Curriculum information
Our program is divided into two levels (AWCP 1700 and AWCP
1710). Each level is comprised of a series of modules. If you are
interested in taking both levels, please register for AWCP 1700 first and
complete that program before registering for AWCP 1710. Additionally, we offer the
animal care modules out of the main levels (0100 & 0200) as a mini course (XWCP
0500) for those outside of animal sheltering, but wishing to understand diseases,
handling, and behaviour, like those working for boarding or training facilities.
Completion of AWCP 1700 or AWCP 1710 will result in obtaining a certificate of
completion and undergraduate course credits at Thompson Rivers University.
These credits may be honored at the University of British Columbia in
certain programs - please confirm with UBC what programs will honor the credits prior to
registering for this program.
The Animal Welfare Certificate program is delivered online through Moodle with a
course lecturer.
If you are interested in taking both the AWCP 1700 and AWCP 1710, register for
AWCP 1700 first
and complete before registering for AWCP 1710. Individual modules are offered to
those who only
want to take that specific subject.
Course Outline PDF
This program runs as a continuous intake so once your fees are paid and your
registrations
confirmation is sent to the course tutor, you will be registered into Moodle to
get started.
Course Descriptions
The Animal Welfare Certificate program is delivered online through Moodle
with a program
lecturer.
The following courses will be required for program completion
- AWCP1700 AWCP General Level (Theory)
This
course is intended
for employees of animal care facilities who are relatively new to the
organization or for
those who wish to begin a career within animal welfare and animal
sheltering.
- AWCP1710 AWCP Advanced Level (Theory)
This
course is directed
at the more experienced employees of an animal care facility or at
people who wish to
pursue an extensive background in animal care. The emphasis is more on
management techniques
(i.e., fundraising, managing volunteers, handling media, managing
employees). Animal
diseases are investigated in more depth with an emphasis on encounters
with animals outside
of the shelter, in the field.
AWCP 1700 AWCP General Level (Theory)
Modules included:
Animal Care (0100): In this module the
student will delve
into the areas of animal anatomy, physiology, handling of animals often
seen in an animal
care facility including birds and wild animals, breed identification,
animal disease, small
animal nutrition, dog and cat first aid, micro chipping, immunology,
euthanasia, cleaning
and disinfection, the husbandry of rabbits and other small animals and
animal behaviour and
enrichment. Videos produced at TRU and included in the course package
will demonstrate many
of the animal handling techniques discussed.
Shelter Operations & Law
Enforcement (0110): This module familiarizes
students with the core
aspects of how shelters function and operate, including adoptions,
relinquishments, assessments,
public relations, the five freedoms, capacity to care, shelter standards and
more. This module
now includes discussion of all of the various pieces of provincial animal
welfare legislation
from coast to coast and the Federal legislation that influences this work,
including the core
concepts and materials that are utilized by animal protection officers in
enforcing the law.
Those wishing to seek employment as a constable will need to take additional
training through
their province to become certified – the goal of this program is to
lay in the foundations
for all employees so that they can understand how these laws work and are
enforced.
Human Conflict Resolution (0120): Every
animal care facility
has to deal with people. Conflicts can arise between co-workers and
between staff and
clients. This module, via the use of several videos and a reference
manual gives some ideas
for defusing conflicts and creating a more harmonious workplace. The
module also deals with
issues such as “burn out”, motivation, customer service,
personal development,
and self respect.
Office Skills (0130): Most animal
care facilities are
run independently managing their own finances through fundraising,
licensing, fines etc. It
is therefore important that their employees have some basic business
skills. This module is
broken down into several areas which will begin to address these skill
needs.
Safety in the Workplace (0140):
This module has been
adapted from material written by Diane McKelvey DVM, for veterinary
clinics. In this module
many safety issues are discussed. What animal diseases are zoonotic and
how do you prevent
contracting them when working with your animal charges? What other
hazards are present in an
animal care facility? This module covers chemicals, environmental
issues, WHMIS standards,
and much more. Students will also receive a TRU WHMIS
certificate.
Humane Education (0150): This module
covers a wide range of
humane issues such as the history of the humane movement, violence
prevention against
animals (and its link to child abuse), responsible pet care, teaching
others and giving an
humane education presentation.
