This occupation is part of the Personal Care and Service cluster
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About the Job
Feed, water, groom, bathe, exercise, or otherwise care for pets and other nonfarm animals, such as dogs, cats, ornamental fish or birds, zoo animals, and mice. Work in settings such as kennels, animal shelters, zoos, circuses, and aquariums. May keep records of feedings, treatments, and animals received or discharged. May clean, disinfect, and repair cages, pens, or fish tanks.
It is also Called
- Animal Care Giver (ACG)
- Animal Care Service Worker
- Animal Care Taker
- Animal Care Technician
- Animal Caregiver
- Animal Caretaker
- Animal Control Officer
- Animal Daycare Provider
- Animal Feeder
- Animal Groomer
What They Do
- Feed and water animals according to schedules and feeding instructions.
- Mix food, liquid formulas, medications, or food supplements according to instructions, prescriptions, and knowledge of animal species.
- Examine and observe animals to detect signs of illness, disease, or injury.
- Provide treatment to sick or injured animals, or contact veterinarians to secure treatment.
- Do facility laundry and clean, organize, maintain, and disinfect animal quarters, such as pens and stables, and equipment, such as saddles and bridles.
- Perform animal grooming duties such as washing, brushing, clipping, and trimming coats, cutting nails, and cleaning ears.
- Answer telephones and schedule appointments.
- Respond to questions from patrons, and provide information about animals, such as behavior, habitat, breeding habits, or facility activities.
- Order, unload, and store feed and supplies.
- Collect and record animal information such as weight, size, physical condition, treatments received, medications given, and food intake.
Interests
People who work in this occupation generally have the interest code: RC.
This means people who work in this occupation generally have Realistic interests, but also prefer Conventional environments.
Work Values
People who work in this occupation generally prize Relationships, but also value Support and Independence in their jobs.
Things They Need to Know
- Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
- Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
- Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Things They Need to Be Able to Do
- Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Additional Resources
- California Occupational Guide - A detailed guide to this occupation provided by the California Employment Development Department (EDD)
Education Required
Some of these occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate.
Wages
In 2012, the average annual wage in California was $24,450.00 with most people making between $17,640.00 and $36,860.00
Outlook
During 2010, this occupation employed approximately 19,600 people in California. It is projected that there will be 25,700 employed in 2020.
This occupation will have about 610 openings due to growth and about 440 replacement openings for approximately 1,050 total annual openings.
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