The breed is a type of herding dog developed in Switzerland in the twentieth century. It comes in two coat types, medium length and long-haired. Once a Kennel Club breed standard has been developed and published, the breed will be able to be entered at Kennel Club licensed shows.
Further information can be found on the Kennel Club website.
International Day of Charity is the natural day to think about how we can support people who are less fortunate. Donating to charity is the most immediate way to help improve life for others, but not everyone has the money to spend.
The good news is that money isn’t the only way you can make a difference. More often than not your actions will speak louder than your words pay check when it comes to charitable efforts in your local community. There are plenty of ways you can help others without it digging into your pay packet. Check out what you can do, and start making a habit out of doing good deeds…
Most people aged 17-65 are able to give blood. It is easy to register as a blood donor online and, once you have found your local donor centre and set up an appointment, donating blood takes as little as 10 minutes of your time. Become a blood donor
Put simply: you won’t have much use for your organs once you’re dead, but someone else could! Only 29% of us are registered as an organ donor, but your death could spell a new beginning for someone in need of a transplant. Join the organ donor register
Did you know that loneliness can be as harmful for our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day? We all need somebody to talk to now and again, especially when times get tough – but not everyone has someone they can turn to in times of need.
Charities such as Childline and Samaritans, who provide vital support to vulnerable children and adults, rely on volunteers to man their phones. Why not pick up the phone and help someone with as little as a one-to-one conversation?
If you’re looking to make a difference face-to-face, why not join Age UKs befriending scheme? This is where, as a volunteer, you would visit an older person once a week in their own home. Befriending can provide someone with valuable support, and a link to the outside world that often acts as a gateway to other services. Become a befriender
If you have old clothes, books or toys hanging around that you no longer need, your local charity shop will gladly accept them. Even if you’re not sure what use certain items could be, it is well worth donating them, as you never know – it could be a life saver for somebody else. So go on – clean out those closets!
If you have a particular cause or charity you’re passionate about, shout about it! From social media and blogging; becoming a charity advocate and making people aware of the great work they do will help to keep the money coming their way.
Gold is the international colour of childhood cancer awareness, with many supporters choosing to wear a gold ribbon throughout September. Holding a Be Bold. Go Gold. event is a simple way of getting involved and making a difference. For example you could hold a dress-down day at work or non-uniform day at school in exchange for donations.
For more information about Childhood Cancer Awareness Month visit www.cclg.org.uk 
Whether you are just starting out on the road to a successful career in animal care, already working in industry, or looking to gain the skills to change career – undertaking an apprenticeship (incorporating an Animal Care City & Guilds qualification) could be your next career move!
If you’re looking to train in animal care, join our virtual Facebook Open Day on Thursday 14 September and find out all you need to know about what it’s like to get industry qualified as an apprentice!
From benefits and admissions, to fees and course content – the CAW team will be taking to Facebook to answer any queries you may have about animal care apprenticeships. We’ll be discussing everything you need to know about gaining an internationally recognised qualification in animal care, whilst training on-the-job!
This is an excellent opportunity to speak to course advisors and gain valuable information about your career options on completion of an apprenticeship, without the need to attend an open day in person.
To join the online discussion, or post a question to a member of our team, simply join us on Thursday 14 September, any time from 11:00 am – 14.00 pm (UK time) on our event page!
If you’d like to speak to a member of our team directly, contact us on 01480 422060. Further information on our animal care programmes can be found at www.caw.ac.uk/ac
The Level 3 Diploma in Dog Grooming is ideal if you are looking to build upon the skills and abilities needed to succeed as a professional dog groomer.
Upon gaining this qualification you will be able to handle and groom a range of dogs of differing breeds, identify normal and abnormal behaviour, know how to undertake health checks – and much more!
During your dog grooming training, you will work alongside qualified dog groomers in our state-of-the-art grooming suites, complete with professional dog grooming equipment and access to a variety of dogs on which to practice the techniques you will be learning.
This qualification runs on a day release basis for one academic year at our centres in Huntingdon (Cambridgeshire) and Leeds (West Yorkshire). Hurry – there’s still time to apply for courses starting on Wednesday 13 September!
Please note applicants must have achieved the City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate for Dog Grooming Assistants prior to enrolling onto the programme.
As summer comes to a close and the weather begins to change, as do the needs of our pets. From household poisons to cold weather hazards, there are plenty of safety issues to consider! See our top autumn pet safety tips below to help keep your pet happy and healthy this autumn.
