Overview
As an Animal Rescue Officer (ARO) with the RSPCA, you'll respond to reports of cruelty, neglect, or injury and play a vital role in preventing animal suffering through education, advice, and, where necessary, intervention. If you are motivated by animal welfare and want to make a meaningful difference, a career as an ARO could be perfect for you.
There are not many careers that allow you to pursue your passion while making a real difference in the world. As an ARO, you'll help improve animals' lives every day.
Responsibilities
* Respond to reports of cruelty, neglect, or injury and intervene when necessary.
* Educate and advise the public to prevent animal suffering and promote welfare.
* Work independently and travel long distances, including frequent motorway driving and visits to remote rural locations, while staying connected to a supportive, experienced team. Comprehensive training, equipment, and guidance are provided to work safely and confidently.
* Engage with members of the public in emotionally charged situations, de-escalate heightened emotions, and gather accurate information under pressure with calm, confident influencing skills.
* Make accountable decisions with real consequences for animal welfare and public safety, often with limited supervision.
Work Environment and Support
This work can be physically and emotionally demanding, but is also deeply meaningful and rewarding. You’ll see the direct impact of your actions on animals’ lives and the people connected to them. We recognise emotional demands and provide mental health resources, inclusive policies, and ongoing development opportunities to support wellbeing and long-term career progression.
Rotas are planned in advance with wellbeing and sustainability in mind. AROs work a range of shifts between 8am and 9pm, including bank holidays and weekends, and may occasionally need to stay later to complete tasks. Training is provided throughout the 26-week programme and ongoing support continues after you join.
Essential Requirements
* Aged 17 or over at application and 18 by the course start date
* Resilience, good judgement, and strong communication skills for sensitive conversations
* Ability to work independently, with support from a wider team
* Willingness to work varied shifts between 8am and 9pm, including bank holidays and weekends
* Availability to start on 18 May 2026 and commit to a continuous, intensive 26-week training programme (annual leave cannot be taken during this period)
* Flexibility to travel for training at locations across the country, with occasional overnight stays
* Full manual driving licence with recent experience and confidence driving long distances (up to 150 miles per day)
* Comfortable with lone working
* Confident swimmer: able to swim 50 metres fully clothed within 2.5 minutes by the point of assessment during training
Additional Information
To be considered, you must live within one of the postcodes specified in the document titled 'Avon & Somerset - Postcodes.' We are not currently considering applications from candidates who wish to relocate. We welcome applications from people with a wide range of backgrounds; you do not need previous animal welfare experience, as many skills can be gained through other careers, caring roles, volunteering, or community-facing work.
For more information on recruitment and pre-employment checks, refer to the attached document: ARO Recruitment and Pre-Employment Process – Advert. We recommend noting awareness session and assessment/interview dates.
Important dates:
* Mandatory online awareness sessions: w/c 9 February.
* Online assessments: slots between 23 February and 6 March.
* Online interviews: slots between 16 March and 27 March.
We recognise that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to achieving our mission. We actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly those from minority ethnic communities, disabled people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those from non-traditional career paths.
If you need any support with your application or interview, please contact:
resourcingteam@rspca.org.uk or 0300 123 0685
Final note: good luck with your application — we look forward to hearing from you.
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