{"id":3305,"date":"2022-04-04T15:27:54","date_gmt":"2022-04-04T15:27:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/backtoworkconnect.ie\/?p=3305"},"modified":"2022-04-21T09:02:34","modified_gmt":"2022-04-21T09:02:34","slug":"animal-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/backtoworkconnect.ie\/careerhub\/animal-care\/","title":{"rendered":"Animal Care: Turning Your Pet Passion Into A Profession"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Hey there animal lover! Do any of the following sound\nfamiliar?…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
? You\nfind yourself endlessly scrolling through cute cat videos before bed<\/p>\n\n\n\n
? You stop to pat every single dog you pass\non the street. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2764\ufe0f Animal rights issues keep you up at night &\nyou have a desire to make a difference<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2728 You crave a flexible career where you\ncan turn your pet passion into a profession<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re nodding along to any or all of the above,\nchances are, a career in animal care could be the perfect fit for you! Here\u2019s\neverything you need to know about this growing industry\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Popular Animal Care Career Paths <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Animal care is a growing industry with many\nfull-time, part-time and self-employed career opportunities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working with\nanimals is often seen as a \u2018dream job\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And we\u2019re not\nsurprised! Whatever animal-related career you choose to pursue, there are many\nreasons why this type of work can be extremely rewarding and lead to great\ncareer satisfaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While there are\nmany opportunities to explore, setting up your own animal care business is a\npopular choice for those looking for flexibility and freedom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The following\nare some popular self-employment opportunities with minimal start-up costs and\nmaximum job satisfaction: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pet Supplies Seller (online or offline) <\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Key Skills Required <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
While a passion for animals is, of course, necessary,\nthose most successful in the animal care industry typically demonstrate the\nfollowing key skills and traits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Compassion: <\/strong>When looking after\nanimals, you want them to feel comfortable and safe. <\/strong>Animal care and service workers should know how to engage with\nanimals (and their respective owners) sensitively and tactfully. <\/strong><\/li>
Ability to work under pressure: <\/strong>Working with animals isn\u2019t all puppy cuddles and playtime.\nDepending on your field, you may need to deal with high-pressure or emergency\nsituations, requiring a cool-calm demeanour and a thick skin. <\/li>
Adaptability: <\/strong>Animals can be notoriously unpredictable. Working in animal\ncare demands a certain degree of flexibility and an ability to adapt to the unexpected.\n<\/li>
Excellent Observation:<\/strong> Unlike humans, animals cannot tell\nus what they need. We can\u2019t all be Dr Dolittle, so those working in animal care\nneed to rely on certain cues to understand how animals feel and respond to\ntheir needs. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
3\nTips for Getting Started in Animal Care <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Gain experience through volunteering: <\/strong>Volunteering\nfor an animal charity is a great way to kick-start your career in animal care.\nNot only can you provide much-needed support to charities in need, but you\u2019ll\nalso gain on-the-job experience and vital insight into a career in animal care.\n<\/li>
Shadow somebody else<\/strong>: If you\u2019re looking to\nget into animal care, one of the best ways to find out more about the industry\nis by learning from somebody already working and succeeding in it. Search for\nsomebody you are inspired by and ask if you could shadow them on a day\u2019s work\nor if they would be available for a coffee chat where you can ask any burning\nquestions you may have about the work. <\/li>
Do your research: <\/strong>Before you kickstart\nyour career in animal care, we recommend doing some research into the sector\nyou\u2019re considering. What supplies will you need? Is there a market for your\nservice? What are others in the industry doing well? What\u2019s your USP (unique\nselling proposition) that will set you apart from your competition? <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Animal Care Courses in Ireland <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
While a college\ndegree isn\u2019t always required to work in the animal care industry, a\nqualification can equip you with vital skills, set you apart from the\ncompetition and open many doors career-wise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finding the right course that supports your specific animal care career goals is vital. To make your search that bit easier, we\u2019ve compiled a list of some fantastic course options in Ireland to consider: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/btwc.onodev.com\/careerhub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Career-in-animal-care-1024x576.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/btwc.onodev.com\/careerhub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/jonas-vincent-xulIYVIbYIc-unsplash-683x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/btwc.onodev.com\/careerhub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/DFEi.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/btwc.onodev.com\/careerhub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/dunboyne-cfe.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/btwc.onodev.com\/careerhub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/kerry-college.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/btwc.onodev.com\/careerhub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Killester-College-1024x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/btwc.onodev.com\/careerhub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/WCFE..jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n