animal protection officer

animal caretaker

front desk agent

veterinary technician

animal control officer

Oakville & Milton Humane Society

I worked at the Oakville & Milton Humane Society in a new position that split from another role, and unfortunately, it was an extremely disorganized and confusing experience. The role was unclear from the start - within the job posting, during the interview process and the beginning of my employment I was led to believe certain tasks were part of my duties. However, after some time, many of those tasks were reassigned without any communication, leaving me unsure of what my actual responsibilities were. I did not have the opportunity to take on those responsibilities, it felt as though there was a lack of trust in my abilities without giving me a chance to prove my abilities.

While I was always open to taking on new tasks and offering my input and suggestions for efficiency improvements, the lack of clear expectations and the absence of direct feedback on specific projects left me feeling unsupported. My manager expressed satisfaction with my work throughout my time there and even communicated upcoming responsibilities she wanted me to take on in the future, so it was both disappointing and confusing to be let go without any explanation of what I could have improved.

As a Foster and Volunteer Coordinator, one of my main duties was to match foster animals with suitable families. However, there were very limited options for fostering as new foster applicants were not being allowed to apply and be on boarded, making it difficult to effectively fulfill my role and find appropriate homes for the animals in need. Managing the schedule for animal facing volunteer roles often led to complaints from volunteers as there were so many open shifts, and again, new volunteer applicants were not being allowed to apply and be on boarded. This was during a transition to a new volunteer system and while I understand, I would have been happy to do extra work and input manually as needed in order to fill some of these spots.

Working in a cubicle environment with a lot of noise, I generally tried to focus in to get my work done. I did my best to join in when I could and engage with coworkers, but perhaps my effort and progress wasn’t noticed by me those above me. 

In the end, I was let go without reason. Perhaps for being "too quiet," despite my efforts to contribute positively to the workplace. I did the best I could with limited options. Not really a live-able wage, and unlikely for much of an increase remaining in the position. Overall, my experience was frustrating and misleading. 


#1 thing to mention:
If you're looking for a career path in humane societies, animal welfare or other non-profit, this is a great place for an early career, where you learn a variety of skills and gain experience that you won't find at a boring retail job (for less pay). 

People & culture:
Everyone at OMHS is truly passionate about the animals and community, and it shows day to day. Everyone I work and interact with have all been fantastic, they always have your back. True teamwork feel. Each department is run uniquely, so your manager really plays a big impact on your role. You'll do great here if you are fairly sociable, are not shy to ask questions, and you love new learning experiences. It's fairly fast-paced and no two days are alike. 

Growth opportunities:
No matter how you get in, you can apply for other positions and departments that interesacrosst you. Being a part of a union also makes things fair roles.

My experience overall: 
I love my job! Customer Care is the place to be if you enjoy working individually and as a team combined. In Customer Care, we interact with all departments plus members of the public, and gain exposure to a wide variety of cases. Sometimes the work is emotional and challenging, but the animals truly makes up for it all.

I can vouch that the job descriptions are accurate and summarize what to expect in any given role.
Training was structured and expectations are clear. Feedback is well communicated. 
Everyone is really respectful of office hours vs lunch break and time off.

Will you like it here? 
In reality, working for ANY non-profit carries typical challenges of: hard work, lower pay, and occasional staff shortages. This happens at every non-profit.  OMHS is no exception, but, is hugely rewarding if you have a love for helping animals and you care about what you do. 

DON'T work here (or any other non-profit) if you're just looking to get rich quick, do "something easy", or think you'll play with animals all day. Working in a charitable organization is hugely different than an actual city job or big corporation, nothing will ever change that.

DO work here if you are self-motivated, eager to learn, love a challenge, and want to work somewhere you can truly help the animals.

If you asked me about this role a a year ago, I’d have had a very different answer. The work has always been important and meaningful — but the environment wasn’t always healthy. Thankfully, things have changed.

There has been a major shift in leadership, and the difference is night and day. The current management team is supportive, transparent, and genuinely invested in the well-being of both staff and animals. There’s a renewed sense of teamwork, purpose, and respect that’s been missing in the past.

What’s Great:
Supportive New Leadership: For the first time in a long time, we have leaders who listen, lead by example, and actually care about how we’re doing. They take the time to understand the challenges on the ground and work with us — not against us.

Passionate Team: Despite past turnover, those who stayed (and those who joined more recently) are incredibly committed. There’s a real sense of purpose among officers and a willingness to help one another.

