Care for animals in a retail environment

work professionally and ethically and within the limits of your authority, expertise, training, competence and experience

carry out your work in accordance with the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, risk assessment requirements, associated codes of practice and organisational policies, including fire and other emergency procedures

carry out your work in accordance with the relevant animal health and welfare and animal-related legislation, associated codes of practice and organisational policies

assess how to provide for the welfare needs of the animals in your care

check that animals entering the retail environment, except for fish, are quarantined

provide accommodation that is relevant to the animal including space for sleeping, space in which to move around freely and exhibit normal behaviours, and somewhere to hide away if needed

check that accommodation is safe, secure and protected (e.g. from draughts, sun, weather, predators, interference)

check that accommodation is regularly cleaned, maintained and repaired where necessary

provide enrichment as required for the species of animal, including interaction with humans where this is suitable

provide the required environmental conditions for the species of animal and check that the conditions are monitored

check that animals are supplied with the required amounts of food and drink, relevant to their needs, at suitable intervals

approach, handle and restrain the animal in a way suitable to the species, which promotes animal welfare, avoids behaviour giving rise to welfare concern and maintains health and safety

maintain hygiene and bio-security in accordance with workplace instructions, organisational practice and the relevant legislation, to ensure animals are protected from the outbreak or spread of disease

monitor the health and welfare of the animals at regular intervals and take the required action in cases of illness or injury

care for animals that are being treated for illness or injury

confirm that all animals offered for sale in the retail environment are in good health

check that when an animal has been sold, it is handed to the purchaser in a container suitable for transportation

provide the purchaser with written care and welfare instructions suitable for the species of animal, along with relevant advice and information

confirm that the purchaser buying the animal are over the age of 16

deal with waste in accordance with workplace instructions, organisational practice and the relevant legislation

confirm that records are maintained and stored as required by the relevant legislation and organisational policy

your professional and the limits of your own authority, expertise, training, competence and experience

the types of animals that may be stocked under the terms of the retailer's licence

your responsibilities under the relevant animal health and welfare and animal-related legislation, associated codes of practice, organisational policies and the Veterinary Surgeons Act

your responsibilities under the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, associated codes of practice and organisational policies, including fire and other emergency procedures, especially the arrangements for the evacuation of animals

how the welfare needs of the animals in your care may be assessed and addressed

the organisational procedures for dealing with animals entering into the retail environment and the importance of quarantine

the required quarantine procedures for the animal species that you stock in the retail environment

the accommodation requirements for different animal species you stock, including the size, construction materials to use, stocking densities and requirements when housing animals together

the requirements for cleaning, maintenance and repair of the accommodation

the environmental enrichment that is relevant to the care of the animal species, including where interaction with humans is suitable

the environmental conditions required by different animal species, and the importance of ventilation

the importance of a suitable contingency plan for essential heating, ventilation, aeration or filtration systems

the type, amount, frequency, presentation and storage of feed and water for the animals in your care

how to approach, handle and restrain different animal species in a manner that promotes animal welfare, avoids behaviour giving rise to welfare concern and maintains health and safety

the importance of maintaining hygiene and bio-security and the methods for achieving this

the relevant legal and organisational requirements for the handling, transport, storage and disposal of waste, including dead animals

the importance of monitoring animals, how frequently this should be done, the signs that may indicate illness or injury and when to seek advice from the retailer's veterinary surgeon

what to do with animals that are under veterinary treatment e.g. isolation, treatment, euthanasia

the vaccination requirements for different animal species and the timing of vaccinations

the conditions that would prevent an animal being offered for sale in a retail environment

which containers are suitable for purchasers to use to transport animals home safely and securely

the relevant animal care and welfare information that you should provide to the purchaser

the records that need to be kept in relation to the care of animals in a retail environment, and the importance of completing these in accordance with the relevant legislation and organisational policy