Animal-related jobs? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Jimellow · 08-28-2006, 08:30 PM

I was thinking today about employment - balancing the desire to make good money at a shitty job, or making less at an enoyable job - and I started to wonder what sort of job opportunities there were for those interested in working with animals.

Being a veternarian and/or an assistant wouldn't interest me, as I am not interested in the medical side of animal care, but other than that I think any job that involved working with animals would be very enjoyable and fulfilling; perhaps some even pay well, though that may be wishful thinking.

What types of jobs are there available to those that enjoy being around and caring for animals?

As is the case with most of my employment experiences so far, I know more about what I wouldn't be interested in than what I would. For example, I wouldn't be interested in being a breeder or someone that sells animals. I tend to put animals on a level equal with people and thus am not really interested in a job that would belittle them to something below myself. That's not to imply that breeding or selling animals is such a job, but instead to help focus in on the type of jobs that would or wouldn't interest me.

I welcome suggestions from those that have experience in animal-related jobs, and also those that just have ideas or thoughts about a potential job/career that might seem enoyable to someone like myself.

JStrider · 08-28-2006, 08:37 PM

horse whisperer?

maybe a groomer or dog trainer.

cookmo · 08-28-2006, 09:27 PM

Most animal husbandry jobs dont pay squat. I went to vocational school for it, but never used it because the pay was so lousy.

Your best option would be to open your own grooming business. The cheapest way would be a mobile grooming van, that you made house calls in.

Brewmaniac · 08-28-2006, 10:59 PM

Cookmo, I was thinking the same thing, the moble dog grooming business seems to be taking off lattly. In my small town the local feed store has dog washing in back that you can leave your dog to be groomed or you can use their facility to do it yourself. It's called Paw to Wash.

Grancey · 08-29-2006, 07:58 AM

What I need right now is a good, reliable, trustworthy petsitter. When I am away from my home for a day or more, I need someone to come into my home, make sure my cats are okay, give them fresh food and water, play with them for a while, check the house to see if anything has been knocked over or broken that could cause them harm, and give them any needed medications. For this service, I would pay well. Especially considering how much I paid to board my four cats the last time we left town, and one of them contracted a cold while being boarded and has now passed that cold on to Sophia, who is too tiny to have a cold. Also, last night one of the area "boarding facilities" caught fire and five dogs and two cats died from the smoke in this fire, although the police were able to save many. I worry enough when I board my cats, so this really doesn't help. So, a good pet sitter in my area would have steady income for years.

newtx · 08-29-2006, 08:17 AM

Grancey has a good idea. A petsitting service would be a great alternative to pet boarding.

Deltona Couple · 08-30-2006, 07:20 AM

Since you didn't specify what TYPE of animals, I have another idea. Are there any animal type theme parks for the kids nearby? I know here in Florida there are TONS of jobs for people who just want to take care of the animals, not like the trainers or entertainers, but just like a behind the scenes job just taking care of their needs and the like.

Sage · 08-30-2006, 09:07 AM

Petsitter/groomer... work at a museum that has animals... work at a petting zoo.. work AT the zoo... work at the circus... that kinda thing.

I have been considering putting up a flier in my apartment complex advertising my services as a dogwalker- since I work on web design all day I'm in the complex anyway, and getting out and having some companionship would be quite nice.

longbough · 08-30-2006, 06:58 PM

Being an animal wrangler for the movie industry sounds like fun.

actinic · 10-01-2006, 03:22 PM

If you enjoy working with animals, look into internship programs at zoos.

http://www.aza.org/JobListings/

Having worked in the pet industry, it's both a rewarding and frustrating line of work. Pay isn't good unless you are in upper management or the owner. I've worked in various aspects from retail, import/export/distribution and service/maintenance/wrangling while paying my way through university.

Corporate and government work didn't suit me very well and I started an aquarium design/consultation and service company 4 years ago. It's work but it doesn't feel like work if you know what I mean...LOL.

Best of luck to you

.

If you

kel · 10-02-2006, 12:17 PM

In-home petsitting is a terrible job. You must work early in the morning and late at night, and you always have to work weekends, and you can't take a day off if you are sick or else the pets will suffer.

Doggie day care is much better. You can charge quite a bit per dog and do it in your own home, if you can set aside a room for the indoor kennel and have a FENCED yard.

08-28-2006, 08:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jimellow Junkie	Animal-related jobs? I was thinking today about employment - balancing the desire to make good money at a shitty job, or making less at an enoyable job - and I started to wonder what sort of job opportunities there were for those interested in working with animals. Being a veternarian and/or an assistant wouldn't interest me, as I am not interested in the medical side of animal care, but other than that I think any job that involved working with animals would be very enjoyable and fulfilling; perhaps some even pay well, though that may be wishful thinking. What types of jobs are there available to those that enjoy being around and caring for animals? As is the case with most of my employment experiences so far, I know more about what I wouldn't be interested in than what I would. For example, I wouldn't be interested in being a breeder or someone that sells animals. I tend to put animals on a level equal with people and thus am not really interested in a job that would belittle them to something below myself. That's not to imply that breeding or selling animals is such a job, but instead to help focus in on the type of jobs that would or wouldn't interest me. I welcome suggestions from those that have experience in animal-related jobs, and also those that just have ideas or thoughts about a potential job/career that might seem enoyable to someone like myself. __________________ Desperation is no excuse for lowering one's standards.

