A Job in an Animal Shelter
Maybe you love animals but the only job you’ve ever associated with loving animals is being a veterinarian. However, you’re not very scientifically or medically oriented or you could be but you know that vet school is a long haul and costs a lot of money.
Perhaps you couldn’t stand going in to work every day and finding animals that are suffering. In any of these cases, it could be true then that your dream job lies in the area of kennel keeper or helper. Working in a kennel, you’ll work with dogs or other animals that are healthy and functional, not sick, and you’ll be able to increase their quality of life just by the attention and care you give them and their surroundings. Before you get into this field, however, there are a few things to consider.
Of course you must love animals. Probably even just liking them is not enough. You’ll be surrounded with them every moment that you’re at work, after all. And you must have patience. Like little children, they may be adorable at times, but there are going to be moments when you’re ready to lose your cool over somebody’s yappiness or accident. Given those two character traits, you can successfully work in a kennel and have a really fun time of it.
Every day will be interesting and different. You’ll get paid for making friends with the animals, for playing with them and walking them and exercising them, all of which you’d likely want to do even if they didn’t pay you. But of course you must bear in mind that it’s a dirty business too. You will be cleaning up after the pets as well as washing and feeding them, and it can get messy.
If you’re thinking about this line of work, try volunteering at an animal rescue kennel near your home. You’ll know if you take to the work, and the people there will see you doing your job. Perhaps you’ll be asked to stay on for pay there, or you can apply to other places where your experience will be invaluable and you’ll be way ahead of other applicants.