Animal caregiving
Mackenzie Hamel
Calgary,AB
Summary
I am a passionate and dedicated animal care professional with 13 years of hands-on experience and a lifetime of love to offer towards animals. I have a strong desire to continuously invest in my future and improve upon myself and I am eager to contribute to a team where I can continue to grow and make a meaningful impact. I am confident that my enthusiasm, work ethic, and dedication to advancing in the field would make me a valuable asset to your company.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Animal Caregiver
Springbank Pet Resort
09.2023 - Current
- Cultivated positive relationships with owners on drop-off and pick-up so that they felt safe putting their pet in my care.
- Assessed and placed dogs on special care if complications arose during their stay.
- Handled altercations between dogs.
- Redesigned and reorganized our boarding facilities to improve client relations, animal care and overall efficacy.
- Maintained a clean and safe environment for animals through regular cleaning, sanitizing, and organizing of living spaces.
- Kept accurate records on each animal's history, treatments received, medications administered, behavioral observations, and general progress throughout their stay at the facility.
- Promoted continuous learning opportunities by attending conferences, seminars, and workshops related to animal welfare and sharing knowledge with fellow team members.
- Managed overnight boarding for 50+ dogs, catering to diverse needs in size, temperament, and health.
- Maintained strict adherence to feeding, outdoor activity, cleaning, and prescription administration schedules.
- Supervised large groups of dogs in daycare sessions, carefully monitoring their behavior and identifying any signs that might lead me to believe a fight might happen or a health issue could arise from playtime; for example excessive panting which could indicate heat stroke.
- Conducted thorough health checks on dogs after altercations to identify and address any injuries or stress.
- Completed and maintained comprehensive records of each pet's stay, covering special notes, grooming details, and any health issues, to facilitate seamless access for future care.
- Implemented stress reduction strategies to help anxious animals at the facility including prolonged interaction, soft music and gentle handling.
- Enhanced animals' mental and emotional well-being through targeted enrichment activities.
Pet Sitter
Self-employed
01.2012 - Current
- Established a reliable and trustworthy connection with pet owners, allowing them to confidently entrust their pets and homes to me.
- Accommodated varying durations of pet care from an hour to several months.
- Gave animals proper attention to promote a secure environment in the owner's absence.
- Exercised animals regularly with walks and play activities.
- Maintained a clean and safe environment for pets, ensuring their comfort and well-being at all times.
- Communicated professionally with pet owners via phone, email, and text.
- Adhered to detailed instructions provided by pet owners to meet each pet's unique needs.
- Coordinated the management of multiple pets and households, ensuring consistent and attentive care.
Waitress / Bartender
Stavros Pizza and Sports Bar
09.2021 - 10.2024
- Handled high-pressure situations with composure, maintaining excellent service standards even during busy shifts.
- Exhibited strong multitasking abilities, balancing multiple tables and orders while delivering prompt service.
- Demonstrated thorough knowledge of menu and liquor options to assist guests in making informed choices.
- Handled large monetary transactions with precision and reliability.
- Displayed enthusiasm consistently during each shift.
- Upheld high standards of cleanliness across the entire restaurant
- Ensured reliable and efficient opening and closing of the restaurant by adhering to established procedures.
Volunteer Animal Caregiver & Vet Tech Assistant
AARCS - The Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society
01.2021 - 01.2023
- Provided essential daily care and maintenance of dog, rodent, and veterinary areas
within the facility. - Facilitated positive interactions with new adoptive parents during veterinary
checkups. - Performed comprehensive care including providing exercise, feeding, cleaning
crates, kennels, toys, laundry, dishes, and medical instruments, ensuring proper
disinfection. - Administered medications and provided specialized care for animals with high-risk
infections and contagions, maintaining strict hygiene protocols. - Prepared animals for surgery by shaving specified areas and clipping nails.
- Assisted veterinary technicians with surgery preparation, including intubation, IV
preparation and insertion, and bladder drainage. - Managed the post-operative care by removing IVs, dressing IV sites, and
redressing wounds and surgery sites. - Assisted veterinarians with animal examinations.
- Monitored animal behavior to identify health issues early
Waitress / Manager
Pho HouZ Vietnamese Kitchen
05.2018 - 09.2021
- Ensured cleanliness of entire restaurant.
- Trained servers on order management, food service quality and how to build rapport with guests.
- Handled guest complaints in positively and offered appreciation tokens to build customer loyalty.
- Delegated tasks to staff members to ensure efficient service.
- Opened and closed the restaurant, ensuring smooth daily operations.
- Conducted inventory checks and processed incoming deliveries efficiently.
- Provided enthusiastic greeting, seating, and service to large sections of guests.
Education
Completed 2 Years of Coursework (2019-2021) - Biological Anthropology
University of Calgary
Calgary, AB04-2021
High School Diploma -
St. Francis High School
Calgary, AB06-2018
Skills
- Customer service
- Hygienic
- Patience and calmness
- Animal enrichment
- Animal training and behavior analysis
- Surgery preparation and post op
- Animal handling and transport
- Pet First Aid and CPR certified
- Honest and trustworthy
- Punctual and reliable
- Veterinary assistance, vaccine administration and test sample collection
Certification
- Pet First Aid and CPR Certificate of Achievement - Walks 'N' Wags - 12/15/2024.
Interests
Marine Biology
Veterinary Technology
Veterinary Medicine
Innovation
Entrepreneurship
Hygiene and practicing good cleaning habits
Affiliations
- AARCS - The Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society
Timeline
Animal Caregiver
Springbank Pet Resort
09.2023 - Current
Waitress / Bartender
Stavros Pizza and Sports Bar
09.2021 - 10.2024
Volunteer Animal Caregiver & Vet Tech Assistant
AARCS - The Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society
01.2021 - 01.2023
Waitress / Manager
Pho HouZ Vietnamese Kitchen
05.2018 - 09.2021
Pet Sitter
Self-employed
01.2012 - Current
Completed 2 Years of Coursework (2019-2021) - Biological Anthropology
University of Calgary
High School Diploma -
St. Francis High School
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