Pet

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Pet
Care Worker
Agriculture Careers By Dr. Frank Flanders and
Asha Wise Georgia Agricultural Education
Curriculum Office Georgia Department of
Education April 2006
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Job Duties Responsibilities

• Animal Shelter Worker or Kennel Operator
• Feeding and watering animals according to
  schedules and feeding instructions
• Cleaning and disinfecting animal pen
• Exercising animals
• Repairing fences, cages or pens
• Ordering, unloading, and storing feed and
  supplies
• Recording information such as weight and physical
  condition and sedating animals
• For Pet Groomers
• Brushing hair
• Clipping nails
• Cleaning the ears
• Bathing
• Blow-drying
• Clipping
• May also answer the phone, schedule appointments,
  and perform office duties related to a business

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Qualities and Skills

• A pet care worker needs to have a strong love for
  animals
• Be patient with pets, pet owners, and other
  employees
• Have a calm and professional demeanor in order to
  deal with the public when enforcing laws
  regarding animal care
• Be able to gain the respect and confidence of the
  animals and the owners

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Special Requirements

• The National Dog Groomers Association of America
  certifies groomers who pass a written examination
  consisting of 400 questions and a separate part
  testing the groomers practical skills.
• The American Boarding Kennels Association (ABKA)
  offers a three-stage, home-study program for
  individuals interested in pet care. Those who
  complete the third stage and pass the oral and
  written examinations administered by the ABKA
  become Certified Kennel Operators (CKO).
• Animal caretakers in animal shelters are not
  required to have any specialized training.
  However, training programs and workshops are
  increasingly available.
• Workshop topics include cruelty investigations,
  appropriate methods of euthanasia for shelter
  animals, proper guidelines for capturing animals,
  and techniques for preventing problems with
  wildlife.

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Work Environment

• Humane societies and municipal animal shelters
• Some of the work may be unpleasant, physically
  and emotionally demanding, and sometimes
  dangerous
• Risk exposure to bites or scratches
• Work often involves kneeling, crawling, repeated
  bending, and lifting heavy supplies like bags of
  feed
• Work setting can be noisy
• May work outdoors in all kinds of weather
• Hours are irregular, but are usually about 40
  hours a week
• Caretakers often work weekend and holiday shifts
• In some animal hospitals, research facilities,
  and animal shelters, an attendant is on duty 24
  hours a day, which means night shifts

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To Learn More Prepare for this Career

• Courses in high school should include biology,
  chemistry and mathematics, English, speech, and
  communication
• Also, business courses teach basic business
  skills for those pursuing their own grooming
  service or kennel
• Join a kennel club
• Volunteer at a local animal shelter
• Work part time at a pet store, petting zoo, or a
  vets office
• Own and care for your own pet

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Career Resources

• National Dog Groomers Association of America
• NDGAA P.O. Box 101
• Clark, PA 16113, USA http//www.nationaldoggroome
  rs.com
• The American Boarding Kennels Association
• 1702 East Pikes Peak Ave.,
• Colorado Springs, CO 80909.
• http//www.abka.com/abka
• American Humane Association
• 63 Inverness Drive EastEnglewood, CO 80112
• http//www.americanhumane.org
• The Humane Society of the United States
• http//www.hsus.org
• Pet Groomer.com
• http//www.petgroomer.com