Do you feel Passionate about the Care of Animals?

We help you prepare to take care of Animals

People who take care of animals look after the actual welfare of the animals by providing all forms of care. They feed, water, groom, bathe, and exercise animals, including pets, farm animals and even wild animals that are kept under human care.

An animal care worker provides care for animals at veterinary clinics, zoos, sanctuaries, kennels, pet stores, stables, animal shelters or animal themed parks.

This also includes all the careers where animals are trained to perform specific tasks, as the trainers are also mostly responsible for the care of these animals.

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Important numbers for the Industry

Growth in the business side of the Pet Care industry (selling pet food and accessories) is extremely important for growth of jobs. The more money companies make, the more people they will hire to work for them.

The top countries with the highest yearly growth in the Pet Care industry is China (20%) and India (14%), but the USA still has the largest share of the industry (around 40%).

The yearly turnover of jobs (number of workers resigning and new workers coming in) is high, as most workers use the pet care industry as a stepping stone to gain experience towards other jobs.

What can I Learn from each Career?

In-depth knowledge of a specific career is extremely important. Understanding everything about a care for animals career, like what will you be doing every day, what are the difficulties you might face, and what do I need to do to prepare for such a career, will all help you to decide on the BEST career for you.

Each career includes information to help you with the following questions:

What is the career about
What are the daily tasks?
Where will I be able to work?
Which skills are important?
What subjects do I need at School?
Where can I study for this career?
Which animals will I work with?
How can I prepare for the career while still in school?
Where can I volunteer for experience?

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Number of Careers

List of Careers to choose from

Click on the name of the career for a short description of the career. When you want to learn more, click on the CAREER PAGE link.

Animal Attendant

Minimum Entry Level: High School Certificate

Animal Species: Pets, Critters, Farm Animals, Wildlife

An animal attendant is the general and overall description used for someone who cares for the needs of animals. They feed, water, groom, bathe, and exercise pets. They work in a variety of places, such as animal shelters, kennels, stables, pet stores and veterinary clinics.

Animal Caregiver

Minimum Entry Level: High School Certificate

Animal Species: Pets, Critters, Farm Animals, Wildlife

An animal attendant is the general and overall description used for someone who cares for the needs of animals. They feed, water, groom, bathe, and exercise pets. They work in a variety of places, such as animal shelters, kennels, stables, pet stores and veterinary clinics.

Animal Caretaker

Minimum Entry Level: High School Certificate

Animal Species: Pets, Critters, Farm Animals, Wildlife

An animal attendant is the general and overall description used for someone who cares for the needs of animals. They feed, water, groom, bathe, and exercise pets. They work in a variety of places, such as animal shelters, kennels, stables, pet stores and veterinary clinics.

Animal Groomer

Minimum Entry Level: High School Certificate

Animal Species: Cats, Dogs, Critters, Farm Animals

Animal Groomers provide grooming and styling services for a number of different animals, mostly pets. They generally bathe pets, cut and style their hair, trim nails, and brush their teeth, among other grooming services.

Animal Keeper

Minimum Entry Level: College Diploma

Animal Species: Critters, Wildlife

Animal keepers care for animals in zoos, aquariums and amusement and theme parks. They may specialize after a few years by working with specific animals (Primate Keeper, Lion Keeper etc).

Animal Research Technician

Minimum Entry Level: College Diploma

Animal Species: All Species

An Animal Research Technician looks after the wellbeing of all the animals used in the different kinds of research.

Animal Shelter Assistant

Minimum Entry Level: High School Certificate

Animal Species: Cats, Dogs, Critters, Farm Animals

An animal shelter assistant works at a shelter (mostly government run) by caring for the different animals. An animal shelter is a place where stray, lost, abandoned or surrendered animals, mostly dogs and cats, and/or sick, injured or orphaned wildlife are kept and rehabilitated.

Animal Trainer

Minimum Entry Level: College Diploma

Animal Species: Cats, Dogs, Critters, Farm Animals, Wildlife

Train animals to become accustomed to humans and carry out tasks when commanded to do so. (NB! Dog Obedience Trainer is a different career, as well as Marine Mammal Trainer).

Aquarium Assistant

Minimum Entry Level: Bachelor’s Degree

Animal Species: Fish, Mollusks, Marine Mammals

Aquarists care for different kinds of animals in aquariums or amusement and theme parks where they have large fish tanks. This job also includes diving to clean exhibits and requires some animal training, similar to that of a Zookeeper.

Aquarist

Minimum Entry Level: Bachelor’s Degree

Animal Species: Fish, Mollusks, Marine Mammals

Aquarists care for different kinds of animals in aquariums or amusement and theme parks where they have large fish tanks. This job also includes diving to clean exhibits and requires some animal training, similar to that of a Zookeeper.

Boarding Kennel Assistant

Minimum Entry Level: High School Certificate

Animal Species: Dogs

Kennel assistants work at kennels to assist in the care of dogs. Kennels are places where dog owners can take their dogs to stay over, while they might be traveling. It’s like a hotel for dogs. Kennels are also the name for places where different kinds of dogs are bred.

