Humane Society partners with WorkStarter program

SAINT AUGUSTINE –  The St. Augustine Humane Society has partnered with the WorkStarter program for a third year while seeking the attention of St. Johns County High School seniors. The Humane Society has been chosen again to offer veterinary technician and pet groomer training positions to 2020 high school graduates. WorkStarter established in 2018, seeks to create meaningful entry level jobs for graduates who are not currently considering further or higher education, or career training.

WorkStarter is designed to match recent graduates with local non-profits that will employ them for a period of one year. The successful candidates should display the following characteristics with compassion for animals, attention to detail, good communication skills, responsible work ethics, must be a team player, and physically fit to work with dogs and cats.

 For the veterinary technician training position, the graduate does not need prior experience and will work with staff veterinarians, veterinary technicians and volunteers to learn the business and medical side of the practice along with hands on technical training in pet care, procedures and treatments. For the pet groomer training position, the graduate does not need prior experience and will learn the technical skills and front office work involved with running and operating a pet spa along with hands on techniques in grooming. The graduate will work with experienced groomers on staff and receive a starter kit with basic pet grooming equipment and supplies as part of the instruction.

According to Carolyn Smith, St. Augustine Humane Society’s Executive Director, having the honor of being a third-year grant recipient has been very meaningful. “The positions will afford each trainee the opportunity to define a clear career path for continued growth and learning,” said Smith. “All of our WorkStarter employees have learned valuable skills during their training as a pet groomer and veterinary technician, respectively,” she said.  “Our recent pet clinic expansion will create more opportunities and responsibilities for the candidates and their basic training.”

Smith added, St. Augustine Humane Society is grateful and humbled to be a past and current beneficiary of the WorkStarter grant.  WorkStarter donates the full cost of the year’s employment to the non-profit organization. For more information, applicants can view the website at http://www.workstarter.org. Contact Carolyn Smith at (904) 829-2737 or email info@staughumane.org. Visit the website at www.staugustinehumanesociety.org.