Animal Welfare Specialist/Auditor
A professional working as an animal welfare specialist or auditor typically performs animal handling inspections, welfare inspections and food safety audits on farms, animal production facilities and animal processing facilities. The primary responsibilities of an animal welfare specialist are to conduct these inspections and audits to assure appropriate measures are being taken and all state mandates are being practiced.
What Responsibilities Will I Have?
- Perform inspections at assigned facilities, assuring consistency and accuracy in all audit reports
- Ensure company and legal standards are maintained in terms of animal handling, welfare, euthanasia and food safety
- Report and record animal welfare misconduct
- Attend to and investigate reports of animal welfare misconduct and food safety investigations
- Collect information regarding sources of high stress in animals
- Provide training as requested and needed regarding animal welfare practices
- Ensure that livestock truck drivers are adhering to animal welfare policies
- Lead and implement programs, protocols and policies to drive improvement in animal well-being
- Recommend changes to existing animal welfare standards when needed
- Schedule and conduct travel inspections
- Possess a working knowledge of livestock handling tools and industry standards
- Monitor animal research news and animal rights extremism-risk activity in an assigned region
Recommended High School Courses:
- agricultural education
- business
- biology
- animal science
- anatomy
- Spanish
- mathematics
Education/Training Required:
A bachelor’s degree in animal science, animal welfare or a related field is required. It is also often preferred that an animal welfare auditor be certified by the Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization. Other certifications relevant to different animals may also be requested.
