Kennel Small Mammal Specialist Animal Care Volunteer Training Manual Thank you for choosing to be an Animal Care department volunteer! This manual will help you understand the basics of volunteering with small mammals (SMAMs) in the Animal Care department. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask any Animal Care staff or veteran volunteers. Please do not attempt any of these processes or techniques until you have been trained by a Dumb Friends League staff member.

Attendance and Vacations

If you are unable to make it in for your shift, please contact Volunteer Services at 720-241-7160 or e-mail [email protected]. This way we know that you will be out and we may be able to find another volunteer to fill your shift. If you would like to change your position or the time and/or day you come in, please contact Jasmin Rice at 720-241-7146.

Getting Started • •

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Please wear your volunteer nametag and t-shirt for all shifts. Individual hand sanitizers are in a bin on the table at the lockers. Please return the sanitizer when your shift ends. Refills are available in the Animal Care supervisor/manager’s office Clock in at the time clock for every shift. Please check in at the Animal Care Supervisor’s office. Once you clock in, continue down this hall way, at the end of the hall take a left and go through the door. The animal care supervisor’s office will be on the left. Across from the supervisors office is a white board. The white board has information about Animal Care staff members working in specific areas. Information for volunteers, including new procedures, will be posted on the bulletin board.

Equipment

IN THE SMAM ROOMS • Gloves (both latex and non-latex)

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Trash bags Signs Spray bottles of Chemicals Water pitcher Paper towels

Safety Cleaning Chemicals Accel is used in all kennels to sterilize them for a new animal. TET Glass Cleaner is used on windows and doors. Vinegar is used to clean rabbit kennels, litter boxes and terrariums.

Slips, Trips, Falls, and Bites If one of these occurs, notify the Animal Care supervisor on duty immediately. Fill out an incident report.

Moving a SMAM from its Kennel Approaching a SMAM • Get the SMAM’s attention before opening the gate by talking quietly. • Open the kennel door slowly and make sure the SMAM cannot fall or jump out of the kennel. Remember, there is often more than one SMAM in each kennel. • Give the SMAM the opportunity to explore you before attempting to pick it up. • Don’t rush. SMAMs are prey and can be easily startled. Ask a staff member or another volunteer for help if necessary. o Remember that SMAMs are often unfamiliar with gloves and this can scare them as well. Picking Up a SMAM • Rabbits: Can be easily stressed, so please go very slow when handling. Talk to the rabbit in a soft, calm voice and allow it to explore you. When picking up, place its back to you and support its bottom while holding the rear two feet to prevent kicking. Hold the rabbit close to your body to prevent squirming; rabbits do not have flexible spines so you must be very careful to not allow them to squirm too much as they can injure themselves. Do not set a rabbit down until it has stopped squirming. • Gerbils: Gerbils are very fast and they jump. Cup the gerbil in your hands or use a container to pick it up. Never pick a gerbil up by the tail. • Hamsters: Go slowly when picking up a hamster; make sure it is aware that you are there as it may bite if startled. Cup in your hands or pick up in a container. • Guinea Pigs: Can be startled easily, talk in a soft, calm voice and allow them to explore you. Support their bodies when picking up and hold them close to your body. They will scream if they are scared and will chatter if they are comfortable. • Rats: Rats are very social, making them easy to handle. Open the kennel and allow the rat to approach you. Pick up by cupping in your hand or in a container. Never pick up a rat by its tail.

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Mice: Mice can be easily startled, so go slowly and talk in a calm and quiet voice. Mice are very fast. Pick up by cupping in your hands or using a container. Never pick up a mouse by the tail. Ferrets: Ferrets are very social, making them easy to handle. Open the kennel and allow the ferret to approach you. Lift ferrets by supporting their bodies and hips. Never pick up a ferret by the scruff; it is very important to support their bottoms. Birds: Approach the bird slowly, talking in a calm voice. Greet the bird through the kennel bars before opening the gate. If the bird does not approach, or if it retreats or displays any aggression, ask a staff member for assistance. Reptiles: See the Animal Care supervisor or manager for care instructions for reptiles or other exotic animals.

Putting a SMAM in a Carrier

If moving a SMAM from one room to another, always use an appropriate carrier. SMAMs can be held temporarily in flight kennels as long as they cannot fit through any of the spaces in the kennel. Mice, rats, hamsters and gerbils can go into exercise balls if they need to be out of their kennel; this also gives them an opportunity for extra exercise. Do not leave SMAMs in kennels or exercise balls unattended.

Cleaning SMAMs Cleaning SMAM Holding Make sure to check the animal’s kennel card for any important signage or information pertaining to the specific SMAM(s) in the kennel. Also, make note of how many SMAMs should be in each kennel and ensure that they are all accounted for before and after cleaning the kennel. Wash and sanitize your hands between each kennel. Cleaning an occupied SMAM kennel- Use Accel 2oz/gal 1. Try to keep animal in the kennel while cleaning. If animal needs to be removed, place animal in a kennel, exercise pen, or exercise ball. If an exercise pen is used, place a tarp or blanket on the floor to prevent urine stains. 2. Remove the newspaper, bedding or litter and discard in the trash. Double check to make sure a small mammal is not wrapped up in the bedding you are discarding. 3. Using Accel, spray on towel or use with buckets and rags to clean the inside of the kennel. 4. Wipe down glass and doors with Accel, 5. Wipe dry. 6. Cover the bottom of the kennel and litter box with several layers of newspaper. 7. Place Carefresh litter on top of the newspaper and in the litter box for rabbits. 8. Add a handful of Carefresh litter to the kennel. 9. Place a handful of hay at one end of the litter box for the rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas.

