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What They Do
About This Career
Feeds, waters, grooms, bathes, exercises, or otherwise provides care to promote and maintain the well-being of pets and other animals that are not raised for consumption, such as dogs, cats, race horses, ornamental fish or birds, zoo animals, and mice. Works in settings such as kennels, animal shelters, zoos, circuses, and aquariums. May keep records of feedings, treatments, and animals received or discharged. May clean, disinfect, and repair cages, pens, or fish tanks.
This career is part of the Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources cluster Animal Systems pathway.
A person in this career:
- Feeds and waters animals according to schedules and feeding instructions.
- Provides treatment to sick or injured animals, or contacts veterinarians to secure treatment.
- Examines and observes animals to detect signs of illness, disease, or injury.
- Mixes food, liquid formulas, medications, or food supplements according to instructions, prescriptions, and knowledge of animal species.
- Does facility laundry and cleans, organizes, maintains, and disinfects animal quarters, such as pens and stables, and equipment, such as saddles and bridles.
- Exercises animals to maintain their physical and mental health.
- Collects and records animal information, such as weight, size, physical condition, treatments received, medications given, and food intake.
- Responds to questions from patrons, and provides information about animals, such as behavior, habitat, breeding habits, or facility activities.
- Answers telephones and schedules appointments.
- Advises pet owners on how to care for their pets' health.
Working Conditions and Physical Demands
People who do this job report that:
- You would often handle loads up to 20 lbs., sometimes up to 50 lbs. You might do a lot of lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling.
- Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
- Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
- Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
- Work in this occupation requires being outside most of the time
- Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time
Working in this career involves (physical activities):
- Seeing clearly up close
- Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
- Identifying and understanding the speech of another person
- Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying objects
- Using abdominal and lower back muscles repeatedly or over time without tiring
Work Hours and Travel
- Irregular hours
- Rotating shift work
- Weekend work
Specialty and Similar Careers
Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:
- Animal Care Giver (ACG)
- Aquarist
- Dog Groomer — Combs, clips, trims, and shapes dogs' coats to groom dogs, using knowledge of canine characteristics and grooming techniques and styles.
- Groomer
- Kennel Attendant
- Pet Groomer
- Pet Stylist
- Dog Bather
- Kennel Technician (Kennel Tech)
- Zookeeper
Every year the U.S. Department of Labor conducts national surveys of wage data by occupation in every state and in all industry divisions. These surveys are conducted through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program.
The statistics collected for one year are published the next fall. For example, 2013 wage information was published in the fall of 2014.
There are over 800 occupations in the surveys, and these occupations cover the entire U.S. labor market. The surveys ask for reports in a scale of ranges for both hourly wages and annual wages.
In many cases, these occupations are broad enough to cover many more detailed specialties of an occupation. A specific occupation may be included in a broader occupational category for which labor market data is available. When you look at the statistics for a broad category, be aware that the salary data for a specific career may differ.
For more details about how wage information is collected and calculated by the U.S. Department of Labor, visit their website at http://www.bls.gov/bls/blswage.htm.
Every year the U.S. Department of Labor conducts a national survey of over 400,000
employers in every state and in all industry divisions. This survey is conducted
through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program. Every other year the
department publishes outlook information based on these surveys.
Each outlook period covers 10 years. For example, in 2003 the outlook information
was published for 2004-2014. Employers are asked to report the number of employees
in about 770 different occupations that cover the entire U.S. labor market.
From this information, staffing patterns for different industries are established.
Industry growth is projected into the future based on past trends and current economic
conditions. Industry staffing patterns are then applied to the industry projections
to obtain occupational projections.
In many cases, these occupations are broad enough to cover many more detailed specialties
of an occupation. A specific occupation may be included in a broader occupational
category for which labor market data is available. When you look at the statistics
for a broad category, be aware that the employment data for a specific field may
differ.
For more details about how employment information is collected and calculated by
the U.S. Department of Labor, visit their website at http://stats.bls.gov/news.release/ocwage.tn.htm.
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