Tina Higgins
Colorado Springs
Summary
Experienced Animal Caretaker with a strong commitment to the well-being and welfare of wildlife. Over 6 years of hands-on experience in husbandry and production, dedicated to providing exceptional care for all types of animals. Education and training have equipped me with skills to handle various species and sizes. Constantly motivated to expand knowledge in this field. Passionate about wildlife conservation, striving to ensure the highest standards of care and create a positive impact on the lives of the animals worked with.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
MANAGER
Aspen Meadows Pet Resort
01.2024 - Current
- Opening and closing facility, prepping for next day or shift.
- Manage staff - up to 3-4.
- Managed dog daycare groups - up to 10-15 dogs per group, assessing and conducting temperament tests.
- Managed AM and PM potty rotations, as well as private played. (Dog aggressive, fence jumpers, disabled dogs, elderly dogs, puppies)
- Distributing and pre-scooping meals.
- Conducting and scheduling bathing services to various breeds and sizes.
- Maintain clean environments: scrubbing kennels, sweeping and mopping indoor yards, disinfecting outdoor yards and play equipment, dishes, laundry, and facility (using chemicals such as 256, Ottobon, and bleach).
- Scheduled client appointments (boarding and daycare) via phone, email, or in person.
- Presented exceptional customer service, creating long-lasting relationships.
- Filing and scanning previous and new client paperwork.
- Administered medications (over the counter and prescribed - topical and oral).
- Conducted and documented animal health monitoring.
- Overall care for dogs, cats, small animals (Birds, Guinea pigs, rabbits).
HANDLER TECH
Aspen Meadows Pet Resort
05.2023 - 01.2024
- Opening and closing facility, prepping for next day or shift.
- Managed AM and PM potty rotations, as well as private played dogs. (Dog aggressive, fence jumpers, disabled dogs, elderly dogs, puppies)
- Distributing and pre-scooping meals.
- Supervise dog daycare groups - up to 10-15 dogs per group, keeping animals stimulated with variety of enrichment activities and utilizing positive reinforcement techniques to successfully train animals.
- Bathing various breeds, sizes, and ages.
- Maintain clean environments: scrubbing and sanitizing kennels, sweeping and mopping indoor yards, disinfecting outdoor yards and play equipment, dishes, laundry, and facility (using chemicals such as 256, Ottobon, and bleach).
- Followed safety protocols to minimize workplace accidents.
- Filing & scanning previous and new client paperwork.
- Administered medications (over the counter and prescribed - topical and oral).
- Conducting animal health monitoring and documenting behavior.
ANIMAL TECH/BREEDER
SDIX LLC
01.2022 - 10.2022
- Assigned to Rabbit barn as kennel tech, progressed to breeder.
- Trained and supported in breeding program, organizing successful mating pairs based on complementary genetics to produce high-performing offspring with desired traits.
- Trained and fluent with extracting blood samples and providing vaccinations.
- Maintain clean environments: facility, rabbit enclosures, operating poop canals, proper disposal of medical equipment.
- Conducted animal health monitoring, treatment, and documentation.
- Prepping and stocking medical equipment, printing and labeling test tubes.
- Trained and conducted euthanasia.
ANIMAL CARETAKER
York's Wild Kingdom
06.2021 - 08.2021
- Rotated shifts between the Pygmy goat and Fallow deer enclosures.
- Presented exceptional customer service to the public, providing and selling feed, as well as educating.
- Kept animal enclosures and outdoors clean and free of contaminants to promote optimal health.
- Monitored animal health to quickly recognize signs of illness and injury, seeking necessary medical attention.
- Collaborated effectively with fellow caretakers and support staff to ensure comprehensive care for all animals within the facility.
- Educated visitors and staff on proper animal care and handling.
PONY RIDE ATTENDANT
York's Wild Kingdom
06.2020 - 08.2020
- Managed daily pony/camel ride operations, including queue management and rider height verification for safety compliance.
- Maintained a clean and organized work environment for both employees and guests, promoting a positive atmosphere.
- Promoted a positive atmosphere throughout the park by engaging with guests, answering questions, and delivering exceptional customer service.
- Monitored passengers and ride operations and enforced safety regulations.
- Latched safety gate after guests entered and exited to avoid unauthorized access to attraction area.
- Trained new ride operators on safety procedures and ride operations.
- Handled a variety of different species safely and confidently during routine care tasks such as feeding, grooming, and enclosure maintenance.
- Followed posted height and age restrictions and denied access to attraction for guests under minimum requirements.
- Assisted customers in entering and exiting rides, providing balance support and general directions.
- Delivered information and details of interest about facility to visitors.
- Maximized customer service and satisfaction by providing directions to visitors regarding requested locations, events and landmarks.
- Contributed to a friendly workplace culture by fostering positive relationships with coworkers and displaying excellent teamwork skills.
- Conducted animal health monitoring, grooming, and feeding.
Education
PORTLAND HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA -
PORTLAND HIGH SCHOOL
Portland, Maine01.2017
Skills
- Oral Written Communication
- Precision-Oriented
- Efficient Task Management
- Prioritization and Time Management
- Proactive Problem-Solving
- Team leadership
- Analytical Decision-Making
- Safety procedures
- Inventory management
- Staff management
- Staff training and development
- Customer relationship management (CRM)
Timeline
MANAGER
Aspen Meadows Pet Resort
01.2024 - Current
HANDLER TECH
Aspen Meadows Pet Resort
05.2023 - 01.2024
ANIMAL TECH/BREEDER
SDIX LLC
01.2022 - 10.2022
ANIMAL CARETAKER
York's Wild Kingdom
06.2021 - 08.2021
PONY RIDE ATTENDANT
York's Wild Kingdom
06.2020 - 08.2020
PORTLAND HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA -
PORTLAND HIGH SCHOOL
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