AWCP 1710 AWCP Advanced Level (Theory)
People with experience in these areas could proceed directly to the Advanced
Level without taking
the General Level course.
Modules included:
Animal Care (0200): This module builds on the
AWCP animal care
module (0100). Large animal and wildlife handling and first aid topics are
covered, and videos
are supplied. Animal diseases are explored in more depth using a body
systems approach. Large
animal and avian nutrition are covered as is Immunology. The module ends
with a section
concerning the enrichment of the lives on shelter animals and how they can
be trained to be more
adoptable.
Advanced Law Enforcement
(0210): In this
module we will build on issues discussed in the General Level course (0110).
Whereas the topics
in the General Level course centered mainly around general activities and
concepts, the topics
in the Advanced Level course will focus more on issues encountered by animal
protection
officers. (i.e., abuse investigations, ethics & dilemmas, incident
investigation etc.)
Management & Interpersonal skills
(0220): This module will concentrate on the practical
considerations of
customer service, employee management and mental health. The module is meant
to give animal care
facility managers and directors materials to motivate staff and help them to
feel pride and
satisfaction in the work that they perform. Material will be in the form of
a textbook,
Frontline Office Management for the Veterinary Team with supplementary
course notes and videos.
Advanced Humane Education
(0230): This
module is a continuation of the Humane Education General Level module
(AWCP 0150). Topics
will include establishing a humane education program within your
shelter, exploring animal
issues, teaching controversial subjects, animals in therapeutic contexts
and building a
humane network. We utilize the textbook Animal Assisted Therapy and
Activities by Phil
Arkow.
Volunteers (0240): Finding good
volunteers and keeping
them is another top priority for most animal care facilities (or at least,
it should be).
This module addresses the issues of volunteer acquisition, motivation, and
satisfaction.
Fundraising (0250): In most animal care
facilities relying
partially on public interest and support, fundraising is an ongoing
activity. This module
explores some do’s and don’ts and will provide the facility
management team with
some new ideas. We will also be using the open source ASPCA book 101
More Great Shelter
Ideas to help with your fundraising projects.
Safety in the Workplace (0260): This is
a continuation of
the AWCP General Level Safety in the Workplace module (0140). In this
module more zoonotic
diseases are covered, and the disposal of Biomedical wastes is
discussed. The section on
Chemical and Drug Hazards is repeated in this module for the benefit of
the students who did
not take AWCP 0150.
Vehicle Maintenance (0270): Most animal
care facilities who
also participate in animal control and animal abuse investigations own a
vehicle to perform
these activities. This short module discusses some do’s and
don’ts of vehicle
maintenance involving animals. There are no required assignments or
quizzes for this
section.
Individual Modules
The following individual modules are offered as separate courses without the
necessity of taking
the complete AWCP 1700 General Level or AWCP 1710 Advanced.
Individual modules are for those who are interested in one subject alone.
- Animal Care (XAWC modules 0100 and 0200) - offered as one package named XAWC 0500
Recognition of Achievement
At the successful completion of each section (AWCP 1700 General Level -
theory, AWCP 1710 Advanced Level - theory) the student will receive a certificate of
completion. The student will also receive recognition for the completion of individual modules.
Requirements for the successful completion of the sections are:
- Completion of all assignments and quizzes
- An overall average of 60 percent
Accreditation
Both AWCP 1700 and AWCP 1710 have been granted accreditation at Thompson
Rivers University. This
means that any student attending TRU can take either of these courses and
earn three credits.
The courses are recognized by the biology, arts and social work programs at
TRU. As of March
2001 we have entered into an agreement with the University of
the Fraser Valley
and the University
of
British Columbia Animal Welfare Program. Please refer to the links
for further
information.
Timelines
Because of course facilitator availability, course overlaps etc., the student
needs to have
completed each theory section within eight months to receive a certificate
of completion. (eight
months or less for AWCP 1700 & 1710).
For students taking the individual modules XAWC 0500 - Animal Care, they
should have the modules
completed in six months. No extensions are permitted for individual
modules.
The student will be able to extend the timeline for AWCP 1700 General Level
(theory) and AWCP
1710 Advanced Level (theory) by three months but an Extension
Rewrite fee of $190.18
will be charged. Only one extension will be allowed.