Cat Cuddler

Minimum Entry Level: High School Certificate

Animal Species: Cats

Care for the needs of different breeds of cats, such as grooming, bathing, feeding, while in medical care or at a place where they might feel scared.

Cattery Assistant

Minimum Entry Level: High School Certificate

Animal Species: Cats

Assist with the care at cat breeding or boarding facilities

Dog Agility Course Trainer

Minimum Entry Level: High School Certificate

Animal Species: Dogs

A dog agility course trainer is an expert in training dogs to perform during agility sports events.

Dog Obedience Trainer

Minimum Entry Level: High School Certificate

Animal Species: Dogs

Dog obedience trainers use various techniques to train dogs to do things on command, or to act in specific ways within the home or around other people and animals.

Dog Walker

Minimum Entry Level: High School Certificate

Animal Species: Dogs

Taking dogs of other owners to exercise and socialize, while taking care of their well-being.

Doggy Spa Assistant

Minimum Entry Level: High School Certificate

Animal Species: Dogs

Doggy spa staff provide grooming and styling services for a number of different animals, mostly pets. They generally bathe pets, cut and style their hair, trim nails, and brush their teeth, among other grooming services.

Exotic Animal Trainer

Minimum Entry Level: High School Certificate

Animal Species: Mammals, Marine Mammals, Critters, Snakes, Birds

Exotic animal trainers work with wildlife to teach them specific actions on command. They mostly work within the entertainment side of the animal careers.

The kinds of animals they can train:

Birds
Elephants
Dolphins
Primates
Seals

Farm Worker

Minimum Entry Level: High School Certificate

Animal Species: Farm Animals

A farm worker attends to the daily tasks required to successfully run a farm. Animal Farm Workers take responsibility of looking after the livestock (animals) on a farm, from cattle to bees and fish.

Farrier

Minimum Entry Level: High School Certificate

Animal Species: Horses

A farrier is highly skilled in certain techniques and tools to take care of the hooves of horses, from cleaning them, trimming the hooves, as well as replacing horseshoes.

Fish Hatchery Technician

Minimum Entry Level: College Diploma

Animal Species: Fish

A Fish Hatchery Technician takes care of the wellbeing of the fish being used for research or breeding at a hatchery.

Guide Dog Trainer

Minimum Entry Level: High School Certificate

Animal Species: Dogs

A Guide-dog Trainer uses special skills to train guide dogs to enable them to assist people who are blind.

Horse Groomer

Minimum Entry Level: High School Certificate

Animal Species: Horses

Horse Groomers provide grooming and styling services for horses.

Horse Trainer

Minimum Entry Level: High School Certificate

Animal Species: Horses

Train working horses to become accustomed to humans and carry out tasks when commanded to do so. Training is also given to help rectify behavioral issues

Kennel Assistant

Minimum Entry Level: High School Certificate

Animal Species: Dogs

Kennel assistants work at kennels to assist in the care of dogs. Kennels are places where dog owners can take their dogs to stay over, while they might be travelling. It’s like a hotel for dogs. Kennels are also the name for places where different kinds of dogs are bred.

K9 Instructor

Minimum Entry Level: College Diploma

Animal Species: Dogs

K9 instructors are police officers or military personnel who are specially trained to train dogs through hand signals and sounds to perform certain functions.

Laboratory Animal Technician

Minimum Entry Level: College Diploma

Animal Species: All species

Laboratory Technicians help look after the wellbeing of the different animals used in research, but specifically within a laboratory setup.

Marine Mammal Trainer

Minimum Entry Level: College Diploma

Animal Species: Mammals

Train aquatic marine mammals, such as dolphins and seals, to become accustomed to humans and carry out tasks when commanded to do so while.

Movie Animal Trainer

Minimum Entry Level: College Diploma

Animal Species: Pets, Critters, Farm Animals, Wildlife

Train animals to become accustomed to humans and carry out tasks when commanded to do so while filming.

Mounted Police Horse Trainer

Minimum Entry Level: College Diploma

Animal Species: Farm Animals

Train horses used in maintaining law and order by police officers.

Pet Adoption Facilitator

Minimum Entry Level: High School Certificate

Animal Species: Pets

An animal adoption facilitator works with individuals and families to find suitable homes for cats, dogs, and other animals. They may interview prospective pet owners to best determine whether they will be able to care for an animal properly and also to see if the home environment will be a good fit for the animal.

Pet Sitter

Minimum Entry Level: High School Certificate

Animal Species: Pets

Pet sitters care for pets while owners are traveling or are unavailable. In most cases the pet sitter will take care of the animals by feeding them, grooming them and sometimes stay with them so that they have company.

Pet Store Assistant

Minimum Entry Level: High School Certificate

Animal Species: Pets, Critters, Wildlife

A pet store assistant is a person that is responsible for the daily upkeep of the local pet store. This includes looking after the animals, stock and overall condition of the store.

