Rehoming and welfare assistant level jobs
Want to help get tails wagging again? We are looking for someone who can assess, design and implement behavioural rehabilitation for our dogs joining us in our centres.
As Behaviour Officer, you'll take the lead, figuratively and literally, when it comes to the assessments of our dogs and their training programmes. You'll play a key role in supporting adopters, during the adoption process and after rehoming, to ensure that every dog has the best possible chance of successfully settling into their new life.
What does this role do?
As a Behaviour Officer you’ll:
- assess the behaviour of dogs, before they enter the centre and during their stay, to identify potential behaviour needs, as per Dogs Trust Standard Operating Procedures.
- design and implement Behaviour Modification Programmes and training plans to enhance each dog’s chances of rehoming, in support of the centre’s priorities based on individual dog welfare and requirements.
- oversee and support the implementation of training and behaviour plans by colleagues. Work with other departments to modify and seek guidance.
- monitor the progress of individual training and rehabilitation programmes and maintain detailed records of the progress of each dog. Provide professional training, support and assessment colleagues.
Could this be you?
To be successful in this role, you'll have a thorough knowledge of dog behaviour and welfare, including understanding the principles underlying learning and the ability to write training and behaviour programs. You'll also have achieved ATBC competence at Animal Trainer level and have achieved specific competences from the Behaviour Technician standard. You'll have excellent communication skills with the ability to handle delicate situations sensitively and professionally and have the ability to and experience in handling difficult dogs. But above all, you'll be passionate and committed to the work of Dogs Trust.
A full, manual driving licence is also essential, as driving will be a part of the role.
What does this team do?
Our rehoming centres house thousands of dogs each year until they are able to find a loving new home, and the success of our centres wouldn't be possible without our dedicated team of staff and volunteers; there is a real family-community within each of our centres. Come rain or shine, our team are out in all weathers to make sure the dogs have the best possible life. Dealing with thousands of visitors each month, our rehoming centres are the face of Dogs Trust and we pride ourselves on our staff providing the very best in customer service.
About Dogs Trust
We love dogs. That’s why we do whatever we can to make sure every four-legged friend gets the love they deserve. We’ll never put a healthy dog down, so our work is focused on helping dogs in need, supporting owners every step of the walk, and creating a better world for dogs in the future. It’s what we’ve been doing since 1891 and how we’ve grown to become the UK’s leading dog charity, helping 12,000 loyal friends find their forever homes every year.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We’re looking for a Deputy Shelter Manager to join our friendly leadership team. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in the daily running and continuous improvement of our busy Shelter.
You’ll support the Shelter Manager in overseeing animal welfare, team management, and day-to-day operations — helping us deliver the highest standards of care and ensure every animal’s journey is positive from arrival to adoption.
As a live-in role, you’ll also be part of our out-of-hours cover team, ensuring the Shelter runs smoothly around the clock.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as Duty Manager, supporting the Shelter’s day-to-day operations.
- Lead on animal intake, ensuring high welfare standards and efficient use of space.
- Supervise and support staff and volunteers, encouraging development and teamwork.
- Work closely with our veterinary partners and the Animal Behaviour team.
- Uphold health and safety, animal welfare, and data protection standards.
- Support fundraising, public engagement, and community relations.
About You
You’ll be an empathetic, organised, and proactive leader who’s passionate about animal welfare and supporting people to do their best work.
We’re looking for someone with:
- Experience in animal welfare, shelter management, or a related supervisory role
- Strong people management and communication skills
- Excellent organisation, decision-making, and IT abilities
- Calmness and confidence under pressure
- A full UK driving licence
Desirable: Animal Care qualification (e.g. NVQ Level 3), experience in animal behaviour or veterinary work, or leadership training.
What We Offer
- On-site accommodation
- 29 days annual leave (including bank holidays and your birthday off), increasing with service
- 5% employer pension contribution (NEST scheme)
- Occupational sick pay
- Health Assured wellbeing support
- Training and development opportunities
- Use of company vehicle for Shelter business
- A supportive, passionate team making a real difference every day
About Us
Little Valley Animal Shelter is an independent, self-funded branch of the RSPCA, based just outside the beautiful city of Exeter. For over 180 years, we’ve been rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming animals in need across Devon.
We’re proud to provide a compassionate, professional, and positive environment for both animals and people. With around 50 dedicated staff and over 100 volunteers, we work together to ensure every animal gets the best chance of a happy new life
If you’re ready to take the next step in your animal welfare career and help lead a compassionate, high-performing team, we’d love to hear from you.
Closing date: 5pm on Monday 3rd November 2025
Our mission is to offer compassionate care and facilitate the rehabilitation and rehoming of animals across Devon.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.