Does anyone here work with animals?

Question

If so, please tell me what you do, how you got into it, whether it's paid or voluntary... and how I might go about getting into a career working with animals. I'm particularly interested in working for a shelter.

I'm in the UK by the way :-)

Answer 1

I work in dog welfare - in a rescue centre. Most charities and rescues would be delighted to have you as a volunteer. Contact your nearest centre to ask. This way you can build lots of experience and perhaps move into a paid position. An animal welfare course at college could be an idea too. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Ok im also in the UK (midlands) and i can tell you the best way to get into an animal related job is to ring around shelters - the more experience you get the better. If you are looking into animal care being your main job i would advise you look into Rodbaston collage or another collage that do an Animal mangement course - not only will it teach you the skills you need but it also gives you an ND and a better idea what sort of animal related job you would most enjoy.

Iv worked in Kennels, catterys a grooming parlor a Pet shop and currently im working as a cattery manager as well as looking after horses, chickens and 7 show dogs (as well as puppys when we have them). Animal Care is a very open job field and i know it can be hard to start off but even with all the mess i wouldnt want to work any other type of job.

Answer 3

As someone who has worked with animals most of my life I might suggest the best way of finding out if your really serious about working with animals is to volunteer at a shelter. Usually this is unpaid work but an excellent introduction on what caring for animals involves.
Usually your first job is too clean out the kennels and runs, this involves pooper scooping, disinfecting and hosing out the runs. Inside the pens are or should be cleaned out everyday.
This can be a demanding job as hygiene is an important part of keeping the animals clean and healthy is an on going all day part of a kennel. Catteries are much the same and shelters usually house both, in the case of cats it involves litter boxes.
Bathing and grooming animals involves taking a course,or you may be lucky enough to get a job helping out in a grooming parlour. Starting with the basics means brushing , de-tangling,de-matting, de-fleaing, bathing and blow drying and all the many chores of a reputable groomer, always done with care, patience,
Working with animals is very rewarding most of the time, your charges are so grateful for the love and attention you give them and return it ten fold. However, you have to be prepared to take the rough with the smooth.
Though now retired, for over 40yrs I worked with mostly dogs in every phase of their world. I would do it all again if I could.






.

Answer 4

Hi,
I attended a local college and got my national certificate in animal care level 2 and also an advanced national certificate in animal care level 3, It took two years and I am now working for Pets at Home, It's not my ideal job working with animals, but in this industry it helps to keep your hand in wherever you can. I found that when I left college it was very difficult to find a job that was paid and not voluntary. Don't get me wrong, if I won the lottery and could afford to survive without a wage I would devote my life to working with animals voluntary as there is no more rewarding job.
Good Luck with whatever you decide to do, you won't regret it if you do choose this career path.
....And in the meantime, volunteer wherever you can, because as long as you're in the environment, you're learning and gaining valuable experience, when it comes to working with animals, this sometimes goes alot further than qualifications written on paper.

Answer 5

Hi Emmie,
I hope you are fine. Just took a few moments to read up about the kitten vs 1 year old cat saga, very touching. I'm pleased that it seems to be all happy families now!

Funny to read your question, I have been on the internet only today looking for that very same thing! Try googling "Jobs with animals". One of the links that came up is

http://www.animal-job.co.uk/

this has quite a lot of information and vacancies, both paid jobs and voluntary work.

I can think of three educational paths, one is to study to become a veterinarian, this takes many years and is expensive, only few universities in the UK are accredited to offer this training. Then you can become a veterinary nurse, you will have more day-to-day contact with the animals (similar to the contrast between human doctor vs human nurse). Best way is to train with a veterinary practice rather than a degree (better for future job prospects as well). Problem is that the pay is extremely poor!

http://www.veterinary-nursing.co.uk/faq.htm
http://www.rcvs.org.uk/
http://www.bhs.org.uk/Content/Ods-More.asp?id=573&pg=Jobs&spg=Library&area=10

Thirdly you could go to university and study animal-related topics such as animal behaviourism, which would open a variety of professional doors for you.
In general animal care work is poorly paid unless you get to management levels.

You could also work for charities that seek to improve animal welfare conditions in UK and abroad.