Pet Stylist

Minimum Entry Level: High School Certificate

Animal Species: Pets

Pet stylists provide grooming and styling services for a number of different animals, mostly pets. They generally bathe pets, cut and style their hair, trim nails, and brush their teeth, among other grooming services.

Race Horse Attendant

Minimum Entry Level: High School Certificate

Animal Species: Horses

A horse racing attendant works at a racecourse and helps with various tasks, such as stable keeping (cleaning and preparing stables for next race), maintaining grounds and even assist in loading horses into the race barriers. Also know as Barrier Assistants.

Race Horse Trainer

Minimum Entry Level: College Diploma

Animal Species: Horses

People responsible for the care and training of horses to enable them to compete in races.

Rehabilitation Assistant

Minimum Entry Level: College Diploma

Animal Species: Cats, Dogs, Critters, Farm Animals

A rehabilitation Assistant works at animal hospitals or animal rehab centers to assist with the process of rehabbing animals after surgery or other clinical procedures.

Rescue Center Assistant

Minimum Entry Level: High School Certificate

Animal Species: Pets, Critters, Birds

A rescue center assistant works at privately owned Rescue Centers by caring for the different animals. Rescue Centers rescue different kinds of domesticated animals, such as dogs, cats, rabbits, exotic birds, and a variety of other pet species, and place them up for adoption or rehabilitation.

Rodeo Horse Trainer

Minimum Entry Level: High School Certificate

Animal Species: Horses

Individuals who train horses to perform specific and amazing tasks during rodeos.

Sanctuary Animal Caregiver

Minimum Entry Level: High School Certificate

Animal Species: Wildlife

A sanctuary animal caregiver works at a privately owned Sanctuary by caring for the different animals. Sanctuaries rescue different kinds of animals that might have been abused (such as farm animals), abandoned or not able to take care of itself in the wild. The sanctuary becomes their forever home until they pass away.

Search & Rescue Dog Trainer

Minimum Entry Level: College Diploma

Animal Species: Dogs

Search & Rescue (SAR) Dog Trainers use their skills to train dogs to use scent to find humans that may be lost or difficult to find.

Service Dog Trainer

Minimum Entry Level: College Diploma

Animal Species: Dogs

Service dog trainers use their skills to train dogs to assist humans with tasks that the humans might not be able to complete. Service dogs are trained to lead people with sight impairments, or assist people with specific illnesses in detecting signs of complications (such as warning people with epilepsy for an approaching seizure).

Show Horse Trainer

Minimum Entry Level: College Diploma

Animal Species: Horses

Train horses to become accustomed to their riders and carry out special tasks when commanded to do so during a show. Training is also given to help rectify behavioral issues, as well as train the riders.

Stables Attendant

Minimum Entry Level: High School Certificate

Animal Species: Horses

A stables attendant assists in the daily care of animals kept in stables, including horses, donkeys and mules.

Stud Hand

Minimum Entry Level: High School Certificate

Animal Species: Horses

A stud hand takes care of horses that have been specially chosen for breeding.

Therapy Dog Trainer

Minimum Entry Level: College Diploma

Animal Species: Dogs

A therapy dog trainer uses skills to train dogs that provide affection, comfort and support to people in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, libraries, hospices and disaster areas.

Veterinary Assistant

Minimum Entry Level: College Diploma

Animal Species: All species

A Veterinary Assistant is a vital member of any veterinary team. They work directly under the supervision of a veterinarian. They are skilled in the practical side of animal care, and are responsible for feeding, bathing, and exercising the animals, and they restrain them during examinations and treatment.

Veterinary Technician

Minimum Entry Level: College Diploma

Animal Species: All species

Veterinary technicians provide assistance to veterinarians in diagnosis and procedures, or laboratories in performing important research..

Vivarium Technician

Minimum Entry Level: College Diploma

Animal Species: Reptiles and Amphibians

Help to maintain the vivarium by cleaning it, as well as caring for the animals housed in it.

Wildlife Rehabilitator

Minimum Entry Level: High School Certificate

Animal Species: Mammals, Birds, Fish, Reptiles, Amphibians, Mollusks

A wildlife rehabilitator helps injured or orphaned wildlife until they can return to their natural habitat.

Working Dog Trainer

Minimum Entry Level: High School Certificate

Animal Species: Dogs

Working dog trainers use their skills and knowledge to train dogs to perform specific practical tasks which can be seen as work (labor).

This career looks at people that train the following kinds of working dogs:

Herding dogs
Hunting dogs (retrievers)
Sledding dogs

Zookeeper

Minimum Entry Level: Bachelor’s Degree

Animal Species: Wildlife

Zookeepers care for animals in zoos. They may specialize after a few years by working with specific animals (Primate Keeper, Lion Keeper etc). Also called Animal Keepers.

Do you want to add a Career to the Animal Care Category? We would love to hear from you!

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