Working with animals can be an extremely fulfilling career, and for many, it’s a dream come true. For those of us who love spending time with furry friends and helping out animals of all shapes sizes, a career in animal care could be a great choice.
There are many different jobs that involve working with animals, from pet care and dog walking to animal rescue and veterinarians. All animals need love and commitment, and it’s the people that are truly passionate about them that can make this happen.
Australia is a nation of animal lovers, with the number of pets in the country outnumbering people. With so many cute creatures across our land, we need the right people working hard to keep them safe, healthy and happy. If you are considering a career working with animals, but not sure where to start or exactly what you want to do, then read on for our expert guide.
Career Options For Working With Animals
You might be surprised at the number of career options available to you when you want to work with animals. There are many different options out there to suit your unique skills and passion. You can choose roles depending on the kind of animals you want to work with, the skills you want to grow, and the settings that you find most rewarding.
Jobs In Pet Care
Anyone with a pet at home knows that pet care is a responsibility, but for many animal-lovers, it can also become an extremely fulfilling career. There are many different jobs that fall under pet care, including pet training, pet care and pet sitting, pet grooming, pet breeding, and dog walking.
● Pet Training: Pet trainers work hard to help animals learn tricks and develop specific behaviors. This could be for obedience, competition, security, discipline or entertainment purposes. Pet trainers can work with many different animals but are most commonly used for training dogs and horses.
There are also options to progress a career in service animal training, search and rescue training, dolphin training and many more.
● Pet Care And Pet Sitting: If you enjoy looking after animals and taking care of pets, then a career in a pet care business could be the right choice for you. This job involves looking after animals whilst owners are away or out at work.
Sometimes pet care jobs involve visiting owners’ homes to care for
pets, and other times pet care workers will look after animals in their own facilities. Daily tasks of a pet care workers or pet sitter include walking, feeding, brushing, washing and cleaning out cages.
● Pet Grooming: Pet groomer is a popular career choice for animal-lovers. It gives you the chance to spend time with your favorite animals and make them look their best. The job involves trimming animal hair, grooming nails and claws, washing and bathing, and much more.
Whilst this job is all about the passion for the role and the animals, you will also need solid knowledge on proper handling of pets and usage of grooming equipment.
● Pet Breeding: If baby animals make you happy, then working as a pet breeder could be the career for you. Pet breeders safely breed healthy animals to be sold on as pets or service animals. Becoming a pet breeder requires excellent knowledge in caring for animals and approval to become an authorized
● Dog Walking: There are thousands of dog walkers throughout Australia, and it is an excellent career for those who love dogs and getting out in the great outdoors. Dog walkers will walk other people’s dogs whilst they are out at work or on holiday. They need to have the skills to control and safely care for the dogs they are walking.
Jobs In Rescue And Rehabilitation
Animal careers can go above and beyond simply caring for animals. There are many career options for those who want to get involved in helping animals in need. Some popular animal rescue and rehabilitation jobs include animal shelter worker, animal welfare officer/animal rescue officer, veterinarian, veterinarian assistant, and wildlife conservation.
● Animal Shelter Worker: Animal shelters are home to many different types of animals that have been rescued from the wild or as pets that were not properly cared for. A career as an animal shelter worker can be hard work but incredibly rewarding.
You will be responsible for looking after these animals and in some cases, nurturing them back to health. Duties can involve feeding, walking and administering medicine if required.
● Animal Welfare Officer / Animal Rescue Officer: This role is vital for the safety and health of all animals across Australia. Animal welfare officers will respond to public calls regarding the safety and welfare of animals. They are responsible to attend call outs and decide the best course of action for the animal in question.
This can include assisting helpless and injured animals and ensuring they are rescued safely.
● Veterinarian: A career as a vet is hard work but very rewarding. Vets examine, diagnose and treat all kinds of animals. Duties include performing surgery, administering vaccinations, treating wounds and more.
Some vets will specialize in specific animals, whereas others will treat all animals. To become a veterinarian, appropriate education and training is required.
● Veterinary Assistant: Vet assistants provide vital assistance to veterinarians. It is a popular career choice for those with a passion for taking care of animals. Day to day jobs include greeting pet owners, taking vital signs from pets and caring for pets that are staying in clinic.
●Wildlife Conservation: Working within wildlife conservation is a hands-on career and involves interaction with many different species. A solid knowledge of caring for animals and animal welfare is required, but it is not an academic type of wildlife role.
How To Get Started In The Animal Industry?
No matter what animal-based career you are looking into, you need relevant experience and skills to get started. Animals require proper care and attention, and anyone working with animals needs to know what they are doing.
Whilst each individual role will have its own requirements that you will need to meet before you can take it on as a career, there are a few ways you can get started in the industry.
Building Experience
One of the most effective ways of kick-starting your career working with animals is to get some relevant experience. Even if it isn’t experience in the exact field you want to work within in future, getting any experience of working with animals is sure to help you.
Work in a veterinary clinic in any role you can get, and you will gain some invaluable experience of working with animals. Even if you don’t intend on working in animal health, you will have the chance to learn from highly skilled professionals.
Other ways of gaining experience include regularly pet sitting for friends, family and neighbors. While it might not be official work experience, it provides you with experience in caring for other people’s pets.
Volunteering
If you aren’t in a position to find a job to build your experience, then consider volunteering roles. Animal rescue shelters are always looking for an extra pair of hands to help with the day to day running of the place.
Volunteer tasks might not be the most glamorous, but they will get you an excellent experience of working with animals of all shapes and sizes. Wildlife rehabilitation centers and zoos are also often on the lookout for volunteers and can give experience working with more exotic creatures.
Start Your Own Business
Many people who work with animals have their own businesses. Particularly for roles like pet sitting, dog walking and pet breeding, most professionals go it alone. This can make finding work in these roles a challenge, but there is nothing stopping you starting your own business as well. Just make sure you have the relevant skills and knowledge for caring for animals before you start.
Training Courses
It is possible to start a career working with animals from solely on the job training but having a training course behind you can make it much easier. Completing a relevant training course will give you the knowledge and skills needed for your chosen career and demonstrate to employers that you are ready for the challenge.
Advanced Certificate and Animal Care, and Advanced Certificate in Animal Welfare are some excellent courses to kick-start your animal career.
● Advanced Certificate In Animal Care: This course has been designed for learners who have no existing studies in veterinary training, but want to pursue a career in animal care. It covers animal health care, animal behavior and then your choice of a final module which can be targeted to your chosen career path. This course will set you up for a role as an animal groomer, trainer, breeder, pet sitter, veterinary assistant and much more.
● Advanced Certificate In Animal Welfare: This training covers how to care for the health and well being of all kinds of animals. Perfect for anyone who wants a career in animal welfare and animal rights. On completion of this course, you will be prepared for a career as an animal welfare officer, animal rescue officer, animal shelter worker and many more.