Work That Matters: Every call has the potential to change an animal’s life. Whether it’s helping an injured stray or educating the public — this work makes a difference.

Opportunities to Grow: With new leadership, there’s more room for training, input, and development. You’re not just a number — your experience and voice actually matter now.

Positive Direction: The culture is improving, processes are being refined, and there’s a stronger sense of team. We’re moving forward, and it feels good to be part of it.

What to Know:
This job isn’t easy. It’s emotionally heavy, physically demanding, and the public interactions can be challenging. But if you care deeply about animals and want a career that has real purpose, this role offers that — especially now, under the current leadership.

Final Thought:
There was a time when this department struggled — but we’ve turned a corner. If you're passionate about animal welfare and want to join a team that’s doing meaningful work with the right leadership in place, OMHS is a great place to be.

Working at the Oakville & Milton Humane Society (OMHS) has been a rewarding experience overall. The organization is full of people who truly care about animal welfare, and that passion shows through the work we do every day.

The Good:
Strong Team Culture: The APS department has a tight-knit group of officers who support each other, share knowledge, and have each other’s backs in what can be a tough line of work.

Leadership That Listens: In my time here, leadership has been open to feedback and is actively working on improving operations and communication

Meaningful Impact: You do real work that matters — helping animals in distress, educating the public, and responding to calls that make a difference in both animal and human lives.

Training Opportunities: OMHS invests in its staff with training and certification opportunities, which helps build long-term skills and confidence in the field.

The Realities:
High Expectations: Yes, the workload can be heavy, and there are performance targets — but they’re meant to ensure community coverage and accountability. If you manage your time and communicate challenges, you’re supported.

Emotionally Tough: This kind of work is not for the faint of heart. Some calls are hard. But you’re trained, and you’re not doing it alone.

Public-Facing Role: Dealing with the public can be unpredictable — sometimes challenging, but often rewarding. You have to be adaptable and calm under pressure.

Like any job in animal welfare or by-law enforcement, it comes with stress. But for people who are passionate about animals and public service, OMHS offers meaningful work, learning opportunities, and a team that wants to see you succeed.

It is interesting to read the perspectives of former APOs whose accusations are incorrect. Its obvious there is a reason those individuals no longer work for this organization. 

Pros:

Working directly with animals and helping the public can be incredibly fulfilling.

Fellow APS Officers are passionate, supportive, and genuinely care about animal welfare.

Opportunities exist for professional development and certifications (e.g., MLEOA, OCCO), depending on your tenure.

Cons:
While the organization’s mission is inspiring, the day-to-day reality in the Animal Protection Services (APS) department was challenging and, at times, discouraging.

Expectations were high and often misaligned with the actual capacity of staff. A large portion of the role involved meeting strict daily quotas — such as park patrol counts, cadaver collections, and by-law enforcement — which often overshadowed more meaningful animal welfare work. Much of the shift felt driven by performance metrics rather than impact.

The work environment felt rigid and overly focused on documentation and productivity tracking. Feedback was typically performance-based rather than supportive, and mistakes often led to formal corrective action rather than coaching or development.

Staffing shortages added to the pressure, and maintaining work-life balance proved difficult.

Final Thoughts:
The role has the potential to be rewarding for those passionate about animal welfare. However, in my experience, the operational structure and management approach made long-term sustainability difficult. For someone early in their career or looking to gain animal control experience, it may serve as a stepping stone — but it may not offer the support or fulfillment needed for a long-term career.



Unprofessional. Disorganized. Uncaring. Horrific. Money-driven. The list of words to describe this place can go on forever. 

The job started out amazing, all the officers were lovely, the job was fun. Suddenly, management began implementing unrealistic expectations. As officers you work 11 hours in a day. Management put in multiple KPI’s that made doing the job nearly impossible. Some KPI’s included, increased cadaver pick ups on regional roads (management get paid for this, officers don’t see that money at all) - minimum 1 hour a shift, minimum 12 park patrols a day - equating to 2 hours, dog licensing campaign - minimum 1.5 hours,  license follow ups - minimum 2 hours, and bylaw cases - minimum 2 hours.  This totals 8.5 hours out of your 11 hour day. On top of all this, you have 2.5 hours to help any wildlife or domestic animals in need. Sometimes animal calls can take over an hour to complete, leaving you with helping 2-3 animals only. If you do not meet these KPI’s daily, guess what? You get pulled into the managers office for a performance talk; which can end in a verbal or written warning. Too many of these warnings can lead to suspension or termination. Management sets up the officers for failure. 

