What are some careers that involve working with animals?

How about working in a big zoo? You know, like London zoo. I’m guessing the pay will be pretty decent in big zoos like that. Or animal reserves.
You could consider becoming a safari guide, and also a pet grooming business.

@jailbait
I was considering that actually. :D
What would I study in college to do that as a career?

@NostalgicChills Considering which option dear?
XD

There are veterinary technician schools also.They train you to work with the vets.

@jailbait
Oops, sorry. xD
I was considering working in a zoo.

@Adirondackwannabe
What does that entail?

@NostalgicChills It’s a two or four year program that trains you to be a vet’s assistant. SUNY Delhi has a program. Let me look for a link.
SUNYdelhi.edu

@Adirondackwannabe
What do they get to do though? And does it involve a lot of….gulp…. blood?

@NostalgicChills That would depend on your vet. I guess if he/she was accomodating, that would make the difference. Animals don’t bleed a lot unless you hit certain areas. I assisted on a cow cesarean one time. Hardly any bleeding.

Work for the ASPCA.

A niece graduated last year with a bachelor of science degree. Her major was biology. She is now working in a safari park located in her home state in the US. On Facebook, she recently posted photos of carrying a young kangaroo and handling a zebra. She also posted a note about being ‘tattooed’ by a tiger.

If the zoo/safari life is too wild for you (pun intended), I would go with @Simone_De_Beauvoir‘s suggestion.

@Pied_Pfeffer
What do you mean… “tattooed by a tiger”? O__O
@Simone_De_Beauvoir
I know this may sound stupid, but what they do is not like Animal cops right?
And do you know what job positions would be available in working for ASPCA?

@NostalgicChills Check their website.

@Adirondackwannabe
About working at a zoo: I’m deaf and wear hearing aids, therefore I would not be able to work with marine animals. Are there job positions available that would allow me to just work with land animals?

I’m a bird lover, what about Avian science?

You could be a keeper for exotic birds, or birds of prey.

Your hearing issue would not be too much of a concern if you were working with Flamingos and water birds or Penguins. I don’t think anyone has ever been killed by a Penguin. :-)

@NostalgicChills I wouldn’t let the hearing issue be a deal breaker. I don’t know why you couldn’t work with any animals, land or marine. An animal rehabilitator might be another option. They care for injured animals until they can be returned to the wild.

@Adirondackwannabe
It would be a pain, trust me.
And I doubt people would want to hire someone to care for marine animals who is deaf.

@NostalgicChills It would be a challenge, but that’s what makes things interesting. Why would that be a bigger issue with marine animals?

@Adirondackwannabe
Well for one thing, I can’t put my hearing aids in when my hair is wet. AT ALL. It has to be completely dry otherwise the water seeps into the receiver and damages the hearing aid.
So if I just came out of, lets say, a tank where I just finished working with the manatees, and then was given directions by my boss, obviously I can’t hear, and I would have to wait until my hair dried to put the hearing aids back in.

@NostalgicChills If I had someone working for me that is brave enough to get into tanks of water with manatees, I’d be willing to work around rather they could hear for a few minutes after gettin out.

Roadkill removal.

@bob_
Lol.
No thanks. xDD

Zoo’s hire keepers that have a specific interest in the animals they’re are caring for so if you don’t want to look after marine animals that shouldn’t be a problem.

The best way to work with animals in my opinion would be to study Biology in school until Zoology or Veterinary studies become available in higher education. Dissections are probably present in all these courses, so make sure you do thorough research into the contents of the course before accepting your position there.

Another option is the ASPCA who take in abused pets and care for them as orphans until an owner appears. If you really want a career with animals, PLAN early and DON’T GIVE UP!

@trickface
Thank you :D

Really exotic dancer… or magician’s assistant… circus performer/trainer

One of my SILs is a vet tech,the other ran a stable.
I also have a bartender friend.I think that meets your criteria.

I’m forwarding this Q to kayak – there’s an interesting dog story.

Congressman.

Wildlife Rehabilitator.

My girlfriend is a Zookeeper at the Columbus zoo. Loves it, works with all kinds of different animals (she is in a dept. that does like training for live shows too so she works with dogs and cats as well).

One caveat to keep in mind is zoo keepers don’t make a ton of money. Also she gets bitten all the time… and she’s exposed to diseases and stuff I’ve never even heard of… lol

Gosh, I’m surprised no one mentioned “butcher” before now.

You could become a dog trainer. You could also go into the equestrian industry.

Jockey
Shepherd
Trainer
Researcher
Lab assistant

Even selling “live bait” involves working with animals.

Pretty good suggestions so far. It depends on what types of animals you are willing, and prefer, to work with. Here is a link with plenty of different jobs/positions in animal careers (it was last updated in 2009). The career list is about half way down the page.

I am currently in a program for Zookeeping. I’m about three quarters done. The program/courses were meant for people who are already Zookeepers, so it can be difficult for me at times. Right now, I’m stuck in a horticulture course that’s driving me nuts.
Also, Zookeeping salary is not very high – especially for the amount of work; most Zookeepers aren’t in it for the money.

Wild animal observation and research, work in a zoo, be a vet assistant, be an animal groomer or trainer [a cat whisperer]—even there is a market in some upscale communities for animal psychiatrists—-
If you can take it, work at an animal shelter.
Become a breeder
take part time/freelance work as dog walker, cat sitter, etc

Thanks @zen for the referral . . . I train dogs for search and rescue. I am also hearing impaired and find that it is not a limitation for what I do. I have two trained dogs. They find living people and human remains. We (and other members of our team) are called out by law enforcement to assist as needed. This is my volunteer work, but there are others who do this as a full or part-time job and the dog training part of it could certainly be a full-time job. Feel free to PM me if you have specific questions.

My medical practice employs a company that has a kind of “call center” for patient information and inquiries. I called once to evaluate with an assumed name, I swear you could train monkeys to do a better job.

Wow.
Thank you guys, you’re awesome! :D
These answers are a huge help.

Professional handlers make good money. You have to apprentice and work for peanuts in the beginning but if you do the hard yards it is a fun way to make a living. I owned a commercial boarding kennel and made a good living that way as well. It is a large initial investment however. Dog grooming is a good profession. You can go anywhere in the world and pick up a job easy as. But it takes a while to get the skills. Again it is good to apprentice yourself to a professional handler, they are the best groomers, especially the terrier guys and the ones who specialize in coated breeds from any group.