Careers with Animals

As I kid I thought being a veterinarian was the only career for someone who wanted to work with animals. Even my high school counselors thought that was the case. In reality there are hundreds, if not thousands, of ways to earn a living working with animals. Animals are a tremendous part of our lives regardless of where we live on this planet and a lot of people are needed to care for them.

As a young teen I read a short story by Robert A. Heinlein called We Also Walk Dogs. The main character was the owner of a multinational (planetary perhaps) company. That was his company's logo because he got his start by walking dogs. Now the company specialized in doing whatever job a client needed done.

The reason I mention this story is because the job of caring for other people's animals extends far beyond the animals medical needs. If someone lives in an apartment in a large city then they probably need a dog walker. Anyone who has animals needs someone to care for them while they are out of town. These are jobs that, in some cases, a child who is especially responsible, good with animals, and supervised by a parent can do to earn some extra money. They can also be a business that supports a person and their family.

Besides pet sitting and dog walking grooming, doggy day care, there are other possibilities in the field of animals that offer jobs and careers. Retail is a significant job source for someone who enjoys working with animals. A starting position with one of the large stores such as Petsmart or Petco can give a teen his or her first job. A degree in business can lead to management positions in those same stores. If someone has what it takes to be their own boss they can own a small, independent pet store.

Another field is becoming an animal trainer, which usually really is people training, because there are a lot of pet owners out there who need help in teaching their beloved pets how to behave. Again the range is everywhere from working for one of the big retailers to owning your own business. Police departments need dog trainers as does the government and service animals' organizations. The Air Force is a place someone can learn how to train security dogs. I live close to one of the largest best known dog training schools in the U.S. Triple Crown Dog Academy has extensive programs for people who seriously want to work with dogs.

Animal Law is also an area where more people are needed. This is a growing field that needs people who are interested in both animals and the law. The requirements are an undergraduate degree and a law degree which requires from six years or upwards of advanced training. A lawyer who specializes in animal law will need staff that is knowledgeable in the field. These positions can require anywhere from a high school diploma to a doctorate; so again there is a wide range of possibilities.

If someone has an artistic bent then pet portraits and photography are certainly fields to consider. There are also people who prepare meals for pets, set up parties and even have pet cafes.

From agriculture to racing to zoos the need for people who are willing to work with animals is a growing field and there is no shortage of possibilities for anyone from the person who only has a GED or high school diploma to the person who has twelve years of post graduate schooling. A quick Google search of "animal careers" will yield lists of hundreds of possibilities for consideration.