Careers in Small Animal Careers in Small Animal CareCare

Chapter 5Chapter 5

IntroductionIntroduction

$20.3 billion/year$20.3 billion/year $11 billion/year (vet)$11 billion/year (vet) $9 billion/year (food)$9 billion/year (food)

$$

Pet Care WorkersPet Care Workers

Animal hospitalsAnimal hospitals Boarding kennelsBoarding kennels

Animal sheltersAnimal shelters Grooming parlorsGrooming parlors Training schoolsTraining schools Pet shopsPet shops

http://www.animal-resorts-inc.com

Education and Training Education and Training RequirementsRequirements

High school jobsHigh school jobs High school diplomaHigh school diploma Knowledge is an assetKnowledge is an asset

BiologyBiology Animal husbandryAnimal husbandry Business Business

Advancement Possibilities and Advancement Possibilities and Employment OutlookEmployment Outlook

SupervisorsSupervisors Start private kennels, Start private kennels,

pet shops, etc.pet shops, etc. Develop new skillsDevelop new skills

GroomingGrooming TrainingTraining BreedingBreeding

http://www.wildthingsinc.com/html/training_school.html

Working ConditionsWorking Conditions

Indoors and outdoorsIndoors and outdoors Clean up after themClean up after them DriveDrive Dealing with peopleDealing with people 40 hours/wk40 hours/wk On callOn call

Earnings and BenefitsEarnings and Benefits

VaryVary LocationLocation Type of jobType of job Worker experienceWorker experience

Minimum wageMinimum wage May earn commissionMay earn commission

Zoo AdministratorsZoo Administrators

DirectorsDirectors Decision makersDecision makers Conflict managersConflict managers Deal with peopleDeal with people

Zoo AdministratorsZoo Administrators

Animal curatorsAnimal curators Scientists in charge of Scientists in charge of

the animalsthe animals Paperwork, look after Paperwork, look after

zoo animals, study zoo animals, study behavior, apply behavior, apply medicinesmedicines

Zoo AdministratorsZoo Administrators

VeterinariansVeterinarians Run blood, urine, fecal Run blood, urine, fecal

analysisanalysis Watch for parasitesWatch for parasites

Resident ZoologistsResident Zoologists

Animal scientistsAnimal scientists Educational aspectsEducational aspects HabitatHabitat

Education and Training Education and Training RequirementsRequirements

Curators=M.S. in Curators=M.S. in zoologyzoology

Directors=zoology or Directors=zoology or life scienceslife sciences

Zoologists=PhDZoologists=PhD Vet=VMDVet=VMD

Advancement Possibilities and Advancement Possibilities and Employment OutlookEmployment Outlook

Curators, vets, and Curators, vets, and zoologists to directorzoologists to director

Director is the highestDirector is the highest Job outlook is fairJob outlook is fair

Working ConditionsWorking Conditions

Long and exhaustingLong and exhausting PressurePressure

Earnings and BenefitsEarnings and Benefits

Curators=$38,000Curators=$38,000 Directors=$30,000-Directors=$30,000-

$80,000$80,000 Paid vacations, accident Paid vacations, accident

and health insurance, and health insurance, and pension plansand pension plans

Research grantsResearch grants

Laboratory Animal Care WorkersLaboratory Animal Care Workers

Assistant laboratory Assistant laboratory animal techniciansanimal technicians

Laboratory animal Laboratory animal technicianstechnicians

Laboratory animal Laboratory animal technologists technologists

Provide food, water, and Provide food, water, and clean cages, treat minor clean cages, treat minor wounds and prepare wounds and prepare animals for surgery.animals for surgery.

Education and Training Education and Training RequirementsRequirements

High school educationHigh school education OJTOJT Two year programsTwo year programs Certification from Certification from

AALASAALAShttp://www.itgworld.com/LAS_Trainer

Small Animal BreedersSmall Animal Breeders

Fur-bearing, laboratory, Fur-bearing, laboratory, pet shops, general pet shops, general publicpublic

RuralRural

Education and Training Education and Training RequirementsRequirements

No specific No specific requirementsrequirements

Courses in biology, Courses in biology, nutrition, nutrition, etc.nutrition, nutrition, etc.

