Work in Pet Care.

As a nation of animal lovers, it’s no wonder so many of us want to share our lives and our homes with pets so we can enjoy their company and affection day in, day out. This, no doubt, is a great way to indulge an adoration for the animals of your choice, but becoming a pet owner brings with it a whole host of responsibilities.  

The 12 million+ UK households with pets have a duty of care to provide for them. This means providing pet care that caters to the specific needs of their breed, and their needs as an individual animal, which isn’t always the easiest thing to do.  

Besides the day-to-day easy pet care like feeding and basic grooming, there are a wider array of duties you need to perform to make sure your pet is happy, healthy, and enriched in life. This is why you will find many people considering becoming a pet owner asking questions like ‘What’s the easiest pet to have?’ and ‘What is a good pet for a kid?’ 

To make sure animals get what they need from their caregivers, a whole industry is devoted to providing pet care services. This helps pet owners provide for pets with more complex needs and juggle caring for pets with increasingly busy lifestyles. This also means animal lovers can devote their careers to pet-related animal jobs.  

If you like the idea of working in pet care jobs, we explore the industry and what pet-related animal care jobs you can work in below.  

 

 

What is Pet Care? 

If you take responsibility for owning an animal, whether it lives with you in the home or in another location, that animal depends on you entirely for its health and well-being. For this reason, aspiring and current pet owners must realise just how big this responsibility is, as even being remotely slack in your duties can cause harm to your pet.  

There are a lot of things to consider when providing pet care, and these considerations will vary depending on the species and breed of the pet. To give you an idea, some of the main pet care requirements include: 

Food 

• Pets need food that caters to their nutritional needs 
• Different breeds require different foods 
• Pets at different stages of life need different food 
• Certain human food can be harmful to animals 
• Numerous health conditions can stem from over or under-feeding your pet 

Water 

• Proper pet care includes giving animals 24/7 access to water  
• Water must be fresh and provided in a clean bowl 
• Pets living in water also need this to be cleaned regularly, at least once a week 

Shelter 

• All pets, whether they live in or outside of the home must have access to a safe, comfortable shelter 
• Appropriate bedding, shade and space must be provided  
• Pets must be protected from harm and kept in a safe space 
• Bedding must be cleaned regularly to keep their shelter fresh and hygienic 
• Elderly pets and those with joint issues would benefit from orthopaedic beds 
• Shelters must also help keep pets safe from extreme temperatures 

Toilet 

• Pets must have access to use their version of the toilet regularly 
• Pets at different ages will need to use the toilet more frequently 
• Cats will need litter boxes where dogs will need toilet training and puppy pads 
• Pets that reside in external locations or have pens will need to have their waste cleaned out daily 

Exercise 

• Each pet will require regular exercise for their mental and physical health 
• Dogs typically need x2 walks a day, whereas other pet species will have different needs 
• Exercise can also provide vital socialisation with you, the outdoors, other people and animals 

Healthcare 

• Regular (at least yearly) visits to the vet are essential to make sure your pet is healthy and up to date with vaccinations  
• Certain species are prone to different issues, so the necessary preventative methods will need to be taken i.e., worming, flea treatments etc. 
• Pet oral health must be addressed which can require you to brush their teeth, buy dental cleaning toys or food, or have them professionally cleaned 
• Pet grooming is essential to maintain coats and nails to keep pets comfortable, hygienic and healthy 

These are just some of the many types of pet care that must be carried out regularly. In doing so, your pets can live a long, healthy, and happy life with you. 

What Pet Care Services are Available? 

There are easy pets to take care of and some that require a higher level of pet care, perhaps on a more frequent basis. So, it always pays to do your research before taking the plunge and becoming a pet parent.  

In many cases, people owning pets are happy to provide them with all they need, but they just don’t have the time to implement their pet care plan in addition to their existing commitments. In these instances, there are professional pet care services you can pay for to cater for your animal's every need. 

From in-home pet care services to those that require care and treatment to be delivered in a specific facility, just some of the available pet care services include: 

• Veterinary – To maintain pet health and provide medical attention when pets are feeling unwell or are injured 
• Dog Walking – Professionals who will take your dog out for walks individually or in groups for exercise and socialisation 
• Pet Boarding – Facilities that provide a place for your pets to stay when you are away from home 
• Pet Sitting – People who look after pets for short periods of time, such as when owners are at work  
• Pet Grooming – Parlours and mobile facilities that cater to the grooming needs of pets 
• Pet Training – Professionals who are skilled in helping pets and pet caregivers overcome pet behaviour issues  
• Pet Care Stores – Shops dedicated to the provision of pet care products and certain services mentioned above 

 

 

How Do I Get a Job Working with Animals? 