08-28-2006, 08:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
JStrider Poo-tee-weet? Location: The Woodlands, TX	horse whisperer? maybe a groomer or dog trainer. __________________ -=JStrider=- ~Clatto Verata Nicto

08-28-2006, 10:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
Brewmaniac Searching for the perfect brew!	Cookmo, I was thinking the same thing, the moble dog grooming business seems to be taking off lattly. In my small town the local feed store has dog washing in back that you can leave your dog to be groomed or you can use their facility to do it yourself. It's called Paw to Wash. __________________ "That's a joke... I say, that's a joke, son"

08-29-2006, 07:58 AM	#5 (permalink)
Grancey Life's short, gotta hurry... Location: land of pit vipers	What I need right now is a good, reliable, trustworthy petsitter. When I am away from my home for a day or more, I need someone to come into my home, make sure my cats are okay, give them fresh food and water, play with them for a while, check the house to see if anything has been knocked over or broken that could cause them harm, and give them any needed medications. For this service, I would pay well. Especially considering how much I paid to board my four cats the last time we left town, and one of them contracted a cold while being boarded and has now passed that cold on to Sophia, who is too tiny to have a cold. Also, last night one of the area "boarding facilities" caught fire and five dogs and two cats died from the smoke in this fire, although the police were able to save many. I worry enough when I board my cats, so this really doesn't help. So, a good pet sitter in my area would have steady income for years. __________________ Quiet, mild-mannered souls might just turn out to be roaring lions of two-fisted cool.

08-30-2006, 07:20 AM	#7 (permalink)
Deltona Couple Addict Location: Spring, Texas	Since you didn't specify what TYPE of animals, I have another idea. Are there any animal type theme parks for the kids nearby? I know here in Florida there are TONS of jobs for people who just want to take care of the animals, not like the trainers or entertainers, but just like a behind the scenes job just taking care of their needs and the like. __________________ "It is not that I have failed, but that I have found 10,000 ways that it DOESN'T work!" --Thomas Edison

08-28-2006, 09:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
cookmo Insane Location: Ohio	Most animal husbandry jobs dont pay squat. I went to vocational school for it, but never used it because the pay was so lousy. Your best option would be to open your own grooming business. The cheapest way would be a mobile grooming van, that you made house calls in.

08-29-2006, 08:17 AM	#6 (permalink)
newtx Addict	Grancey has a good idea. A petsitting service would be a great alternative to pet boarding.

08-30-2006, 09:07 AM	#8 (permalink)
Sage hoarding all the big girl panties since 2005 Location: North side	Petsitter/groomer... work at a museum that has animals... work at a petting zoo.. work AT the zoo... work at the circus... that kinda thing. I have been considering putting up a flier in my apartment complex advertising my services as a dogwalker- since I work on web design all day I'm in the complex anyway, and getting out and having some companionship would be quite nice. __________________ Sage knows our mythic history, King Arthur's and Sir Caradoc's She answers hard acrostics, has a pretty taste for paradox She quotes in elegiacs all the crimes of Heliogabalus In conics she can floor peculiarities parabolous -C'hi

08-30-2006, 06:58 PM	#9 (permalink)
longbough Soylent Green is people. Location: Northern California	Being an animal wrangler for the movie industry sounds like fun.

10-01-2006, 03:22 PM	#10 (permalink)
actinic Crazy Location: Toronto, ON	If you enjoy working with animals, look into internship programs at zoos. http://www.aza.org/JobListings/ Having worked in the pet industry, it's both a rewarding and frustrating line of work. Pay isn't good unless you are in upper management or the owner. I've worked in various aspects from retail, import/export/distribution and service/maintenance/wrangling while paying my way through university. Corporate and government work didn't suit me very well and I started an aquarium design/consultation and service company 4 years ago. It's work but it doesn't feel like work if you know what I mean...LOL. Best of luck to you . If you

10-02-2006, 12:17 PM	#11 (permalink)
kel WARNING: FLAMMABLE Location: Ask Acetylene	In-home petsitting is a terrible job. You must work early in the morning and late at night, and you always have to work weekends, and you can't take a day off if you are sick or else the pets will suffer. Doggie day care is much better. You can charge quite a bit per dog and do it in your own home, if you can set aside a room for the indoor kennel and have a FENCED yard. __________________ "It better be funny"