Watch out for conkers and acorns
Not only do conkers pose a choking hazard, they also contain a poison called aesculin, which is found in all parts of the Horse Chestnut Tree, including the leaves. Serious cases of conker poisoning in dogs are rare, as for toxicity to occur dogs normally need to ingest a number of conkers, however you should still be weary when taking your dog(s) for walks in the autumnal months. Signs of poisoning can include vomiting, diarrhoea, salivation, increased thirst, abdominal pain and a reduced appetite.
Keep the parasites at bay
When fleas bite and suck blood, it can cause itching and skin irritation in your pets; fleas can also spread diseases and a variety of medical problems. Don’t let fleas make life miserable for your pet; speak to your vet about appropriate flea control!
BOO! Look out for your pet on Halloween…
A night of spooky shenanigans is great fun for humans, but Halloween can frighten your pets – therefore it is important to plan ahead. If you know your pets are sensitive to noise, keep them in a quiet room where you can keep an eye on them. In addition, be aware of chocolate and hard candies floating around on the night; chocolate can be extremely harmful to dogs and cats, and hard candies could pose a choking hazard.
Clear garden leaves
The changing colours of leaves are one of the pleasures of autumn; however they can cause problems for pets. Damp leaves, especially when piled up, are prone to bacteria and mould. If ingested by your dog or cat, this could lead to digestive problems such as a loss of appetite, vomiting or diarrhoea. If you decide to burn leaves in your garden, ensure your pet stays clear when you do so, and thoroughly check for wildlife such as hedgehogs hiding in piles of leaves before you light that match!
For those aspiring to an exciting career working with animals, undertaking an apprenticeship (incorporating a City & Guilds Animal Care qualification) is an excellent way to gain practical skills and knowledge, work experience, a wage and a qualification – all at the same time! Take a look at the key reasons why an apprenticeship could be the perfect career move…
As an animal care apprentice, on-the-job training means you will be paid for your efforts, and benefit from having a regular income. Apprentices will immediately start earning a wage when they begin employment. The average pay rate for an apprentice stands at around £170 per week*, with many apprentices’ earnings rising as they become more experienced and take on more responsibility. But wait, there’s more…
An animal care apprenticeship is a debt free route to a career in animal care. Not only will you be earning a wage, you will have no course fees to pay as these are all paid by your employer! In other words, you will be gaining valuable experience in the workplace for FREE! What’s more – as an animal care apprentice at CAW you will be eligible to purchase an NUS card for just £12, meaning you could make big savings on many of the top brands, including Amazon, The Co-operative Food and Odeon!
As many animal care apprenticeships have been developed in conjunction with employers, this means you will learn the most relevant and up-to-date skills required by industry. Over the course of your apprenticeship you will cover everything from animal accommodation, animal control, travelling with animals, reducing health and safety risks, maintaining bio security, feeding/cleaning – and much, much more!
You know what they say – once you’re in, you’re in. An apprenticeship offers the opportunity to secure a permanent position with your employer of choice on completion of formal studies. Starting out as an apprentice has proved to lead to real job prospects for many. According to research by the National Apprenticeship Service, 85% of apprentices will remain in employment on completion of their apprenticeship, with 64% of those staying with the same employer.* If you’re looking for job security and the opportunity to progress in your career, an apprenticeship could be the most secure way to develop with further education and training.
Our animal care apprenticeships are studied on a work based learning basis. Whilst the majority of students choose to undertake the Animal Care and Welfare pathway of this qualification, there are other pathways available such as Animal Training and Pet Care and Retail; allowing you to tailor the course to your interests, job requirements and career objectives. Not only this, but as the apprenticeship is work-based you may start at any time of the year, and will not be required to attend college for tuition!
A combination of workplace experience and online tuition means you will be mentored by tutors and colleagues with a wealth of knowledge each and every day! This will allow you to develop your confidence, knowledge and practical skills faster; and make meaningful industry connections that will prove invaluable as your career develops.
If you’re an animal lover, chances are you jump any opportunity to interact with animals; whether that is by walking your dog, petting the neighbourhood cat, or offering to look after other people’s pets while they are away. By undertaking an apprenticeship you will be able to put your love of animals to good use straight away – and this will prove invaluable when it comes to seeking employment in future.
Proving you have relevant, practical experience is essential to securing your first role and kick-starting your career in any industry, but no more so than in animal care. In a competitive job market, a theoretical knowledge of animal welfare alone is simply not enough to stand out. You have to be able to understand how this knowledge applies to real scenarios. Having several years’ worth of direct, practical experience on completion of your apprenticeship is therefore a significant advantage and addition to your CV!
