What Careers Involve Rescuing Animals?
There are many careers that involve rescuing animals. If you love animals, there are plenty of career options available. Many animal rescue organizations are nonprofit and do not have a large budget to hire personnel. However, it is possible to find a rewarding and well-paying job in the animal rescue field.
Animal Control
- A job in a city or county animal shelter offers a lot of variety, but it may be necessary to work your way up. You may have to start by cleaning cages and euthanizing animals.
- An animal control officer protects animals through law enforcement. The job entails investigating local mistreatment of animals, controlling wild animals, picking up strays and bringing them to the shelter and informing the public about proper animal care.
- To work in an administrative position with a city or county animal shelter, you will need a bachelor’s degree, skills in animal service management and strong communication skills.
Wildlife Rehabilitation
- A wildlife rehabilitator will help with the recovery of injured or orphaned wildlife and will release the animals back into the wild where they can live independently.
- You will need a degree in biology or animal sciences and knowledge of different species and habitats. Wildlife rehabilitators are licensed to care for the animals native to the state they reside and work in.
- Job duties include feeding the animals, providing emergency medical support, assessing animal habitats, capturing and transporting injured animals and educating the public about endangered wildlife.
Animal Shelter Jobs
- Primary job duties of animal caretakers include caring for the animals and cleaning their cages.
- Animal caretakers are not required to have a degree. Training programs are available through the Humane Society and other organizations.
- A variety of professionals may be needed to work with animal shelters besides animal caretakers. Some of these professionals include veterinarians, animal behaviorists, animal rights activists, adoption counselors, cruelty investigators, fundraising specialists, lobbyists and lawyers.