Top Pet Professions for a Rewarding Career
Do you love animals and are looking for a more rewarding career? There are many different pet professions to choose from, each offering a unique opportunity to make a difference in the lives of animals and their owners.
The pet services industry is rapidly expanding, offering numerous career paths due to the growing demand for pet-related services. The global pet services market was valued at USD 24.92 billion in 2022, with a projected growth of 9.21% by 2030. Key drivers of this market include the increasing population of companion animals, pet humanization, and increasing expenditure on pets.
Check out the Michelson Found Animals’ list of the top pet professions to find the perfect career for you.
Veterinarian
Veterinarians (DVMs) are animal doctors who play a vital role in keeping our furry companions healthy and happy. They diagnose and treat sick and injured animals, and provide routine care, such as vaccinations, checkups and guidance on nutrition and overall health. Veterinarians advise owners on how to care for their pets, administer medication, and perform surgery when necessary. DVMs can work in traditional clinics like Banfield Pet Hospital, in the rescue or shelter environment like Annenberg Petspace, or in low-cost clinics like CAMP, all here in Los Angeles.
Veterinary Assistant
Veterinary assistants are essential members of the veterinary team, providing compassionate and skilled care to animals of all ages and backgrounds. They perform a variety of tasks, including feeding and exercising animals, cleaning cages and kennels, administering medication, and assisting with procedures such as taking X-rays, drawing blood, and monitoring anesthesia during surgeries.
Registered Veterinary Technician or Vet Nurses
Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVTs) are vital veterinary team members, providing compassionate and skilled animal care. They perform various tasks, including administering medications, taking vital signs, collecting samples for lab tests, assisting in surgeries, and providing nursing care. RVTs also play an essential role in educating pet owners on nutrition, parasite control, and disease prevention.
Shelter Animal Care Technician
Shelter animal care technicians play an important role in the lives of animals and people, providing compassionate care to adoptable animals and helping them find their forever homes. They feed, clean, and provide essential care for shelter pets, and they also socialize them and offer exercise to ensure they are thriving. Shelter animal care technicians also interact with potential adopters, matching them with the right pet based on their needs and lifestyle.
Pet Trainer
Pet trainers specialize in training animals and helping them develop desirable behaviors and skills. With a deep understanding of animal behavior and psychology, they develop personalized training programs to work with owners to help their pets learn new skills, overcome behavioral challenges, and become well-rounded companions. Pet trainers work with various animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and other domesticated pets, helping them, and their owners, live their best lives.
Pet Caregiver/ Pet Sitter
Pet caregivers are essential partners in keeping pets happy and healthy. They provide a variety of local services, including feeding, walking, playing, and basic medical care, to help pets thrive when their owners are away or busy. Pet caregivers work in a variety of settings, including as independent contractors, pet care company employees, and animal shelter staff. They build strong relationships with the pets in their care and the owners they are assisting, making a real difference in the lives of both.
Dog Walker
Dog walkers help pets live their best lives by providing them with exercise, socialization, and companionship. They pick up dogs from their homes and take them on fun adventures, including walks, runs, and playtime at the dog park. Some dog walkers also offer additional services, such as feeding, grooming, and training. To be a successful dog walker, you need a love for dogs, patience, physical fitness, and good communication skills.
Pet Groomer
Pet groomers help owners keep their pets happy and healthy. They provide various services, including bathing, brushing, trimming nails, ear cleaning, teeth brushing, shaves and haircuts, to help keep pets’ coats and skin healthy. Groomers can also identify potential health problems that may require veterinary attention.
Check out the video of the recent Michelson Institute of Pet Professions’ “Growth in Grooming” Career Fair at Groomers Pro in Hawthorne, California to learn more about the exciting career opportunities in the pet grooming industry.
At the Michelson Institute for Pet Professions (MIPP), we believe that everyone deserves the joy of a pet and yet, veterinary medicine is the least diverse profession in the United States. Diversity in the field is critical to advancing the human and animal bond and empowering pet parents everywhere.
The Michelson Institute for Pet Professions (MIPP) supports equal access to pet care careers by providing skills training and job placement for individuals in historically marginalized communities who have a passion working with animals.
Students accepted to MIPP receive their tuition to grooming school with West Coast Grooming Academy subsidized by Michelson Found Animals Foundation (MFA), and obtain a professional certification in pet grooming and benefit from job placement support upon graduation.
Watch the MIPP informational video to learn more about how you can become a professional pet groomer.
To learn more about how the Michelson Institute of Pet Professions can help you with a new career path, visit our website at Michelson Found Animals Foundation.