If you are an animal lover and would like to cater your career to the provision of pet care, there are many pet-related animal jobs you can work in. Some of these have certain entry requirements, whereas others simply require an adoration of animals and the drive to build a client base.  

In any case, some great ways to get into pet care careers include: 

Get Qualified 

Getting qualified in any instance is a great way to gain specific knowledge and credibility in your expertise. You can study many animal and pet care-related courses that will give you a certificate of completion or recognised qualifications.  

This will not only instil confidence in your ability to look after pets, but it will also show pet owners and pet care employers that you are capable of providing the animal services required. In some instances, pet care jobs will require you to have a certain level of education, so check what their requirements are ahead of applying. 

Get Work Experience 

In many instances, people employing pet care services want to be assured the person looking after their pet has experience handling animals. No matter how well-behaved pets are, if you don’t have confidence when working with them, animals can pick up on your nerves and begin to feel anxious themselves.  

Getting work experience with pets, or any kind of animal experience can do wonders for your job application. Not only will pet owners be looking for this, but many pet care employers stipulate prior experience as a requirement for employment.  

Offer Your Services Locally 

You often don’t have to look far to start getting interest in your animal services. Many pet owners struggle to meet their pet's needs on a day-to-day basis, whether their work pattern has changed, and they can’t fit in that second walk, or their kids have flown the nest and now there is no one home to let their pet use the toilet in the afternoons.  

You could let people in your local area know that you want to get experience working with pets and perhaps offer your services for a highly discounted rate initially. Perhaps you could even make up some flyers that you can put through people’s doors and leave in local pet hotspots. You would be surprised at how many people would be happy to employ you! 

Start Advertising

If you aim to set up your own pet care business, like a grooming service, you’ll need to get a name for yourself in the area you wish to operate in. When you’re ready to take things further, you can go through the motions of building your pet care brand and customer base through various advertising methods.  

First, it would be wise to create a website, which is much easier than you might think if you use one of the many easy to use website building tools that are available. Then, getting a presence on social media is a great way to target prospective clients locally through hashtags like #ManchesterDogGrooming and posts in local community groups.  

Many of your ideal customers will no doubt use the internet to search for ‘pet care near me’ or something along those lines. You could also target these people through Pay Per Click (PPC) advertising, so your business is found whenever people search for your criteria. In addition to this, doing things like creating a Google My Business page will also help boost your pet care brand in local search engine results.  

What Qualifications Do You Need to Work with Animals?  

For certain pet-related animal care jobs, you will need to study a specific course, or type of course, to get the knowledge required for the profession. This leaves many aspiring animal care professionals asking the question ‘What qualifications do I need for animal care?’ 

If this is you, and the idea of university doesn’t appeal, you may also be wondering ‘How can I get animal care without a degree?’ Luckily, a lot of the animal care jobs that look for qualifications don’t ask for degree level qualifications.  

 

 

The qualifications you need depends entirely on the type of role you aim to pursue, some examples are: 

What Qualifications Do You Need to be an Animal Care Assistant?  

In this role, you look after the daily needs of animals in different settings like zoos, safari parks, kennels and catteries, animal welfare centres and veterinary hospitals. As this role is always supervised by a qualified professional, there aren’t typically any set entry requirements to get started.  

Employers may ask for GCSEs grade C/4 and above, but mostly they want to see you have a real passion for animal care.  

What Qualifications Do You Need for Veterinary Jobs? 

There are many careers that fall under the ‘Veterinary’ umbrella, from Veterinary Surgeons and Vet Nurses to Vet Nurse Assistants and the front desk staff, each of which has its own entry requirements. 

You can usually get started as a Veterinary Receptionist without specific qualifications. Employers may ask for 5 GCSEs at a pass or above, and they often favour applicants with prior customer service experience. As these jobs are popular, it’s wise to take the time to study courses in this area to stand out from the crowd. 

To be a Veterinary Nurse Assistant you need at least a Level 2 regulated veterinary qualification like this Veterinary Nurse Assistant Level 2 Diploma (RQF).  

Aspiring Veterinary Nurses will have to complete a Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing or a degree in the subject. The diploma apprenticeship must be Training Practice approved and both the diploma and the degree need to be approved by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).  

