All careers

Animal Caretakers

  • Bright Outlook
  • Rapid Growth

Feed, water, groom, bathe, exercise, or otherwise provide care to promote and maintain the well-being of pets and other animals that are not raised for consumption, such as dogs, cats, race horses, 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.

What you’d do

  • Feed and water animals according to schedules and feeding instructions.
  • Provide treatment to sick or injured animals, or contact veterinarians to secure treatment.
  • Examine and observe animals to detect signs of illness, disease, or injury.
  • Mix food, liquid formulas, medications, or food supplements according to instructions, prescriptions, and knowledge of animal species.
  • Do facility laundry and clean, organize, maintain, and disinfect animal quarters, such as pens and stables, and equipment, such as saddles and bridles.
  • Exercise animals to maintain their physical and mental health.
  • Collect and record animal information, such as weight, size, physical condition, treatments received, medications given, and food intake.
  • Respond to questions from patrons, and provide information about animals, such as behavior, habitat, breeding habits, or facility activities.

Skills that matter

  • Monitoring
  • Active Listening
  • Coordination
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Service Orientation

How to get there

Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

Also called

  • Aquarist
  • Dog Groomer
  • Groomer
  • Kennel Technician (Kennel Tech)
  • Animal Care Giver (ACG)
  • Dog Bather

Related careers

See all careers

  • Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

    • Bright Outlook
    • Rapid Growth

    Feed, water, and examine pets and other nonfarm animals for signs of illness, disease, or injury in laboratories and animal hospitals and…

    Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

  • Animal Trainers

    Train animals for riding, harness, security, performance, or obedience, or for assisting persons with disabilities.

    Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

  • Animal Breeders

    Select and breed animals according to their genealogy, characteristics, and offspring.

    Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

  • Veterinary Technologists and Technicians

    • Bright Outlook
    • Rapid Growth

    Perform medical tests in a laboratory environment for use in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases in animals.

    Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree

  • Animal Control Workers

    Handle animals for the purpose of investigations of mistreatment, or control of abandoned, dangerous, or unattended animals.

    Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

  • Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals

    Attend to live farm, ranch, open range or aquacultural animals that may include cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses and other equines…

    Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one