The RSPCA has animal collectors and it also has inspectors that investigate complaints about cruelty and carry out rescues if necessary. They have a direct impact on animal welfare but on a daily basis they deal more with people than with animals.

If you're interested in wildlife, check out St Tiggywinkles. They offer a course in animal care.

http://www.sttiggywinkles.org.uk/

Finally, you could always try to find a shelter or wildlife hospital nearby and offer voluntary work. Most of these places rely heavily on volunteers and they would probably be very happy to take you on! That way you could put in just a few hours a week to begin with, and still keep your existing career. It would give you an idea of what the work is all about and whether this is really what you want to do as a full-time job.

I hope that you find what you're looking for. It's very important to do what you love.
chirpy

Answer 6

Hi, I am a veterinarian. I started out volunteering at a shelter. Then I got a job as a kennel attendant in an animal hospital. I then advanced to a veterinary technician. I was doing this as I went to school for pre-vet studies. Then I applied to vet school and got in. I had 6 years working as a technician and it really helped me. It depends what your goals are. Volunteer and then work your way up!

Answer 7

Job #1-------I work at my local animal shelter, it is a volenteer job, but I enjoy it very much. All you really have to do is go to your local animal shelter, and tell them that you want to work with animals, and that you are willing to vollenteer there. Most likely they need the extra help, and will offer you a job. If not be persistant, and try back every month.

Job#2-------I also walk alot of my neighbors dogs, and I get paid for this. Just tell any of your neighbors with dogs that you walk dogs, if they ever need it call you.

Job#3-------I watch my neighbors pets as well, once again just inform your neighbors what you do and they will ask you if you give them your number. (You can watch any animal your neighbors have, be sure to tell them that)

Job#4-------I wash my neighbors dogs too. They pay me very well because they hate to do it, I get paid $25 a dog!

Job#5-------This kind of goes with 4, grooming, you can do more than just wash, you offer to cut the pets nails, and hair, but you also need to know how to do this.

Job#6-------I do this on weekends, and it gets paid ALOT I train dogs to be in certain events, but for this you also need to know what you are doing.

I hope this helped.

Answer 8

Hey i used to work with animals, I'm a full time mum of two now, but i know i will always to return to the work,its a deep passion of mine.Sadly i won't lie to you especially working for charity based organisations it doesn't pay well, however the reward you get from working with animals is just so the money becomes irrelevant.
I started when i was very young only 10 at the time at my local R.S.P.C.A as a volunteer helping out however i could.Then went on to work full time as an animal care assistant, eventually ran the cruelty case block looking after neglected dogs, bringing them back to health awaiting court cases,such a rewarding job,and heartbreaking too!! I would advise anyone who wants to work with animals to go for it!
Try contacting your local animal related organisations/ farms anything you can do to get you started even zoo's or safari parks if you have them local are worth a try!
There's not many places will turn down volunteered help,and at the very least it will give you some experience to start with and may even lead to some paid work.
Be prepared to get mucky! and always be prepared for the unexpected!
Good luck to you and may you have many years of pleasure working with animals.
Please feel free to contact me i will be glad to give you any advice i can :O)

Answer 9

I've worked in a kennels in the past but most shelters in the UK have volunteers its a good way to try the animal career then if its what you want to do you could try training for something like veterinary nurse ect

Answer 10

I am a caretaker at a natural history museum. The majority of our collection are california native species that for one reason or another were unable to survive in the wild (injuries, imprinted on humans etc.).

Some of my charges include, bats, rodents, raptors (hawks, owls), corvids (ravens, magpies), snakes, lizards, turtles, fish, arthropods.

I have also worked as a caretaker at an animal research lab where the animals were mostly mice and rats, as well as sheep and pigs.

Before then I worked for an educational outfit which brought rescued reptiles to school assemblies. Before then I worked at several retail pet shops, both little mom-and-pop shops and the major chains.

Before then I just kept alot of pets at home.

The best way to get into the field is to just try and get your foot in the door somewhere by volunteering. Most zoos, museums and shelters have volunteer programs.

Studying zoology and biology at school helps as well.
Good luck.