Sarah Wyant
Charlottesville,VA
Summary
Experienced Animal Care Manager skilled in problem-solving and team collaboration. Expertise in a fast-paced environment managing daily operations, training staff, and ensuring compliance with state laws. Committed to enhancing animal welfare through effective care and education.
Overview
1
1
Certification
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Intake & Rescue Manager
Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA
Charlottesville, VA
05.2024 - Current
- Oversaw daily operations for intake of stray animals, owner surrenders, and transfers, and animals from varied circumstances by Animal Control.
- Facilitated pet redemptions and promoted microchipping to enhance pet identification and reunification rates.
- Assisted pet owners with solutions for pet retention and rehoming.
- Filed and matched lost and found animal reports with animals in care to increase redemptions.
- Coordinated animal transfers with other shelters and rescue partners.
- Ensured detailed and accurate animal documentation with paper records and in the shelter's database.
- Collaborated with members of Animal Care and Clinic staff regarding an animal's intake pathway including any medical or behavior information provided.
Animal Care Manager
Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA
Charlottesville, VA
12.2023 - Current
- Managed day to day operations of all animal care related tasks for cats, dogs and small animals in an animal shelter.
- Managed inventory of pet food and shelter supplies to ensure adequate resources for animal care.
- Trained staff and volunteers on proper animal handling techniques and kennel cleaning protocols.
- Ensured compliance of employee work areas and animal care practices with state laws (VDACS) and established protocols.
- Coordinated the placement and movement of all animals efficiently and strategically to reduce length of stay.
- Collaborated with veterinary staff on medical treatments and wellness checks.
- Conducted behavioral assessments to identify animals' needs and suitability for adoption.
- Monitored animal activities to ensure physical and psychological well-being.
- Assessed staffing needs based on shelter operations and animal care demands. including hiring, training, scheduling and conducting employee evaluations.
Veterinary Assistant
Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA
Charlottesville, VA
03.2023 - 08.2023
- Performed thorough intake exams on cats and dogs entering the shelter in a safe and fear-free manner.
- Administered vaccines and medications to the shelter population.
- Safely restrained animals during veterinary procedures.
- Triaged health concerns and maintained detailed medical records, ensuring timely follow-through on treatment plans.
- Identified emergent health conditions, conducted brief exams, and presented findings to veterinarian for prompt care.
- Completed foster appointments daily (reweighs, vaccines, dewormer, nail trims, ear cleanings, baths, addressing any illnesses or other concerns).
- Conducted limited in-house bloodwork.
- Cleaned and disinfected kennels in the Critical Care areas of the clinic to prevent the spread of disease.
- Assisted LVTs and Veterinarians as needed.
Cat Care Lead
Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA
Charlottesville, Virginia
09.2019 - 03.2023
- Provided oversight for all activities performed by cat care staff to ensure protocols related to proper care, cleanliness, and humane treatment were followed at all times.
- Trained all new cat care employees on proper kennel cleaning and cat handling.
- Collaborated with Animal Care Manager and Clinic Operations Manager to resolve medical and behavioral concerns within feline population.
- Coordinated movement and housing of felines to minimize stress and shorten length of stay.
- Conducted daily rounds to assess well-being of all felines in custody.
- Updated and maintained accurate animal records in the shelter database.
- Assisted the front desk staff with matchmaking and adoptions as necessary.
- Supported marketing and social media initiatives through provision of images, biographies, and videos showcasing cats in care.
- Performed as a Cat Care Specialist as needed.
Community Cat Assistant
Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA
Charlottesville, VA
06.2015 - 04.2016
- Supported community cat caretakers in TNR (trap, neuter, return) efforts, enhancing feral cat population management.
- Conducted trapping efforts on behalf of caretakers and transported cats to and from the clinic for their surgeries.
- Coordinated owner surrenders of social colony cats and those needing medical intervention.
- Supported caretakers facing financial difficulty by providing food and other supplies for their cat colony.
- Informed public on feral cats' roles in community and importance of spay/neuter, fostering awareness and responsible pet ownership.
Cat Care Specialist
Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA
Charlottesville, VA
07.2012 - 09.2019
- Followed established cleaning protocols to provide a high level of care to all shelter cats (feeding, watering, cleaning and sanitization of enclosures, and providing enrichment).
- Monitored and recorded detailed health and behavior charts for cats in care.
- Assumed additional cleaning responsibilities to enhance care for feral and fearful cats in behavior room, including those on bite quarantine.
- Exposed to animals with contagious illness such as upper respiratory infections, calicivirus, ringworm, panleukopenia all while maintaining biosecurity.
- Assisted and engaged with potential adopters to facilitate meetings with shelter cats, promoting successful adoptions.
- Operated commercial laundry machines, dishwashers, and assisted in general cleaning duties of the facility.
Education
Some College (No Degree) - Elementary Education
Longwood University
Farmville, VASkills
- Staff training
- Communication skills
- Customer education
- Animal recordkeeping
- Team collaboration
- Problem solving
- Time management
- Attention to detail
Certification
- Patrick Henry Community College Become A Veterinary Assistant, Issued August 2014
- Fear Free Shelters, Issued 2019
- Maddie's Fund Funamentals of Canine Communication and Safe Dog Handling, Issued May 2026
- ASPCA Humane Handling Techniques, Issued May 2026
Timeline
Intake & Rescue Manager
Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA
05.2024 - Current
Animal Care Manager
Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA
12.2023 - Current
Veterinary Assistant
Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA
03.2023 - 08.2023
Cat Care Lead
Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA
09.2019 - 03.2023
Community Cat Assistant
Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA
06.2015 - 04.2016
Cat Care Specialist
Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA
07.2012 - 09.2019
Some College (No Degree) - Elementary Education
Longwood University