ANIMAL CARE INTERNSHIP

Thank you for your interest in our Animal Care Internship at Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge! Interns are an essential part of our team and play many valuable roles in the day-to-day work at our sanctuary. As an Animal Care Intern you will be provided with the unique opportunity to learn what it is like to work as a caregiver to over 100 rescued farmed animals, including sheep, goats, cows, geese, ducks, turkeys, chickens, and (one) guinea fowl. This hands-on experience will equip you with substantial knowledge about what it takes to care for farmed animals in a sanctuary setting.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Opening up animal houses and ensuring doors and gates are properly secured

  • Feeding animal residents

  • Cleaning and replenishing water bowls and pools

  • Providing daily enrichment for residents (e.g. giving treats in puzzle toys, spraying interesting scents around the habitat, playing music, etc.)

  • Cleaning animal houses and yards (e.g. sweeping poop off goat bunks, spot cleaning sand in duck/goose houses, removing cobwebs, etc.)

  • Cleaning clinic cages

  • Assisting caregivers with medical care and health checks

  • Preparing food (e.g. chopping greens, making supplement and enrichment treats, cooking eggs for the chickens, etc.)

  • Washing dishes

  • Doing laundry

  • Cleaning and tidying human workspaces

  • Observing animals for any behavioral or health issues

  • Shadowing staff members in roles outside animal care

  • Several educational activities

  • Other duties as assigned


QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Must be at least 18 years old

  • Respect for our animal residents as individuals with inherent value

  • Willingness to learn about the Refuge’s approach to farmed animal rescue and care

  • Respectful and professional attitude toward staff, volunteers, and visitors at the Refuge

  • Willingness to do manual (sometimes dirty and smelly) work outside in all weather conditions

  • Ability to lift bales of hay and straw and carry 5 gallon buckets of feed and water (about 50 pounds)

  • Ability to stand and walk for extended periods of time and climb ladders

  • Attention to detail

  • Ability to follow written and spoken instructions

  • Ability to work both as a team and independently

  • Punctuality and efficient time management

  • Comfortable working with cows, goats, sheep, chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, and guinea fowl

  • Comfortable around wildlife, including snakes, spiders, mice, and others

  • No previous animal experience is required


ADDITIONAL DETAILS:

  • The internship is 12 weeks long from May 11 - August 2, 2025 although there is some flexibility in these start and end dates. The shifts are 8am-1pm, and interns will work 5 days a week (25 hours/week). 

  • On-site housing is not available, so interns must have reliable transportation to and from the Refuge. An exception could possibly be made for interns residing far away from the Refuge, but it is not guaranteed. 

  • This is an unpaid internship. However, if you need academic credit for the internship, we can work with you to see if our program meets your requirements. 

  • Interns are expected to respect the Refuge being a vegan space by not bringing any animal products on site in the form of food (meat, dairy, eggs, honey, gelatin) or clothing (leather, wool, fur, silk).

APPLICATION PROCESS:

  1. Submit an application 

  2. Brief phone interview

  3. In-person working interview (8am-12pm)

  4. Internship offer

We will review applications on a rolling basis. If the application form is open, that means we are still accepting applications. We will respond to all applicants via email regardless of whether or not we would like to move forward.

Questions? —> Email info@piedmontrefuge.org
Want to learn more? —> Download our FAQ Guide
Ready to Apply? —> Click the button below!