Animal care worker
Care for all sorts of animals in kennels, catteries or rescue centres.
Also known as: animal boarding assistant, animal care assistant, animal care auxiliary, animal welfare assistant, cattery worker, kennel worker
About the job
A day in the life – Animal care worker
What it's like
From dashing dogs to cute cats, and even chatty parrots – animal care workers work with all sorts of different animals.
In this role, you'll look after animals living in kennels, catteries or rescue centres. You'll make sure each animal is healthy, happy and cared for.
Animal care workers usually spend a lot of time with dogs and cats, or smaller animals like rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters. You may also care for donkeys, horses or even parrots.
Your tasks might include:
preparing food and feeding the animals
keeping animals clean and grooming them
exercising dogs in a yard or taking them for walks
cleaning out kennels, pens and cages – you'll also change bedding
looking after animals who become ill or distressed
answering queries from colleagues and visitors
If you work in an animal sanctuary or rescue centre, some animals may be injured or distressed when they arrive. This means you'll have to try and keep them calm. You'll need to be gentle and confident when you handle an animal that's receiving treatment.
In some roles, you may also keep records, take bookings and advise owners on how to look after their animals.
Animal care workers could also get a job as an:
animal welfare assistant at an adoption or re-homing centre
animal collection officer or inspector for the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA)
animal care auxiliary at an animal hospital
You might specialise in animal massage or hydrotherapy – working with animals recovering from injury or undergoing treatment for mobility problems.
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) – learn about the country's leading animal welfare charity
Lantra Scotland - discover training for the land-based, aquaculture and environmental sector
Like the sound of this career?
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- empathising
- social conscience
- cooperating
- attention to detail
- reliable
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
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Biology
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Care
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Science
Technically, you don't need any qualifications to become an animal care worker.
But there are a few routes you can take to get into this role.
Work
You can apply directly for jobs – some employers don't ask for formal qualifications.
However, you'll probably need to have some experience working with animals. Volunteering is a great way to build the experience you'll need.
A background in retail or customer service is useful if you want to work as a pet shop assistant.
You can use the My World of Work job search to find vacancies.
College
Getting qualifications at college, such as an HNC or HND, could help you find a job. Useful subjects include:
Animal Care
Animal Management
Wildlife and Conservation Management
Equine Studies (if you want to work with horses)
You can use the My World of Work course search to find HNCs or HNDs.
A good level of physical fitness is important, as the role involves regular walking and lifting.
Practical experience is essential when applying for animal care worker roles. Volunteering in a relevant role can help you build the skills and experience you’ll need. Search for opportunities on Volunteer Scotland.
Check online courses carefully. You may need to be working or volunteering with an organisation to complete the practical experience aspect of the course.
A love of animals in vital. After all, you'll spend most of your working day alongside them!
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