Animal Welfare & Protection
If you love animals, this pathway lets you make a real difference in their lives. Learn about animal care, welfare issues, and conservation while developing responsibility, compassion, and practical skills that could lead to future careers in veterinary care, conservation, or animal services.
Building your Award:
Find Bronze Award examples to support activity planning
Example SMART Goal: Animals in shelters need love and attention! I’m volunteering an hour each week at the local animal shelter for 13 weeks – helping with socialization, walking dogs, or assisting with adoption events.
Example Assessor: Animal shelter volunteer coordinator or shelter manager
Example Log: Walked three dogs today and helped clean some kennels. One shy dog named Max finally let me pet him after three weeks of visits! The staff said building trust with shelter animals takes patience. Helping with the adoption event Saturday.
Example SMART Goal: I’m interested in animal health careers, so I want to learn more about animal care. For 13 weeks, I’ll spend an hour each week studying animal first aid, nutrition, and behavior through online courses and library resources.
Example Assessor: Science teacher, veterinary clinic staff, or animal care program instructor
Example Log: Completed the first module on pet first aid today. I learned how to recognize signs of distress and what to do if an animal is choking. Also started reading about dog body language. Quiz on wound care next week.
Example SMART Goal: Dog walking is great exercise for me AND the dogs! For 13 weeks, I’m walking shelter dogs or neighborhood dogs for at least an hour each week, tracking our distances and building up my own fitness.
Example Assessor: Gym teacher, shelter volunteer coordinator, or dog walking program supervisor
Example Log: Walked two high-energy dogs from the shelter today – they pulled a lot at first but are learning! Covered about 4 km and my step count was over 6,000. Getting better at handling multiple dogs at once. Trying a trail walk next time.
(Completed as a team. Participants will work together to plan and complete their journey.)
Example Activity: Animal Welfare Exploration! Visit different animal care facilities in your community; shelters, wildlife centers, farms, or sanctuaries. Learn about the different ways people help animals and the careers involved.
Example Team Goal: Our team will visit at least 4 animal-related facilities, interview staff about their work and how they help animals, document our visits with photos and notes, and create a presentation about animal welfare careers and volunteer opportunities.
Example Assessor/Supervisor: Teacher, Award Leader, or animal shelter coordinator
