Animal Rescue and Field Handling Officer — Dogs and Cats

2. Position Purpose​ The Humane Animal Handling Officer is responsible for the safe, humane, and professional handling, capture, transport, and basic field assessment of stray, injured, abandoned, or community dogs and cats.The role supports humane stray animal management programs, including rescue, TNVR/TNR, vaccination, microchipping, veterinary referral, shelter transfer, release, adoption assessment, feeding-station support, and public safety response.The position is field-based and requires calm handling of animals in urban, residential, industrial, and public environments while maintaining animal welfare, public safety, and accurate case documentation.3. Reporting LineReports to:Stray Animal Programme Supervisor / Rescue and Field Operations CoordinatorWorks closely with:Veterinarians, shelter staff, municipal officers, OAWA representatives, Al Rifq staff, rescue volunteers, feeding-station teams, and where relevant, ROP or other authorities.4. Main ResponsibilitiesA. Humane Field Capture and HandlingThe officer will:• Safely approach, handle, capture, restrain, and transport stray, injured, frightened, aggressive, or trapped dogs and cats.• Use humane handling techniques and approved equipment only.• Capture animals without unnecessary fear, pain, injury, chasing, beating, dragging, or rough restraint.• Assess the safest capture method depending on species, temperament, location, health condition, traffic risk, and public presence.• Handle both dogs and cats, including puppies, kittens, lactating females, injured animals, and frightened or defensive animals.• Support emergency rescue cases involving animals stuck in buildings, compounds, drains, construction areas, roadsides, or other difficult locations.B. TNVR / TNR Programme SupportThe officer will support stray dog and cat population management by:• Capturing selected dogs and cats for sterilisation, vaccination, microchipping, treatment, and registration.• Transporting animals safely to approved veterinary clinics or holding facilities.• Returning eligible animals to their original capture locations after veterinary clearance.• Ensuring release is done calmly, safely, and only at the correct approved location.• Supporting mapping of colonies, dog groups, cat colonies, feeding points, and high-risk areas.• Recording sterilisation, vaccination, microchip, sex, age estimate, and return/release information.C. Animal Transport and Temporary HoldingThe officer will:• Load and unload animals safely from vehicles.• Use suitable crates, carriers, cages, nets, slip leads, traps, stretchers, or other approved equipment.• Ensure animals are transported with adequate ventilation, shade, safety, and separation where needed.• Prevent overcrowding, heat stress, injury, escape, and cross-contamination.• Clean and disinfect vehicles, crates, traps, and equipment after use.• Report vehicle or equipment defects immediately.D. Basic Field AssessmentThe officer is not expected to replace a veterinarian, but must be able to observe and report:• Visible injury, bleeding, lameness, wounds, fractures, mange, eye disease, dehydration, heat stress, pregnancy, lactation, or severe weakness.• Signs of aggression, fear, neurological symptoms, abnormal behaviour, or possible rabies risk.• Presence of collars, ear tips, microchip tags, ownership signs, or previous TNVR status.• Whether the animal is suitable for immediate veterinary referral, shelter transfer, release, or further assessment.E. Public Safety and Community InteractionThe officer will:• Respond calmly and professionally to public complaints about stray dogs and cats.• Explain basic humane handling procedures to the public when appropriate.• Avoid confrontation and refer sensitive cases to supervisors or authorities.• Assist in bite-risk situations, school-area concerns, residential complaints, and high-traffic animal incidents.• Protect the public from unsafe interaction with frightened, injured, or defensive animals.• Maintain a professional image at all times, especially during visible field operations.F. Data Collection and ReportingThe officer will maintain accurate records, including:• Date and time of case.• GPS location or clear site description.• Species: dog or cat.• Sex, approximate age, colour, size, identifying marks.• Animal condition and behaviour.• Photos or videos where appropriate.• Capture method used.