Behavior & Enrichment Intern

Behavior & Enrichment Intern

Gain hands-on animal handling experience while supporting animals in need.

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is seeking an enthusiastic and organized animal Behavior & Enrichment Intern to support our behavior & enrichment team. This unpaid internship provides hands-on experience with animal behavior and enrichment, build animal trust, foster positive relationships between animals and humans, and support in animal behavior classes. Candidates will also have the opportunity to learn more about animal welfare, shelter operations, and non-profit work. 

This is a great opportunity for someone interested in animal behavior, a nonprofit environment, fear free animal handling, building trust between animals and people, shelter operations, or animal welfare, who wants to build professional skills in a mission-driven environment.

Schedule

• Unpaid internship
• Flexible schedule based on availability and shelter needs
• Work will take place at ARL locations

About the Animal Rescue League of Iowa

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is Iowa’s largest nonprofit animal welfare organization, helping animals and the people who love them through sheltering, adoption, veterinary care, animal services, community programs, and pet support resources. Across multiple locations and programs in the Des Moines metro, the ARL works every day to provide compassionate care, practical support, and trusted resources for animals and families in our community.

What You'll Do

• Assist and observe the Behavior and Enrichment team with behavior modification and enrichment. 
• Assist with data entry.
• Assist with animal handling, when appropriate.
• Participate in stress and disease reduction efforts through purposeful and compassionate handling of animals in shelter environment.
• Ensure a safe environment by following all safety guidelines and modeling safe work practices.
• Demonstrate knowledge of and adherence to ARL policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions

• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
• May be exposed to odors, diseases of animals that are possibly contagious, bites, scratches, animal waste, and moderate noise level.
• Must be able to stand and sit for long periods of time.

Internship Experience

This internship is designed as an opportunity for professional development, learning, and skill building. Behavior & Enrichment interns gain exposure to animals with different behaviors, fear free animal handling, animal enrichment, and appropriate documentation. 

This is an unpaid internship and should not be viewed as paid employment.

Why Join the ARL?

As a Behavior & Enrichment Intern, you will help support the behavior and enrichment team in providing safe and compassionate animal training. You'll be helping animals with behavior needs learn, build trust, and monitor their success.  

If you are enthusiastic, organized, and excited to gain hands-on Behavior & Enrichment experience in a mission-driven nonprofit environment, we would love to have you join our team.

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state law. Applicants are encouraged to discuss potential accommodations as needed.