Apprenticeships are forecast to contribute over £3bn by 2022, and it is estimated that the average apprentice improves business productivity by £214 per week.* As such working as an apprentice means you will be playing your part in boosting productivity both within the workplace and the economy!
For many people university is the dream, but choosing an apprenticeship over university now doesn’t mean you will never make it to campus halls in the future. On the contrary, successful completion of the Advanced Apprenticeship in Work-based Animal Care will lay the foundation for higher education, such as a foundation degree in animal management (subject to individual university entry requirements) or related courses in behaviour and training.
Think about where you’ll be once you’ve completed your apprenticeship. You will be qualified to undertake a range of animal care duties and be able to work towards higher certifications if you wish to do so. You will have the competitive edge of real world experience and skills learnt from on-the-job training. What’s more – think about what you will be paying for this opportunity…absolutely nothing! Your employer will cover the cost of your training. Put simply, you will be turning your passion into a career – and being paid for the opportunity to do so! What’s not to love?
If you’re thinking that an apprenticeship could be the perfect way for you to turn your love of animals into a career, start your journey with The College of Animal Welfare today! Our work-based apprenticeship programmes can be undertaken within a 90 minute radius of our Huntingdon (Cambridgeshire), Potters Bar (London) or Leeds (West Yorkshire) centres.
Animal Care and Welfare Assistant Apprenticeship (Level 2)
Intermediate Apprenticeship in Work-based Animal Care (Level 2)
Advanced Apprenticeship in Work-based Animal Care (Level 3)
Latest apprenticeship opportunities with The College of Animal Welfare
If you’ve received your GCSE results and are interested in working with animals, see below for some options on what you could do next, and how The College of Animal Welfare could help you achieve your career goals…
Train as a veterinary nurse
If you love animals and are concerned with animal welfare; then becoming a veterinary nurse could be the ideal route for you! Veterinary nurses assist veterinary surgeons in practice, undertaking a range of duties such as taking blood and urine samples, taking x-rays, preparing animals for treatment, assisting during operations, administrative and cleaning tasks and carrying out minor procedures. The main route into veterinary nursing at CAW for those with 5 GCSEs at grade C or above including English Language, Mathematics and a Science subject, is our Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing, which allows students to train as part of an apprenticeship. Completion of the course qualifies students to apply for professional registration as a Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN). For more information on eligibility criteria please visit our website.
Train as a veterinary care assistant
For those that would like to focus on animal welfare duties outside of surgery within a veterinary practice – such as exercising, grooming and feeding hospitalised animals, monitoring and providing supportive care to inpatients and cleaning and preparing accommodation for animals – training as a Veterinary Care Assistant would be an ideal career path! Veterinary Care Assistants work alongside veterinary surgeons and nurses in order to provide vital nursing care and ensure the wellbeing of small animal patients. Our Level 2 Diploma for Veterinary Care Assistants is an excellent course covering the underlying knowledge needed to thrive in a fast-paced veterinary care environment. Completion of this course, provided relevant qualifications in Maths and English are also achieved, allows students to train as veterinary nurse on the Level 3 Diploma programme if they wish to do so.
Train in animal care
Animal care training is suitable for those looking to find employment in animal care environments outside of veterinary practice; such as a zoo, stables, rescue centre, cattery or kennels. Depending on the role that you choose to undertake, your duties could range from cleaning, feeding and medicating animals, to educating the public on animal welfare and preparing animals for rehoming. Our animal care qualifications allow students to gain on-the-job training whilst earning a wage, and will cover a variety of animal care practices depending on your level of experience within the industry. For more information on careers within animal care you can visit our online career profiles.
Remember that there are many people, organisations and services out there to help you if you’re unsure about what you want to do next. You can speak with a member of our Customer Advice Team (CAT) on 01480 422060 if you’re interested in working with animals and would like an informal chat about post 16 career options.
The College of Animal Welfare is hosting its popular Careers with Animals Day at its centre in Leeds on Saturday 14 October 2016! Whether you’re a school leaver working out your next career move or an adult looking for a career change – don’t miss out on the opportunity to find out more about the training and employment opportunities within the veterinary care and animal care sectors. Entry is completely free of charge! Find out more at www.careerswithanimals.co.uk
International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition is intended to raise awareness of the tragedy of the slave trade, and encourage collective consideration of the historic causes, the methods and the consequences of this tragedy.
Slavery in Africa existed before the arrival of Europeans; however their arrival transformed the way in which the trade was conducted. Driven by a desire to profit from the newly discovered territories of the Americas, slaves were often subjected to inhuman living and working conditions. Slave owners generally supplied only the minimum food and shelter required for survival, and expected their slaves to work 48 hour shifts in order to maximise profitability during harvest time.
