Jobs with Animals

Are you glued to Animal Planet on the TV every night, taking frequent trips to the zoo or always getting caught in a pet store? If you love animals, how would you like to combine this passion with your career? Caring for and protecting animals, forming companionships and gaining a better understanding of animal behavior are just some of the many ways jobs with animals provide great job satisfaction and fulfillment to animal lovers. There are many different types of jobs with animals, from pet jobs such as dog groomers and obedience trainers, to jobs that involve exotic animals in the wild.

Veterinary medicine offers a variety of choices for individuals interested in jobs with animals. Do you want to work with small animals or large animals? Would you like to work out of a local veterinary clinic or would you rather be a veterinarian at a zoo or a wildlife rehabilitation center? The majority of veterinarians work in animal care jobs with small animals such as dogs, cats and other pets. Other vets work with larger animals, such as livestock, and travel to farms, or work at zoos or laboratories. To be a veterinarian, one must receive both a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree and a state license after completing their undergraduate college education. Many veterinarians eventually open up their own practice, while others choose to move on to government work. For more information on veterinarian jobs with animals, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics: Veterinarian page.

The relationship between veterinary technologists and veterinarians is comparable to the relationship between nurses and physicians. Veterinary technicians assist veterinarians by performing laboratory tests, treating and diagnosing medical conditions in animals, and promoting general animal health. Similar to the duties of a veterinarian, veterinary technicians also interact regularly with pet owners. Individuals may also seek out jobs as laboratory animal technicians. Most veterinary technicians have a two-year associate degree. As with any jobs with animals, veterinary jobs may be physically and emotionally demanding, yet they offer great rewards for animal lovers. More information on these animal jobs can be found at the Bureau of Labor Statistics: Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Web site.

For animal care jobs that do not require as much training as a veterinarian, grooming is a great option. Groomers are responsible for grooming animals and maintaining their appearance. Grooming jobs are usually thought of as dog jobs, although groomers may also groom pet cats or other larger animals, such as horses in stables. Groomers may work at a veterinarian’s office, zoo or pet store, or they work at a specialty pet grooming business or dog “salon.” Pet groomers usually receive their training through an apprenticeship or attend a licensed grooming school.

There are a variety of different jobs with animals that involve animal training. Some animal trainer jobs include obedience training, service dog training to assist people with disabilities and police dog training for security. Other animal trainers may train horses for riding, or they may train animals for shows and competitions. One of the most sought-after animal trainer jobs involves marine mammals, particularly dolphins. For the more adventurous, there are animal trainer jobs that involve training exotic animals to star in movies. Dog trainers usually take courses or attend workshops, while marine mammal trainers typically need a college degree, such as a bachelor’s degree in biology, marine biology or animal science. For these types of jobs with animals, experience and a love for animals may be more important than a formal education.

Animal control officers are sort of like the police of the animal world. They are usually employed by the city, county or state government. Animal control officers investigate the mistreatment of animals in their municipality district, rescue animals from abusive or dangerous situations, pick up strays and bring them to shelters, keep the public safe by controlling wild animals with diseases harmful to humans, and inform the public about proper animal care. Animal control jobs may also involve caring for the animals and finding an owners for adoption. Animal control officer jobs are great jobs with animals that involve protecting animals through enforcement of the law. People with these animal jobs must be able to handle domestic and wild animals who may be unwilling to cooperate, communicate effectively with the public, and be compassionate individuals with a desire to help animals.

Working at a kennel is a great animal job that gives one-on-one interaction with pets. Feeding the animals, cleaning their cages and monitoring their behavior are the primary tasks of kennel attendants. Depending on where you work and your level of expertise, you may also be involved in grooming, selling pet food and supplies, obedience training or even providing some basic healthcare for the animals. Pet jobs in a kennel are a great way to start off your animal career. Owning or managing a kennel are two other options for jobs with animals in a kennel.

Jobs with animals in shelters may be very similar to kennel jobs. Caring for the animals and cleaning their cages are primary responsibilities at animal shelters. Veterinarians are also needed at shelters, especially because many of the animals who are brought in may be sick or need vaccinations. Shelter jobs also involve interacting with customers and finding new homes for the animals. Animal caretakers in shelters are not required to have any formal training, although there are training programs and workshops available through organizations like the Humane Society. Some of the many different shelter jobs with animals include animal behaviorists, animal care attendants, animal shelter veterinarians, veterinary technicians, adoption counselors, cruelty investigators, fundraising specialists, and directors and managers.

When we think of jobs with animals at the zoo, most of us tend to think of zoo keepers. Zoo keepers are great animal jobs that involve feeding the animals, building and cleaning animal enclosures, and observing animal behavior. Most zoo keepers have a college education, in addition to prior experience working as an animal caretaker. There are also many other jobs with animals at the zoo, including research specialist, animal trainer and zoo veterinarian. It is also worthwhile to investigate the “behind the scenes” jobs at zoos, such as zoo director, marketing manager, human resources, membership coordinator and maintenance. A more detailed list of zoo careers can be found here at the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Web site.