Future Veterinary Surgeons also need to study a veterinary degree that is approved by the RCVS. 

What Jobs Can You Do Working with Animals?  

Perhaps the best way to start your job hunt is by exploring the roles in pet care and those that care for animals, so you can see which one suits you best. Then, you can look into the entry requirements in more detail to know exactly what you need to do to get started in your chosen animal job. 

Just some of the many pet care industry jobs you can work in include: 

Canine Massage Therapist 

Learn hands-on therapeutic massage techniques that help you to alleviate the aches, pains and certain conditions canines can experience. This can include providing aquatic massage and advanced techniques to assist canine athletes. 

Canine Nutritionist  

Help dogs to achieve good health and wellbeing by working as a Canine Nutritionist, where you could educate pet caregivers on the correct diet for their pet or work with companies that create nutritious canine food. 

Companion Animal Transporter 

Understand the legal and breed-specific requirements to make sure companion animals are transported to their destinations safely.  

Dog Walker 

Help dog owners who are short on time or don’t have the mobility to walk their dogs. As a Dog Walker, you can work with one or multiple canines at a time.   

Dog Groomer 

Keep dogs looking and feeling their best by providing dog grooming services like coat trimming, nail cutting, ear and dental cleanings that keep them healthy, happy and comfortable. 

Pet Shop Employee  

Teach pet owners how to set up an enriching environment for their pets, feed them nutritious and varied diets, groom them properly to maintain their hygiene and more! 

Pet Sitter 

Set up a pet sitting business where you care for pets while their owners are away either in their home or yours.  

Assistance Dog Trainer 

Make a difference in the lives of people living with disabilities by training dogs that can provide them with everyday assistance.  

Kennel or Cattery Manager 

Run or manage a business that provides a boarding service for pets while their owners are away for short or long term periods of time. In addition to providing accommodation, you will feed, groom and exercise pets, among other duties.  

Animal Physiotherapist & Hydrotherapist 

Provide advanced therapeutic treatments both in water and on land to help small animals with a multitude of healthcare needs.  

Animal Welfare Officer 

Inspect both commercial and residential properties, remove any animals identified as being at risk, get them the necessary medical treatment required and find them new homes.  

Animal Behaviour Therapist 

Diagnose and treat behavioural issues in animals such as aggression, phobias, destructiveness or anxiety, to help animals and humans coexist in harmony. 

Animal Assisted Intervention 

Recognise desirable behaviours and identify suitable animals that can support humans with rehabilitation, disease and disabilities. 

Animal Licensing Inspector  

Work alongside councils to inspect and license Animal Activity businesses to take a stand against animal abuse and neglect. 

Find out more of the pet and animal-related jobs you can pursue successfully with tailored animal courses.  

 

 

Where Can I Study Pet Care Courses? 

Studying pet care courses is no doubt a more direct way of gaining employment in any pet care role. Not only does it show others you understand how to look after animals in a way specific to your training, but it also gives you the confidence to perform in your pet care career effectively.  

There are numerous ways you can complete your studies, whether you choose to attend college pet care classes or obtain your pet care education at university. Though, if you’re looking for the utmost convenience, you can complete pet care courses online.  

By choosing to complete a pet care distance learning course, you will benefit from: 

• Online learning – Many of our distant learning courses are delivered solely online, so you can complete your studies from the comfort of your own home. For those distance learning courses that have practical elements for vital hands-on training, you can typically book this in for a time that is suitable for you. To get started with your learning, you just need a computer, laptop or tablet and a stable internet connection! 
• Fit studying around you – With no pet care classes to attend or timetables to stick to on a distance learning course, UK learners have an unrestricted education. This helps you fit your studies around your existing commitments, perfect for full-time workers and learners with children! 
• Support – Our UK distance learning courses also provide you with professional tutors who are on hand to help you should you get stuck! 
• Digital platform – Study through our innovative, industry-leading, long distance learning online portal and keep all your course materials and assignments in one place! 

Study Pet Care Online 

No matter if you want to get into dog grooming, dog walking, or any other form of pet care, we have an online pet care course to suit!  

Through distance learning, UK learners have more freedom and capacity to fit their education around their commitments. So, more people can complete the course they need to reach their career goals.  

With Stonebridge Associated Colleges long distance learning courses, you can be well on the way to your new pet care related career in very little time. By completing the course at your own pace, it’s entirely possible to blitz through the materials and achieve your qualification quickly.  

Find out more now by calling our Course Executives on 0121 392 8288 or by contacting us online!