Spending time around animals lowers stress levels, according to News In Health. Americans are a nation of self-proclaimed animal lovers and spend more than $2 billion combined on gifts just for their cats and dogs. If you’d rather spend your days with animals than people, you should consider a career involving animals. You haven’t got to spend years training to be a vet, either, as there are plenty of animal-based jobs you can do with limited qualifications.
Pet groomer
Groomers spend most of their time pampering and preening cats and dogs. Although, some small mammals, such as rabbits, will visit too. The average spend per year on grooming is $127 per animal. There are a few different ways to get into pet grooming. An inexpensive and effective way is to do an apprenticeship with a groomer and get on-the-job training. Online courses are another way to build your knowledge on pet grooming. However, you will still need some practical training, so volunteering at the end of your course is a good idea. Signing up to a dog grooming school is another possibility. Qualifications can be earnt really quickly. For example, the Dog Grooming School of Pennslyvania has a dog grooming course that can be completed in just 4 weeks.
Pet sitter
Pet sitting is the ideal job for people who love to spend quality time with a variety of animals. Now is a great time to become a pet sitter as the industry is expected to grow by almost 8% by 2027. This is a result of a surge in pet ownership and owners not wanting to leave their beloved companions alone all day. You don’t have to have any qualifications to become a pet sitter, although most pet owners will want to see some. It’s therefore beneficial to do a course like the one offered by the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters that can be done in under 6 months. As you will be going in and out of people’s houses and getting up close and personal with animals, you’ll need pet sitting insurance coverage. This will cover you, your medical bills, and any lost wages if you get injured or wind up in a risky situation. Dog bites, lost pets, and fighting animals are all common, and you don’t want your business to be damaged due to issues like these.
Kennel assistant
Kennel assistants look after all sorts of animals in veterinary clinics, boarding centers, animal rescue shelters, and rehoming shelters. This job is very hands-on and is best suited to someone who’s fit, determined, and enjoys a fast-paced environment. General duties include cleaning, administering medication, grooming, exercising, and feeding animals. It’s unlikely you’ll need anything more than a high school diploma to start your career as a kennel assistant. Most kennel assistants will have a background in looking after animals and will learn on the job.
There are lots of ways to turn your love of animals into a full-time career. The jobs mentioned above are just a few ways to think about getting started, but you could also become a breeder, animal trainer, or veterinary assistant.