If that isn’t enough to send you away from this place, within 1.5 months this year, the Animal Protection Services department lost 5/7 full time officers due to the unrealistic expectations set out by management. 

Save yourself the trouble and go somewhere else. If you must, use this place as a stepping stone and stay only 6-8 months maximum (for your own sanity).

 had high hopes working here because I genuinely care about animal welfare, but my experience was disappointing overall. The work environment felt disorganized, and communication from management was often unclear or inconsistent. Expectations would change without much notice, which made it difficult to feel confident in my role.

One of the biggest frustrations was the heavy focus on dog licensing campaigns and constantly pushing to meet KPIs. While I understand the importance of licensing, it often felt like hitting numbers was prioritized over meaningful animal care and support for the community. That shift made the work feel more like a numbers game than what I originally signed up for.

The pay is also quite low considering the nature of the work, the level of responsibility, and the situations staff are expected to handle. On top of that, being scheduled for night shifts alone felt unsafe and unsupported at times, especially given the unpredictability of the job.

Staff were frequently overworked and understaffed, which affected both morale and the quality of care. There wasn’t much support during busy or high-stress situations, and it often felt like you were left to manage things on your own.

There are definitely passionate and hardworking people here, but the overall workplace culture needs improvement. Better organization, fair compensation, safer staffing practices, and clearer communication would go a long way

If you’re looking to get experience working in a shelter environment, OMHS is the best place to start! This shelter is ahead of the game when it comes to care provided for the animals and they have the best interest of staff in mind. While the shelter is a unionized environment, management works hard to build positive relationships with employees, listen and implement feedback and make changes that everyone benefits from. There is so much opportunity for growth here, several current staff have worked their way up from part time or full time entry level positions to leadership. 

This shelter is very attitude and personality focused. If you show up to work with a positive attitude and a willingness to work hard, you will be seen and rewarded for the work you contribute. Leadership works hard to prevent a toxic and negative work environment which is so common in the animal field. There is a zero tolerance policy for bullying and toxicity among staff which I find is rare within the industry and shows how much the shelter cares about staffs mental wellbeing and overall success. 

Other perks of working here include seeing an animals journey from stray to adoption, seeing wildlife sent off to rehabs, and creating a positive impact within the Oakville community! No job is easy or perfect 100% of the time but OMHS comes close! 

Working at the Oakville & Milton Humane Society was one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. Every day felt meaningful, knowing that the work we did directly improved the lives of animals and helped members of the community.

The team is truly passionate about animal welfare, and you can feel that energy the moment you walk through the doors. I was surrounded by knowledgeable, compassionate coworkers who were always willing to lend a hand or share advice. The leadership was supportive, approachable, and committed to creating a healthy work environment where you felt heard and valued.

The work itself could be challenging—emotionally and physically—but it was also incredibly fulfilling. Whether it was helping with adoptions, assisting with rescues, or supporting pet owners in crisis, you knew you were making a difference.

If you care deeply about animals, enjoy fast-paced work, and want to be part of a team that truly cares about their mission, OMHS is a great place to be.

Culture has improved immensely. New leadership has made a difference.  The current team here is friendly, inclusive, contributes to a positive team culture and wants to help the animals.

Non-profit is ALWAYS fast paced, you wear many hats, your day is never the same, and you tend to deal with a variety of public members experiencing a variety of emotions.  For the animal welfare industry, you need this plus a strong work ethic, high emotional intelligence, and you can't just love pets. You'll deal with people and pet owners, so you need to have strong customer service skills and truly love people.  

When I started, management was more welcoming than I have experienced at any other workplace. They offered support, lent advice and answered questions. I felt a part of the team immediately and also felt appreciated. Being able to come to work each day and enjoy working with the people around me is incredibly important and typically the one thing I research heavily before accepting a job.  There is no typical day, it's fast paced but fun, and there is a huge opportunity to learn from those around you. 

I'd definitely recommend joining this team!


Top Job Titles	Average salary
Animal protection officer 3 salaries reported	$27.00 per hour
Animal caretaker 3 salaries reported	$19.33 per hour
Front desk agent 3 salaries reported	$20.40 per hour
Veterinary technician 1 salary reported	$26.56 per hour
Animal control officer 5 salaries reported	$20.56 per hour

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