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Various Careers With Animals

by Nicholas Nigro

Overview

The business of pets and animal care has been one of the fastest growing and most dynamic sectors of commerce since the early 1990s. The trade's extraordinary commercial evolution is an apt reflection of people's passionate love for animals. This unshakable consumer commitment is evident in both the numbers of available jobs and the diversity of careers in the industry at large. Forging longstanding and rewarding careers working alongside animals is more possible than it's ever been. And these career venues cut a wide swath from veterinary medicine to pet sitting to forestry jobs with the federal government.
Veterinary Medicine

While becoming a practicing doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) necessitates four years of college plus four years of intense veterinary schooling, there are less competitive, less demanding, and less costly avenues to careers in this field. Veterinary technician (vet tech) and veterinary assistant careers are two additional possibilities. Foremost, to practice veterinary medicine, you must first gain acceptance into a veterinary college. This undertaking is challenging because of both the high standards for admission and vigorous competition for finite openings. The workload, too, in veterinary programs is no less rigorous than it is in medical schools. The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges at aavmc.org is an invaluable portal of information on the existing veterinary colleges and requirements for admittance. On the other hand, vet-tech certification necessitates only a two-year degree from an institution with the apt curricula. Because of this career's popularity, and the strong demand for vet-tech services, there are increasing numbers of colleges and universities with four-year bachelor degree programs in this field. Many community colleges offer vet-tech programs. Vet techs must ultimately be state-licensed to perform tasks not far removed from nurses. Finally, there are veterinary assistant careers, too, which require no special education or training. These jobs permit you to work in a variety of capacities in veterinary clinics, but prohibit you from the technical responsibilities reserved for vet techs and, of course, the veterinarians themselves. A beneficial website devoted to the concerns of both current and future vet techs and assistants is wheretechsconnect.com.

Pet Sitting and Dog Walking

There are no legal dictates, nor college degree requirements, for careers in pet sitting and dog walking. In fact, these pet-themed careers are egalitarian. The job responsibilities involve visiting cats, dogs and other animals in their homes and providing them---while their owners are at work, on vacation, or occupied elsewhere---with essential care and some quality time. This career byway could entail the commencement of a pet care or dog walking service of your own---or combination of the two---or you could work for others in already established businesses. Although there are no express qualifications needed for this brand of work, it is nonetheless key to maintain both a love of animals and considerable knowledge of their behaviors and needs. If you are interested in learning more about this increasingly popular career option, and all that it entails, the two professional organizations in this growing field are Pet Sitters International (PSI) at petsit.com and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS) at petsitters.org.
Animal Training

There are jobs for animal trainers across a wide swath, including wild animals, which require college degrees in animal behavior or related life sciences. As for domestic pets, dog trainers, and the services they provide, are in great demand. In this competitive day and age, too, many dog trainers make house calls. While there are multiple organizations in this bailiwick that offer certifications, such as the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) at apdt.com, there are no legal requirements as to who can, and cannot, put out a dog-trainer's shingle. Still, to ply this trade, it's critical that you fully comprehend canine behavior and the species' needs. Before striking out on your own, apprenticing with an established and respected dog trainer is the most tried and true path to success in this career
Zoology

Zoology is a branch of biology. With the requisite higher education, zoologist careers encompass jobs as zookeepers, researchers, and supervisors in charge of training zoo staff. There are additional career paths as well, including ecological consultancy and wildlife conservation. The Association of Zoo and Aquariums at aza.org can furnish you with more information on the myriad career possibilities.
Humane Societies

If you appreciate working with animals and caring for the most vulnerable and in need, there are career opportunities in animal shelters and rescues, which exist in cities and towns in all 50 states. The Humane Society of the United States sponsors the website animalsheltering.org, which is devoted to matching individuals with jobs and careers in this field
Federal Government Careers

There are career opportunities in forestry, including park ranger positions, via the National Park Service at nps.gov. Another governmental entity involved with animal matters is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at www.fws.gov/.