10. Replace any toys or towels that are too soiled for re-use and replace with fresh toys and bedding. 11. Refresh food bowl and water bottle (See “Feeding: Small Mammals” SOP). 12. Place animal back in kennel. 13. All empty kennels must be bleached and soaked for ten minutes and then wiped dry and set up for use. Sterilizing an empty SMAM kennel- Use Accel 4oz/gal 1. Remove the newspaper, bedding or litter and discard in the trash. 2. Remove all smam bowls, toys and huts and take to dish washer. 3. Spray kennel with Accel cleaner. 4. Lets sit for 10 minutes. 5. Wipe dry. 6. Turn sterile/unsterile sign over. Cleaning the Small Mammal Cart, Storage Room and Small Mammal Rooms 1. After morning clean is complete, wipe down the cart using Accel and paper towels. 2. Stock the cart according to the equipment list. 3. Sweep out the storage room and animal rooms. 4. Stock rooms according to the equipment list. 5. Take out the trash. 6. Mop all floors with Accel. Spot Cleaning Spot cleaning is done in the afternoon after morning clean has already been completed. This helps ensure that the animals will be comfortable overnight. Spot cleaning can generally be done while the animal is still in the cage. • Freshen all food and water. • Sterilize any empty cages. • Change any dirty rabbit or ferret litter boxes. • Clean any dirty cages that still contain animals. • Sweep and mop the floor. • Take out trash. Cleaning Adoptable SMAMs The adoptable SMAM kennels are located by the TLC cat entrance. The cleaning process for SMAMs in the adoption area is the same as SMAM holding except for three minor differences: • There are no ferrets upstairs. • The Supplies are on a cart located in the ‘SMAM closet.’ This is located between real life room one and two.

Cleaning the Aviary The Aviary is located next to the Health Care department, across from the Return for Treatment exam rooms. • If necessary, remove the bird from the cage. • Pull out tray from bottom of birdcage and remove all soiled newspaper. Wipe down using Accel and replace paper or dish soap/rag. • Never spray any chemical near birds. • Wipe down all perches. • Give fresh water and fill food. • Wipe down bars of cage if necessary. • Sweep and mop Aviary floor. Sterilizing Bird Cages • Remove all newspaper and debris. • Wash all dishes and run through dishwasher. • Sterilize empty birdcages with Wysiwash in cage wash.

Cage Set-Up

Cage set-up for each SMAM can be different. The cages do not need to be set up until the SMAM is actually going into the kennel. Rabbits • The bottom of rabbit kennels should be lined with newspaper with a grate placed over the top of the paper. • Six things for a happy bunny home: 1. Water bottle 2. Ceramic food dish 3. Shelf with a towel on top 4. Hard plastic toy 5. Something to chew on, like a twig or cardboard roll 6. Litter box; match up size of bunny to size of litter box Gerbils/Rats/Mice • • •

Line bottom of kennel with newspaper and Care Fresh. Do not use a grate for rodents. Five things for a happy rodent home: 1. Water bottle 2. Ceramic or metal food dish 3. Hiding place, like a plastic castle 4. Wheel 5. Something to chew on, like a twig or cardboard roll

Guinea Pigs • Line bottom of cage with newspaper, Care Fresh, and hay. • Do not use a grate, it can injure their feet. • Four things for a happy guinea pig home: 1. Water bottle 2. Ceramic dish 3. Hiding place, like a plastic castle

4. Something to chew on, like a twig or cardboard roll Ferrets • Use kennels in SMAM holding that are multiple levels. • Line the bottle level with newspaper. • Six things for a happy ferret home: 1. Water bottle 2. Ceramic food dish 3. Hammock 4. Blanket to burrow in 5. Litter box 6. Toys; can use cat toys Birds • Use available bird cages in the Aviary. • Four things for a happy bird cage: 1. Dish for food 2. Water dish 3. Bird toy; these can hang from the top of the cage to be chewed on or can be a mirror 4. Perches

Feeding SMAMs Rabbits • Pellet food is provided during morning feed at the rate 1/3 cup per 6 pounds of body weight. • A snack of carrots is provided daily. • Rabbits can have as much hay as they want. Gerbils/Hamsters/Mice • Bulk rodent mix of oats, corn and seeds is available at all times. • May supplement diet with plain cheerios- only 2-3 at a time; as well as a small sprig of mustard greens. Guinea Pigs • Pellet food is provided during morning feed at the rate of 1/3 cup per 6 pounds of body weight. • A snack of carrots is provided daily. • Guinea Pigs can have as much hay as they want. Ferrets • Bulk ferret food is available at all times. • Ferrets can have mealworms as a daily snack. Birds • •

Birdseed available at all times. o Depending on breed of bird, the seed can be different. Do not feed the bird without reading the packaging first. Birds crack the seeds they eat. Be sure to remove the empty hulls of the seeds every day during morning clean.

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Fruits and vegetables can be given as treats with the exception of grapes, apples and pears. Butternut squash and bananas are best. Specific feeding instructions will be posted on kennel for exotics.