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

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

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

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 groomer’s 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.

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

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 vet’s office Own and care for your own pet

Career Resources National Dog Groomers Association of America NDGAA P.O. Box 101 Clark, PA 16113, USA The American Boarding Kennels Association 1702 East Pikes Peak Ave., Colorado Springs, CO American Humane Association 63 Inverness Drive East Englewood, CO The Humane Society of the United States Pet Groomer.com