Jobs with animals in the field of animal behavior typically involve teaching and research at a university. Most animal behaviorists earn their Ph.D. and go on to teach in fields such as biology, ethology, psychology or zoology in a university setting while conducting their own independent research alongside this teaching career. Animal behaviorists at universities tend to be very specialized in their research endeavors, focusing on certain aspects of behavior in a particular species of animal. Other animal behavior jobs may be in a government setting, such as in health-related research. There are also opportunities to get involved in wildlife conservation and field research. Finally, some zoos and aquariums hire animal behaviorists to work as curators, researchers or educators at their facilities. For more information on animal behavior jobs and jobs with animals, visit the Career Guide from the Animal Behavior Society.

9 Responses for "Jobs with Animals"

Regina Nguyen December 2nd, 2008 at 3:19 pm 1
I want to say thank you for takeing the time to read my reply. I hope that I can have my questions answered too. I would love this type of job where I talk to kids about certain animals. I have read books about animals mostly about sharks. Where can I get a job like that? I know I live in the city, at it well be hard as well. I also want to know where can I get a job as an animal rescue? I have 4 yrs of experinc in extic animals, as well as ruscueing a few turtles. Even a few months back this yr I rescued a box turtle right here in Minnesota. I have often done things that almost put my life on the line as well. I’ve removed a bat at a child care center. Because parents were worried about it might have rabies.
Even at the tender age of 10yrs I think; My family and I went to a fishing pond center. Half way over to the center I stopped my bike, as I did so I heard the sound of a rattler. Turned my head and there it sat by the rode it’s jaw craked open blood was pouring out of it’s mouth. It’s jaw looked as if it was broked in half. I walked over to thinking that I could help it. Until my dad yelled at me about not touching it. He told me that we’ll tell someone at the center. I never saw that snake again.

Thank you some much for responding to this letter.

Sincerly,
Regina Nguyen
CHANA DAILI March 13th, 2009 at 1:22 am 2
I HAVE BEEN WORKING AT A HUMANE SOCIETY FOR TWO YEARS NOW, AND HAVE TO VACCINATE ANIMALS WHEN THEY COME IN. ( DHLPP, FVRCP ). I HAVE RECEIVED NO FORMAL TRAINING TO DO THIS, IS THIS LEGAL?
laura rodriguez March 30th, 2009 at 11:10 am 3
i have a BA and some grad school in psychology…this is all the work i have ever done–or know. but i have always known my passion is with animals. i would like to find a job where i would be advocating for animal rights…saving abused/neglected animals…helping in some way to help pass laws…i dont even know what kind of jobs are out there. could you point me in the right direction? thank you in advance for all of your help.
Robin June 30th, 2009 at 9:23 am 4
I have been intrigued by Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey my entire life and always wanted to work with animals; however, upon entering college I was fascinated by my Sociology course mostly. I majored in Sociology and received my graduate degree in 2006, hoping to, one day, study the behavior of animals. Somewhere along the line I was under the impression that one could become an Animal Sociologist, yet in grad school, no one seemed to understand the link and I was told I should have majored in Anthropology. So, $80,000 in student loans later I have decided that there is no way I can logically afford to go back to school. Are there any particular careers where someone with a MA in Sociology could study behavioral patterns and such in animals? I do not mind taking a few more courses, but I can’t afford another degree. Please let me know if there is any feasible way I can obtain this dream without having to live on the streets to do so.
Jennifer Land July 13th, 2009 at 9:26 am 5
I am passionate about conservation and caring for animals. I have worked with RBBCircus for 5 yrs. In my 5 years working with animals from elephants to exotic/domestic. I have learn a lot. It may not be schooling, but to me it was a chance to get educated about these wonderful animals without having to sit in a boring classroom. I hope to continue my hands-on education in an another establishment. Whether it is in an animal shelter or a zoo. I just hope that someone will give that opportunity to expand my knowledge.

Thank you,
Jennifer Land
Eric Estupinan September 9th, 2009 at 10:11 pm 6
Hi jennifer, i was wondering if you could give me some advice on exotic animals, i live in houston tx. and there’s not alot of places where i can work with animals. I’m also passionate about exotic animals and was wondering if it pays good money.
Tori September 20th, 2009 at 2:26 pm 7
I was wondering if there are any jobs that pay $60,000-$80,000 per year where I can interact with the animals, feed them, exercise them, study them, etc. I want to do something like being a zookeeper except I don’t want to clean out their habitats or do maintenance on their cages. I want to work in a zoo since I LOVE exotic animals (tigers and reptiles are my FAV) but I don’t want to clean or repair cages!!! I would also like to design their habitats and study their behaviors or something like that. I want to know if there is a job like that and if so, which college courses besides GE would I have to take, and how many years I would have to go to school, and also which colleges in the US provide this program. (I would prefer the college to be somewhere above texas but in the midwest or somewhere like colorado or minnesota, i like minnesota the best though)
Jim September 27th, 2009 at 8:44 pm 8
Tori,
You are going into the wrong field.
Animals poop. People clean up the poop.
If you don’t have a Ph.D., a DVM, or a wonderful
ability to do things illegal, like bring
exotic animals across the border, you are out of luck on the $60,000 to $80,000.

There are places that take in unwanted tigers.
The two things they are always needing is people
and money. Get over the poop problem. You will
learn a lot between now and when you are 30.
Teresa October 7th, 2009 at 8:05 pm 9
Chana – whether it is legal or not depends on what state you are in.

Tori – you really need to get over the poop bit. Owning and/or working with animals requires a lot of cleaning up of poop, vomit, pee, and just general dirt.