General Purpose

Reporting to the Manager, Patient Care and Service Delivery, the Stable Hand focuses on animal welfare by maintaining safe and clean animal housing areas, stocking supplies, and providing animal care, including grooming, feeding and transporting the patient within and between multiple areas of the OVC Health Sciences Centre (HSC). Other duties include inventory control and maintenance of supply use records, as well as monitoring and recording animal care responses and behaviours. The Stable Hand works alongside the Animal Care Attendants in the Large Animal Hospital area within the HSC where there is significant direct interaction with clients, students and animals.

This position will be primarily assigned to Large Animal Housing but may be required to support other units in times of operational need.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Clean and disinfect stalls, turnout facilities, and common areas using appropriate cleaning and husbandry protocols to minimize cross contamination or infection of patients and people.
• Employ appropriate animal hygiene practices that include safe and effective use of chemical disinfectants and cleaning products according to WHMIS and Occupational Health and Safety criteria.
• Practice safe, effective and efficient methods of handling patient and resident animals.
• Establish and achieve appropriate standards for meeting the husbandry and nutritional needs of animals under care.
• Perform basic patient care procedures (including but not limited to cold hosing, bathing, hand-walking, and grooming).
• Assist the Animal Care Attendants in transporting patients/animals to and from service areas when requested.
• Operate the truck/trailer for disposal and/or transport animals from outside sources and maintain appropriate records.
• Operate forklift to unload inventory items such as shavings and hay for delivery.
• Inventory feed, equipment and supplies to ensure adequate stocks are readily available on hand.
• Ensure spaces are stocked with the supplies and equipment (furniture, etc.) required for their use.
• Record any abnormalities with patient regarding fecal and urine outputs, appetite, behaviour or attitude and communicate findings to health team.
• Conduct daily patient census.

Requirements

• Equivalent to full secondary school. Typically, equivalent to Grade 12 completion combined with minimum 6 months' working experience.
• Animal Care Certificate and/or Large Animal Husbandry course is considered an asset.
• Ability to physically perform all job-related tasks safely and efficiently.
• Experience working with large animals (horses, cows, pigs, etc.) is required.
• Equivalent relevant experience will be considered.
• Flexibility in scheduling availability is required.
• The incumbent will be required to work a variety of shifts including days, afternoons, nights, weekends and on-call shifts.
• A valid class G Driver’s License is required. Forklift Training with yearly safety orientation required.

The successful applicant will be required to provide proof of rabies titre.