You can turn your love for animals into a career that’s both fun and fulfilling. Every day can be an exciting adventure with new experiences when you work with animals. Any of these careers may be perfect for you if you’re an animal lover.
Animal Trainer
Animal trainers train animals for obedience, performance, riding, security, or assisting people with disabilities. They familiarize animals with human voices and contact, and they teach animals to respond to commands. Most animal trainers work with dogs and horses, but some work with marine mammals, such as dolphins. Trainers teach a variety of skills. For example, some may train dogs to guide people with disabilities; others teach animals to cooperate with veterinarians, or they train animals for a competition or show.
Dog Walker
Although it might sound too good to be true, you can actually make money walking other people’s dogs. Some people who work a lot or have mobility impairments hire people to walk their dogs. Depending on where you live, you may be able to start your own dog walking business and have a steady clientele.
There are no education or training requirements that are needed to become a professional dog walker. However, it’s best to have some prior experience walking other people’s dogs. You can even ask these people for their permission to use them as references.
Pet Groomer
People want their dogs and cats to look their best, and you can help by becoming a professional pet groomer. You’ll be hired to bathe and trim the hair and nails of pets. You can choose to groom just dogs, just cats or both.
Working for a company in the beginning stages can help you get your foot in the door. However, if you want to earn a higher salary, The Richest recommends starting your own company eventually. Just make sure that you have enough money in your budget to purchase hair and nail clippers, pet shampoos and other essential products.
Horse Groom
Grooms care for horses. Grooms work at stables and are responsible for feeding, grooming, and exercising horses. They saddle and unsaddle horses, give them rubdowns, and cool them off after a ride. In addition, grooms clean stalls, polish saddles, and organize the tack room, where they keep harnesses, saddles, and bridles. They also take care of food and supplies for the horses. Experienced grooms sometimes help train horses.
Kennel Attendant
Kennel attendants care for pets while their owners are working or traveling. Basic attendant duties include cleaning cages and dog runs, and feeding, exercising, and playing with animals. Experienced attendants also may provide basic healthcare, bathe animals, and attend to other basic grooming needs.
Nonfarm Animal Caretaker
Nonfarm animal caretakers typically work with cats and dogs in animal shelters or rescue leagues. All caretakers attend to the basic needs of animals, but experienced caretakers may have more responsibilities, such as helping to vaccinate or euthanize animals under the direction of a veterinarian. Caretakers also may have administrative duties, such as keeping records, answering questions from the public, educating visitors about pet health, and screening people who want to adopt an animal.
Veterinarian
Veterinarians care for the health of animals. They diagnose, treat, and research medical conditions and diseases of pets, livestock, and other animals. Veterinarians administer vaccinations, spay and neuter pets, and manage a wide range of duties while working in this field. They also use high tech machinery which monitors things like ECG, respiration, temperature, etc. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics a Vet can earn on average $90,420 per year and they expect job growth to be higher than average.
You should be prepared to study for your bachelor’s and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees if you want to become a veterinarian. It’s also required that you obtain a state license to practice.
Pet Sitter
Pet sitters look after animals while their owner is away. Most pet sitters feed, walk, and play with pets daily. They go to the pet owner’s home, allowing the pet to stay in its familiar surroundings and follow its routine. More experienced pet sitters also may bathe, groom, or train pets. Pet sitters typically watch over dogs, but some also take care of cats and other pets.
Zookeeper
Working with animals doesn’t just have to involve household pets. As a zookeeper, you’ll have the opportunity to tend to a variety of exotic and fascinating creatures. You’ll be in charge of feeding zoo animals as well as cleaning their cages and monitoring their overall well-being.
It will help to have a degree in a subject like zoology, animal sciences or biology to increase your career prospects. Having experience working at a veterinary office or an animal farm may also increase your chances of getting hired.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics lumps Animal trainers, Groomers, Grooms, Kennel attendants, Nonfarm animal caretakers , Pet sitters, and Zookeepers together as Animal Care and Service Workers. They estimate an average annual salary of $23,160/year but say demand will grow much faster than average for their services.
You’ll be helping both animals and people when you work in any of these fields. If you obtain the right training and education, you can enjoy long-term career success.
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