Taking to a 'pet' career

IF you are an animal lover veterinary science is not the only option open for you. Today there are considerable career choices involving animals .Yet it is important that some questions are answered before you make any decision. Consider the types of animals interest you. You may prefer dogs or cats or you are livestock oriented or perhaps wildlife is your calling.

Taking care of animals is hard work. Boarding kennels, animal shelters, veterinary hospitals and clinics, stables, laboratories, aquariums, and zoological parks all house animals and employ animal care and service workers. Job titles and duties vary.

Animal care and service workers-which include animal caretakers and animal trainers-train, feed, water, groom, bathe, and exercise animals, and clean, disinfect, and repair the housing provided. They provide companionship and observe behavioural changes that could indicate illness or injury. Kennel attendants usually care for small companion animals like dogs and cats while their owners are working or travelling out of town. Caretakers who specialise in grooming, or maintaining a pet's appearance are called groomers. Some groomers work in kennels, veterinary clinics, animal shelters, or pet-supply stores. Caretakers in animal shelters also vaccinate animals under the direction of a veterinarian and euthanise seriously ill, severely injured or unwanted animals.

In zoos, animal care and service workers called keepers prepare the diets, clean the enclosures of animals and sometimes assist in raising them. Keepers also answer questions and ensure the visiting public behaves responsibly towards caged animals.

Kennel owners build and maintain what are popularly called "boarding kennels" where dogs are kept when their owners go out of town. They have to make sure that the kennels are properly built and kept. With customised care becoming quite a norm this is a lucrative business today.

Animal trainers train animals for riding, security, performance, obedience, or for assisting disabled persons. This training takes place slowly and often takes months and even years. Trainers often work in competitions or shows, such as the circus or marine parks and participate in educational programmes for visitors and guests. They are especially needed in the army (Remount Veterinary Corps) - to train and look after horses, mules, dogs and camels in the forces.

Education

Most animal-related jobs require a bachelor's degree in biology, animal science, or a related field if is a specialised field like veterinary science. Animal caretakers in shelters are not required to have any specialised training or qualifications. Most require experience with animals, preferably as a volunteer or paid keeper in a zoo. Zookeepers may advance to senior keeper, assistant head keeper, head keeper, and assistant curator, but few openings occur, especially for the higher-level positions.

Various colleges in India offer training in veterinary science. The eligibility criterion is 50% of the aggregate marks in English, physics, chemistry and biology. Colleges like Madras Veterinary College, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Science University, Chennai, Rajiv Gandhi College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Pondicherry, College of Veterinary Science, AP, College of Veterinary Science, Tirupati. College of Veterinary Science, Assam, Veterinary College, Bangalore, College of Veterinary Science, Kerala, Faculty of Veterinary Science, West Bengal, Animal & Fish Science University, Kolkata are some of the institutions that offer courses in this field.

Finding employment

Most of the job options are usually with the local shelters, rescue groups, and animal welfare organisations like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) or WWF. These organisations also need cruelty inspectors and often enforcers of laws against animal cruelty. With a veterinary science degree the options are varied like taking up private practice, teaching, working with zoological institutions and with government services like milk processing plants, supervising dairies and also with the Department of Animal Husbandry (Ministry of Agriculture). Research and diagnostic laboratories, pharmaceutical companies and pet food manufacturers also provide employment opportunities .The private sector options include race clubs, stud farms, veterinary instruments and equipment industry, biological products and vaccine product plants.

The work may be unpleasant, physically and emotionally demanding and sometimes dangerous. However for someone who loves animals it can bring great satisfaction. Much of the work involves being outdoors in all kinds of weather with irregular timings.

It is a profession where service with compassion is of primary importance; rewards and remuneration are secondary.

PAROMITA PAIN

paromita.mds@cnkonline.com