to encourage positive animal behaviours and avoid negative impacts on people and/or other animals
- Care for the health of companion animals
- Check the recommended vaccination requirements for relevant animals
- Identify signs of poor health and/or disease and check animals regularly for these signs
- Carry out routine control of internal and external parasites according to product or veterinary instructions
- Seek advice or treatments from veterinarian, or local council or regional services, for animals needing care beyond own capability