How can youths get involved with animal care?

Question

I am interested in becoming a biologist or naturalist. How can I get started in animal care? It would be useful to have experience working with larger animals before hopefully going to university or college.

Answer 1

You are starting off on the right foot for the simple fact that you are wise enough to know that experience in this realm of work is key. GOOD FOR YOU!

Speaking as someone who was in the same boat as you growing up this is the best advice I can give you.

To start, take ANY job that you are offered (paid or volunteer) that has anything to do with animals. Even if it is not something that you want, experience is key. For example if you have a zoo close by and the only jobs they currently have open are selling tickets at the front gate, though it is not directly animal related, take it. Places like that are the type that love to hire from within and to get your foot in the door is important. Another example, if an animal shelter offers you a job at the front desk anwsering phones, again, take the job.

As far as options on jobs... and most of these locations have paid and volunteer positions.
-Zoos
-Nature Centers
-Vet Clinics
-Wildlife Rescue Centers
-Humane Society Centers

Some will suggest pet stores but in all honesty, considering most animal based pet stores use puppy and kitten mills those tend to be looked down upon. However perhaps if you are looking to work with aquatics in and after college (fish, whales, etc) there are some wonderful aquarium only based stores that you can get some excellent experience at. I am not sure if you have them in your area but Aquarium Adventure is one such place.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Check out these websites:

The American Association of Zoo Keepers www.aazk.org

and

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums www.aza.org

Both of these sites will have information for you as well as links to zoos and aquariums and conservation organizations around the country.

Working with animals is a great career. Stick with it and good luck. In the meantime, education is your best asset, in the classroom and in the real world.

Answer 3

properly, sure and no. needless to say, in case you consume meat, you at the instant are not a vegetarian, not to indicate a vegan. even although, in a survival difficulty, i don't think of everyone could blame you for making an exception. i glance at it this type: many folk sense that that's incorrect to break individuals, staggering? permit's describe the "that's incorrect to harm individuals and we would desire to constantly not do it" philosophy many times as "non-violence." a guy or woman who believes in non-violence will not pass and pound the Skittles out of somebody using fact they think of that's exciting, or using fact all human beings else is doing it at a occasion, or using fact their friends tease them for not doing it. even although, in a survival difficulty (the two the absurd "there's a gun pointed at your head" hypothetical or the greater life like "you're being attacked" difficulty), maximum individuals could say, "that's greater suitable to make an exception on your 'non-violent' values than get killed." somebody who intentionally reasons yet another guy or woman actual harm isn't non-violent. somebody who intentionally eats meat isn't a vegan. even although, maximum smart human beings would not anticipate a guy or woman protecting those values to sacrifice their lifestyles for them. in actuality, in an wonderful difficulty, that's not hypocritical to do something wonderful. In the two difficulty, although, that's not significant whether the guy in dire straits does the killing/harming or somebody else. A non-violent guy or woman who's being crushed can call for help, understanding that whoever enables them will harm their attacker. A vegan guy or woman who's starving to dying can settle for meat from an animal that somebody else killed. the key ingredient is they're in a difficulty the place the alternative is between doing something against their values and dying. In the two case, they're nevertheless doing something against their concepts. even although, that's greater suitable than the alternative. So, base line: that's not vegan to kill and consume an animal, yet in a survival difficulty, that's nevertheless suitable. no one could fault you for it.

Answer 4

Try going to a zoo. Like the people above me said, a lot of them have internship programs that look great on your resume thingy and will teach you a lot. You will get to spend time with animals and animal experts. Other than that, maybe go to a animal shelter and try to volunteer.

Answer 5

Many zoos have some kind of internship program. It's often a volunteer internship, maybe a few days a week. If you live near a zoo, that should be your first try.

Answer 6

http://www.4husa.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=34

http://cyfernet.ces.ncsu.edu/pod/browse.php?subcat=Science,+Engineering+and+Technology+Literacy

http://www.ffa.org/index.cfm?method=c_about.mission