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Direct to Workforce

Animal keepers feed and care for animals in zoos, wildlife centers, or research facilities. They clean animal enclosures, prepare special diets, and watch for signs of illness or unusual behavior. They help create enrichment activities to keep animals healthy and stimulated.

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Direct to Workforce

Animal shelter attendants care for homeless pets until they can find new families to adopt them. They feed animals, clean cages, walk dogs, and help with basic medical care. They help visitors meet animals and find the right pet for their home.

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Direct to Workforce

Animal welfare officers investigate reports of animal abuse or neglect in their communities. They rescue animals from dangerous situations and make sure they get needed medical care. They educate pet owners about proper care and may help enforce animal protection laws.

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Direct to Workforce

Dog trainers teach dogs to follow commands, behave well in public, and get along with people and other animals. They show owners how to continue training at home with treats, praise, and consistency. They might specialize in basic obedience, solving behavior problems, or teaching service dog skills.

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Direct to Workforce

Dog walkers take dogs on regular walks when their owners are busy or unable to do it themselves. They pick up dogs from their homes, take them for exercise, and make sure they have bathroom breaks. They might walk one dog at a time or manage small groups of dogs safely together.

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Direct to Workforce

Equine caretakers feed, groom, and exercise horses at farms, stables, or ranches. They clean stalls, check horses for injuries or health problems, and help with basic medical care. They maintain equipment like saddles and bridles and might assist with training.

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Direct to Workforce

Farm maintenance workers keep farms running smoothly by fixing equipment and caring for buildings and land. They mend fences, repair tractors, and make sure water systems work properly. They help with seasonal tasks like planting, harvesting, or clearing snow when needed.

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Direct to Workforce

Pet groomers wash, trim, and style dogs' and cats' fur to keep them clean and healthy. They clip nails, clean ears, and help pets look their best while keeping them calm and comfortable. They spot skin problems or other health concerns that owners might need to know about.

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Direct to Workforce

Pet retail sales associates help customers find the right food, toys, and supplies for their pets. They answer questions about products and make recommendations based on pets' needs. They keep shelves stocked, display merchandise, and sometimes care for live animals in the store.

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Direct to Workforce

Pet sitters take care of animals in their homes when their owners are away on trips or at work. They feed pets, give them fresh water, clean litter boxes, and give medication if needed. They provide company and attention to keep pets happy and comfortable in their own environment.

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Direct to Workforce

Veterinary assistants help veterinarians care for sick or injured animals in animal hospitals or clinics. They hold animals during exams, take temperatures, collect samples, and prepare surgical equipment. They comfort scared animals and explain care instructions to pet owners.

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Direct to Workforce

Veterinary receptionists greet people and their pets when they arrive at animal hospitals or clinics. They schedule appointments, answer phone calls, and help with paperwork and billing. They comfort worried pet owners and keep the waiting room calm and organized.

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Direct to Workforce

Zoo education associates teach visitors about animals, conservation, and protecting wildlife around the world. They give talks, lead tours, and create fun activities that help people learn about animals. They might handle small education animals to give visitors an up-close experience.

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Direct to Workforce

Zoo park services staff maintain the grounds and facilities that visitors use at zoos and wildlife parks. They collect trash, clean restrooms, repair benches, and keep walkways safe for guests. They help make sure the zoo is clean, safe, and pleasant for both visitors and animals.

Montgomery County Community College

Certificate Program

Learn to use tiny living cells to make useful products like medicines and foods. You will work in clean labs with special tools and machines that can make large amounts of biological products. This program helps you get jobs making vaccines, foods, or other products using biology.

Various

Certificate Program

Learn how to ride horses safely and develop riding skills through hands-on courses. You will practice different riding styles while learning how to care for horses. These courses help you enjoy horseback riding as a hobby or prepare for jobs working with horses.

Penn Foster

Certificate Program

Learn how to train dogs and teach their owners how to work with them. You will study dog behavior, learn commands, and practice ways to solve problem behaviors. This certificate helps you start a business teaching dog training classes.

Delaware Valley University

Certificate Program

Learn how to ride horses safely and develop riding skills through hands-on courses. You will practice different riding styles while learning how to care for horses. These courses help you enjoy horseback riding as a hobby or prepare for jobs working with horses.