The desire for profit also transformed the scale of the slave trade. Over the course of four and a half centuries up to 12 million Africans were enslaved and transported to the Americas. 6 million slaves were transported during the 18th century alone, with Britain being the largest trader during this time, responsible for the transport of over 2 million Africans.
During the seven week journey from Africa and the Americas, slaves were tightly packed on board ships which could carry between 350 and 600 people. As slaves were left with as little as 4ft space, this meant that disease travelled quickly and approximately 15% of slaves died during this time.
The 23 August marks the night of the uprising in Santo Domingo (today Haiti and the Dominican Republic) which acted as a crucial trigger in the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.
Sources
https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/slavery-and-anti-slavery/resources/facts-about-slave-trade-and-slavery
http://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/political-science-and-government/military-affairs-nonnaval/slave-trade
https://www.theschoolrun.com/homework-help/the-atlantic-slave-trade
http://africa.mrdonn.org/slavetrade.html
For those looking to train as a veterinary nurse, the good news is that there is more than one way to make your dreams a reality! Aspiring veterinary nurses can achieve professional registration with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) through either a university degree or via a level 3 diploma.
The way in which your training is structured and delivered will differ depending on which path you choose to undertake, however both programmes of study offer unique benefits and are recognised as evidence of a high quality education.
Varied learning opportunities is great news for vet nurses to-be everywhere, as it means you can choose the programme of study that is best suited to your circumstances. All this being said; having more than one programme on offer naturally begs the question: which one is right for you?
Let’s take a look at both routes and find out…
The Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing can be studied by those who are already employed in a veterinary practice, as well as those who have not been able to secure a paid training position in practice.
College sessions offer diverse teaching, learning and assessment approaches catered for the individual needs of learners, enabling you to develop the required knowledge and skills needed to work as a qualified, Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN).
Provided you find suitable employment in a veterinary Training Practice (TP or aTP), the programme can also be undertaken as part of an apprenticeship. The main benefit of studying the diploma as an apprentice is that your training will be paid for by the employer, meaning it would be a debt-free route into the profession. View the latest apprenticeship opportunities at CAW
For those who do not hold the qualifications needed to enrol onto a degree programme, the diploma could be an excellent alternative. In order to apply for the diploma you must have a minimum of 5 GCSEs at grades A*-C (or 9-4) including English Language, Mathematics and a Science subject.
If you do not meet the GCSE entry requirements, other qualifications may be acceptable. For example, at The College of Animal Welfare successful completion of our Level 2 Certificate for Veterinary Care Assistants or Level 2 Certificate in Veterinary Care Support qualification, in combination with a full level 2 qualification in Maths and English (e.g. GCSE Grade A*-C or Level 2 functional skills qualifications), will allow you to apply for the Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing or Advanced Apprenticeship in Veterinary Nursing programmes, subject to employment in a veterinary practice that is approved to train veterinary nurses (a TP or aTP).
Entry onto the diploma programme can be very competitive, take a look at how you can strengthen your application.
Diploma students can qualify as a veterinary nurse in as little as 24 months, meaning the programme could be the route for if you are perhaps not in the position where you can take the three to four years of study necessary to gain a degree.
If you think this could be the option for you, your next step would be to find a suitable training provider. There are various colleges around the UK that offer this programme, a list can be found on the RCVS website. The College of Animal Welfare offers the Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing programme from centres all over the UK, with intakes starting throughout the year.
For those who would prefer to study at degree level, or are eager to experience the university life for all that it entails; such as moving away from home, mixing with new people and gaining new experiences – undertaking a veterinary nursing degree programme could be for you.
Degree programmes are generally either three or four years in length. During this time you will have the opportunity to undertake work placements in a variety of veterinary practices.
Going to university offers the opportunity to be taught by world renowned clinicians who are experts in their field. If you’re interested in post-graduate opportunities such as training in specialist areas like physiotherapy, or training for a career in teaching, university study is for you.
There are various universities around the UK that offer this programme, a list can be found on the RCVS website. The College of Animal Welfare offers the FdSc Veterinary Nursing and BSc Honour Veterinary Nursing degree programmes in conjunction with universities across the UK. For more information about these courses, including entry requirements and application details, click on the links below…
If you would like to have an informal chat with one of our course advisors about which training option would best suit your circumstances, a member of our Customer Advice Team (CAT) can be contacted at admin@caw.ac.uk or on 01480 422060.
Follow us on social media to be the first to see our latest advice and information about a career as a veterinary nurse: [ss_social_follow networks=”facebook;twitter;instagram;pinterest”]