Advancement Possibilities and Advancement Possibilities and Employment OutlookEmployment Outlook

Profit margin is small Profit margin is small and uncertain for fur and uncertain for fur farmersfarmers

Steady demand for lab Steady demand for lab animalsanimals

Working ConditionsWorking Conditions

Long hours for ownersLong hours for owners Heavy liftingHeavy lifting Unpleasant odorsUnpleasant odors

Earnings and BenefitsEarnings and Benefits

Owners-varyOwners-vary Size and kindSize and kind

WorkersWorkers $9,000-$16,000$9,000-$16,000

Animal TrainersAnimal Trainers

Aquatic and birdsAquatic and birds Tricks, commands, Tricks, commands,

protect property, seeing protect property, seeing eye dogseye dogs

Education and Training Education and Training RequirementsRequirements

Like working with Like working with animalsanimals

Keepers with OJTKeepers with OJT Race horse trainers must Race horse trainers must

be licensedbe licensed

Advancement Possibilities and Advancement Possibilities and Employment OutlookEmployment Outlook

Small staffSmall staff Go into business for Go into business for

themselvesthemselves Not a lot of jobsNot a lot of jobs

Working ConditionsWorking Conditions

Long hours for horse Long hours for horse trainerstrainers

Like water for aquatic Like water for aquatic trainingtraining

Earnings and BenefitsEarnings and Benefits

$10,000-$100,000$10,000-$100,000 Racehorses:Racehorses:

$35-$50/horse + 10% of $35-$50/horse + 10% of winningswinnings

$30,000-$35,000/year$30,000-$35,000/year $$

Pet GroomersPet Groomers

Shaggy, long-haired Shaggy, long-haired gives businessgives business

Education and Training Education and Training RequirementsRequirements

Dog grooming schoolDog grooming school Pet shop/kennelPet shop/kennel Reading and practicingReading and practicing No high school diploma No high school diploma

neededneeded People skillsPeople skills

Advancement Possibilities and Advancement Possibilities and Employment OutlookEmployment Outlook

30,000 current groomer30,000 current groomer 3,000 new ones in next 3,000 new ones in next

decadedecade

Working ConditionsWorking Conditions

LocationLocation Bad tempered animalsBad tempered animals Normally 35-40 hour Normally 35-40 hour

weeksweeks

Earnings and BenefitsEarnings and Benefits

$7.50/hour$7.50/hour Keep 50% of earnings if Keep 50% of earnings if

at a salonat a salon Owner: $20,000-Owner: $20,000-

$50,000/yr.$50,000/yr.

VeterinariansVeterinarians

Treat, medicate, Treat, medicate, surgery, etc.surgery, etc.

55,000 in U.S.55,000 in U.S. 1/3 in SAC1/3 in SAC

Education and Training Education and Training RequirementsRequirements

DVM or VMDDVM or VMD 27 veterinarian schools27 veterinarian schools

Advancement Possibilities and Advancement Possibilities and Employment OutlookEmployment Outlook

Looks goodLooks good

Working ConditionsWorking Conditions

Over 40 hoursOver 40 hours Injury by animalsInjury by animals

Earnings and BenefitsEarnings and Benefits

$38,800/year for new$38,800/year for new $57,600/year on average$57,600/year on average

Veterinary TechnicianVeterinary Technician

Assist vetsAssist vets

Education and Training Education and Training RequirementsRequirements

2 year program2 year program 65 community colleges65 community colleges

Advancement Possibilities and Advancement Possibilities and Employment OutlookEmployment Outlook

Looks goodLooks good ShortageShortage

Working ConditionsWorking Conditions

40 hours40 hours Injury, weather, etc.Injury, weather, etc.

Earnings and BenefitsEarnings and Benefits

$17,000-$35,000$17,000-$35,000

BiologistsBiologists BotanistBotanist ZoologistZoologist AnatomistAnatomist PhysiologistPhysiologist EmbryologistEmbryologist GeneticistGeneticist PathologistPathologist NutritionistNutritionist PharmacologistPharmacologist EcologistEcologist BiochemistBiochemist BiophysicistBiophysicist

Education and TrainingEducation and Training

Undergraduate degreesUndergraduate degrees M.S. or PhDM.S. or PhD

Advancement Possibilities and Advancement Possibilities and Employment OutlookEmployment Outlook

Many with PhDMany with PhD Lots of jobsLots of jobs

Working ConditionsWorking Conditions

LaboratoriesLaboratories Field workField work TravelTravel 40 hours40 hours

Earnings and BenefitsEarnings and Benefits

$28,400-$50,900$28,400-$50,900