Delaware Valley University

Certificate Program

Learn special massage techniques to help horses feel better and move more freely. You will study horse muscles and practice gentle massage methods for treating sore muscles. This certificate helps you work with horse owners, trainers, and veterinarians to improve horse health.

Penn Foster

Certificate Program

Learn how to groom and style different types of dogs and cats. You will practice bathing, brushing, trimming fur, and nail care for pets. This certificate helps you work in pet salons or start your own pet grooming business.

Various

Certificate Program

Learn to teach horseback riding to people with disabilities or special needs. You will study how riding helps people with different conditions and how to adapt riding lessons for safety. This program helps you work in therapeutic riding centers that use horses to help people heal.

Penn Foster

Certificate Program

Learn to help veterinarians care for sick and injured animals. You will study animal health and practice tasks like giving medicine and taking samples. This program helps you work in animal hospitals and clinics.

Penn Foster

Certificate Program

Learn how to use computers and phone calls to help pet owners get veterinary advice. You will study animal health concerns and learn how to connect people with the right care for their pets. This program helps you work remotely in the growing field of veterinary telehealth.

Penn Foster

Certificate Program

Learn how to protect wild animals and the forests where they live. You will study animal behavior, plant life, and ways to manage natural areas. This program helps you work outdoors in parks, forests, or wildlife refuges.

Harcum College

Associate's Degree

Learn how to run places that care for animals like shelters, zoos, or farms. You will study how to feed animals, keep them healthy, and create good spaces for them to live. This job lets you work with animals every day while managing the people who help care for them.

Community College of Philadelphia

Associate's Degree

Study plants, animals, and all living things to learn how they work. You will do experiments, use microscopes, and learn about cells and body systems. This program helps you get ready for jobs in labs, healthcare, or more school to become a scientist.

Community College of Philadelphia

Associate's Degree

Learn about all types of living things and how they survive in their environments. You will study plants, animals, and tiny organisms too small to see without a microscope. This program can help you work in labs, nature centers, or continue to study medicine or animal care.

Montgomery County Community College

Associate's Degree

Learn how to use living cells to make medicines, foods, and other helpful products. You will work in labs with special equipment to study and change tiny parts of plants and animals. This program helps you get jobs making new products using science.

Northampton Community College

Associate's Degree

Study how nature works and how people affect the earth, water, and air. You will learn about pollution, climate change, and ways to protect our planet. This program helps you work in jobs that solve environmental problems.

Montgomery County Community College

Associate's Degree

Learn about our planet and the problems it faces from pollution and climate change. You will study ways to protect nature and use resources wisely. This program helps you work in jobs that focus on keeping our earth healthy.

PA College of Technology

Associate's Degree

Study trees, plants, and animals that live in forests. You will learn how to take care of woods and help nature stay healthy. This job means working outside with living things.

Northampton Community College

Associate's Degree

Learn about environmental problems around the world and ways to solve them. You will study how different countries work together to protect nature. This program helps you understand big environmental issues that affect everyone.

Montgomery County Community College

Associate's Degree

Study different kinds of plants, animals, and other living things. You will learn how organisms grow, change, and interact with each other. This program prepares you for jobs in labs, healthcare, or further study in biology.

Montgomery County Community College

Associate's Degree

Study living things with a focus on how the human body works. You will learn about cells, DNA, and body systems to understand health and disease. This program helps you prepare for jobs in healthcare, medical research, or more school to become a doctor.

Northampton Community College

Associate's Degree

Learn to help sick and injured animals under a veterinarian's guidance. You will learn to give medicine, take x-rays, and assist during animal surgeries. This job lets you care for pets and help them heal when they're sick.

Pathways Forward: Animal Lover

You've reached the end of our Animal Lover list. Keep caring for our furry, feathered, and finned friends! Our Animal Lover workbook is a great resource to continue reflecting on and exploring potential pathways connected to Animal Lover.

Are you thinking about going to a four-year college after high school?

We have lists of colleges that match what's important to you and share similar values. You can check out these college lists to find schools that feel right for you.

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