Six Careers To Pursue As A Pet Lover
by Arnab Dey Job & Career 28 October 2022
Are you passionate about animals? Do you think about a career that will allow you to spend time with pets and animals? If so, there are plenty of jobs out there for animal lovers.
From pet groomers and zookeepers to dog trainers, wildlife rehabilitators, and more, these popular careers can help people like you make money from their love of animals.
What Is A Good Job For An Animal Lover?
There are many different jobs that you can pursue if you’re an animal lover. From working at a zoo to being a veterinarian, there are many opportunities for people who want to help animals and make a difference in their lives. But what does it take to be good at the job?
To be successful in any job, especially one that involves animals or the environment, it’s essential that you love what you do and have the patience and compassion necessary to work with animals.
You’ll need these traits when training animals and interacting with them in general, not just when working but also when dealing with clients or customers.
1. Pet Groomer Or Pet Stylist
Grooming is an integral part of the pet care and growing industry. A market report by Arizton predicts that pet grooming services will bring in $6 billion in revenue by 2026.
Groomers and stylists are responsible for cleaning, brushing, and cutting the fur of large and small animals. Pet stylists also give their animal companions baths. While many pet groomers work in a salon-style setting where dogs or cats can get their hair cut just like people, some pet stylists only style the hair on other people’s animals.
2. Animal Control Worker
Animal control workers are essentially the people who take care of your pet when you can’t. They’re the ones who pick up stray animals from the streets, help injured animals, and find homes for abandoned pets. Around 11,600 people were working as animal control workers in the United States in 2020.
The job generally consists of picking up dogs off their leashes and returning them to their owners, as well as other tasks such as finding lost pets or helping with animal bites. It’s also important that these workers know how to handle aggressive animals. For example, if a dog has been hit by a car and is in pain, it might bite out of fear or pain.
To keep both parties safe from harm, an animal control worker will need to be able to approach the animal without scaring it further to administer medical aid and remove any potential threats.
3. Veterinary Technologist Or Technician
A veterinary technologist or technician is a person who assists veterinarians in the diagnosis of diseases, treatment, and care of animals. Veterinary technicians work under the supervision of a veterinarian, but they may also work independently, diagnosing certain problems and treating them accordingly.
The first step to becoming a veterinary technician is to enroll in an accredited veterinary technology program. A veterinary technology program typically takes two years to complete and includes coursework in biology, chemistry, anatomy, and physiology of animals.
To become a licensed veterinary technician in your state, you must pass the National Veterinary Technician Licensing Exam (NVLX) offered by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB).
You’ll need to take this exam within one year after graduating from an accredited program or completing your apprenticeship. If you don’t pass it within that time frame, you’ll have to retake another class until you do pass.
Salaries for this career vary by geographic location and experience level. However, most facilities will pay around $35k per year for entry-level positions with benefits depending on where you live.
4. Pet Sitter
According to a survey by Pet Sitters International, the most common pet types cared for by professional pet-care businesses in the United States are cats and dogs, 96% and 95%, respectively. You should also know that being a pet sitter means you will have an extremely hectic schedule.
Whether your client keeps you working long hours or on weekends, or because it just happens to be the season that cats are constantly getting pregnant and giving birth, you will often find yourself working in all kinds of weather conditions. And as you might know, no one is prepared for when animals die.
There will come a time when an animal passes away while in your care, and there may even be moments when you have to deal with grieving owners who want those pets back after their passing.
5. Zookeeper Or Aquarist
If you love animals, zookeeping is the perfect career for you. These individuals are in charge of overseeing the well-being of animals at a zoo or aquarium. They also help save the lives of endangered species that may not survive on their own in the wild.
Zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums collaborated on multiple breeding programs for reintroducing many animals that have helped save at least nine species, including California condors, Golden Lion Tamarins, and more.
The job can be dangerous and stressful due to the responsibility placed on these individuals’ shoulders, but if you enjoy working with animals and want to spend your life helping them thrive, this could be an ideal career path for you.
6. Veterinarian
Veterinarians treat and prevent the diseases of animals. They prescribe medications and perform surgeries when necessary. To become a veterinarian, you need to earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from an accredited veterinary school. The median pay for veterinarians in 2021 was $100,370 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Veterinarians are trained in different areas depending on their career goals:
- General practitioners treat common illnesses and injuries, such as broken bones.
- Specialists focus on areas like internal medicine or surgery. They may also become clinical researchers studying new treatments for animal health problems.
- Surgeons focus on invasive procedures such as orthopedic surgery, dental care, urology, or neurological problems like seizures or head injuries caused by trauma such as car accidents.
Conclusion
Ultimately, you can probably find a job that suits your interest in animals if you put in the effort to look. Suppose you want to work with wildlife. Research what it takes to become a wildlife rehabilitator or zookeeper. If you love dogs and cats, there are plenty of jobs for people who want to take care of them.
Whatever interests you most about animals and what they do for humans, there’s sure to be an opportunity waiting for you somewhere.
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