• Destination: clinic, shelter, holding facility, release site, adoption assessment, or emergency care.• Microchip number, vaccination status, sterilisation status, and ear-tip status where applicable.• Final outcome of the case.Accurate documentation is essential. Poor reporting makes TNVR, public safety, disease control, and policy evaluation impossible.5. Animal Welfare StandardsThe officer must follow humane animal welfare principles at all times.Strictly prohibited:• Beating, kicking, dragging, throwing, or hitting animals.• Use of poison, firearms, or lethal control methods.• Deliberate injury or unnecessary force.• Chasing animals dangerously through traffic or crowds.• Transporting animals in unsafe, overcrowded, unventilated, or overheated conditions.• Leaving animals unattended in vehicles.• Mishandling lactating females, puppies, kittens, sick animals, or injured animals.• Releasing animals in unfamiliar locations without approval.• Taking animals for private sale, private adoption, or personal use without authorisation.Any breach of humane handling standards should be grounds for disciplinary action or dismissal.6. Required ExperienceEssential:• Minimum 2 years of hands-on experience handling dogs and/or cats in one or more of the following settings:o Animal rescueo Municipal animal controlo Veterinary clinico Animal sheltero TNVR/TNR programmeo Kennel/cattery managemento Stray animal field operations• Proven experience handling fearful, stressed, injured, or defensive animals.• Experience using animal carriers, crates, traps, slip leads, nets, gloves, and other humane handling tools.• Ability to work outdoors in hot weather and physically demanding conditions.• Ability to work early mornings, evenings, weekends, or emergency shifts when needed.• Basic ability to record data, take photographs, and use WhatsApp or mobile reporting tools.Preferred:• Experience with both dogs and cats, not only one species.• Experience in TNVR/TNR programmes.• Experience with rabies vaccination or public health-linked stray animal programmes.• Experience working with municipalities, NGOs, shelters, or veterinary authorities.• Basic English.• Arabic is an advantage.• Driving licence is an advantage.• Prior work in Egypt, the Philippines, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, Jordan, Turkey, UAE, or similar stray animal environments is useful.7. Required Skills and CompetenciesThe candidate must demonstrate:• Calmness around frightened or aggressive dogs and cats.• Patience and confidence without cruelty.• Good judgement under pressure.• Physical fitness and ability to lift cages, carry animals, and work in heat.• Ability to follow SOPs exactly.• Teamwork with vets, drivers, supervisors, volunteers, and authorities.• Basic public communication skills.• Good observation skills.• Cleanliness and biosecurity discipline.• Respect for animal welfare and public safety.• Honesty in reporting case outcomes.8. Equipment the Officer May UseDepending on approval and training, the officer may use:• Slip leads• Cat traps• Dog traps• Nets• Animal carriers• Transport crates• Protective gloves• Muzzles• Catch poles, only where approved and only by trained personnel• Towels and blankets• Stretchers• First-response field kits• Microchip scanner• Mobile phone or tablet for reporting• Disinfectants and cleaning materialsCatch poles should not be used casually. They require training and should be reserved for specific safety situations.9. Working ConditionsThis is a field-based position. The officer may be required to work in:• Residential neighbourhoods• Industrial areas• Roadsides• Beaches• Parks• Schools or public facilities• Construction sites• Feeding-station locations• Veterinary clinics• Shelters or temporary holding areasThe role involves heat exposure, animal odours, physical work, emotional stress, and occasional public pressure. The officer must remain professional and controlled.10. Key Performance IndicatorsPerformance can be measured by:• Number of animals safely handled, captured, transported, treated, sterilised, vaccinated, or released.• Low injury rate to animals, staff, and public.• Accuracy of case records.• Compliance with humane handling SOPs.• Timely response to assigned cases.• Proper cleaning and care of vehicles/equipment.• Positive feedback from veterinarians, supervisors, and partner organisations.• Successful support of TNVR/TNR targets.• Reduction in repeat complaints from mapped areas.• No involvement in cruel, unauthorised, or unsafe practices.