Does anyone work in the pet or vet industry?

I'm wondering if anyone here works in the pet or vet industry. Or anything else with animals?

I've been considering a job change to working with animals for some time, mainly looking at becoming a veterinary technician (or veterinary nurse if you are not in North America).

I'm wondering if anyone has advice or experiences to share about it? Did/do you like it and enjoy it? What did you like most or least?

I've been doing volunteering at a clinic and looking for a job as a Vet's Assistant to try my hand at it. I'm working temp jobs anyway so nothing to lose. I figure that's the best way to see what its really like and if I can do it or not. The main problem is I am not sure how I will pay for more schooling, but that's something for me to work out.

My niece graduated from college as an English major. She worked a regular job for a while after college, then decided it wasn't for her. She had been volunteering at a shelter, then started classes to become a dog trainer. She also walked dogs and pet sat. She then started working at a boarding facility that also did training and doggy daycare. She started taking online classes to become a vet tech. She has now gotten a job at an animal hospital while she continues with those classes. She loves it.

I only have the one friend who is a vet tech (she's the friend I got Maple from). But she is up in Canada so things are done a little differently there I think, not 100% sure on that. I think she started out by volunteering at a TNR clinic, became a vet assistant for her day job, and eventually a vet tech. She still volunteers at the TNR clinic though to this day.

I get what you mean though. I've been wanting to find more purpose with my life in terms of my job. But considering I'll probably never pay off the loans I have from getting my Masters degree, I can't really afford to do more schooling. Plus, I think I'd have trouble staying composed during any of the sad moments.

That is a lot how I feel, AbbysMom... I did a Master's degree though and now I am not sure I want to keep working in the field I am in. I'm not giving up completely, but I am thinking of alternatives that I might enjoy a lot more. The problem I have with where I am now is it is too much use of the left side of the brain than the right, I guess if that makes sense. And to be honest I am much more a right-sided and emotional, caring person. I'm just not sure what I am doing is the right fit for my personality, even though it pays pretty well, that just doesn't matter to me. Where is your niece studying online, if you don't mind my asking? I've looked into it quite a bit and some of the programs are very different, and I am not sure how I feel about distance learning. I know I could do the work as I am self-driven enough, but I am not sure of the practical side of things. I know someone who did the online program and she had to find her own animals to practice things on which is really weird to me if you are supposed to be working at a vet clinic while studying!

I am in Canada, actually, but not sure for how much longer so this is my main problem of trying to find a place to work at. If I move, I have to find new employment that will agree to be my sponsoring clinic... as well as the financial side. I did a Master's degree too and I am sinking in debt from it! So there is no way I could take on any more debt to do this. I am with you there, though, I just don't find my job very fulfilling in the day-to-day stuff and its quite a lot more boring and spending a lot of time at a computer than I was hoping! I am a research assistant and thought I wanted to be a researcher but to be honest, the more I work in it, the less I like it!!

I think the greatest difficulty would be (besides long hours, dirty work and low pay) dealing with the pet parents who are difficult, as in, they aren't quite taking care of their pets the way you might like. I know, from experience, that would really frustrate me!

Vet tech seems cool and all but from my understanding they dont make that much. So thats a no go for me. I like having a high middle class lifestyle.

Vet Tech does sound so cool and interesting. I did inquire about it as a career change. I asked the Techs at my Vets office..I even asked my Vet about it..

While they all felt I would be good at it; they did advise about the low salary and heavy physical work it involves....

sigh...

not for me, at my age, with a bad shoulder..

There are other places that need vet techs besides the typical vet office Places like zoos and aquariums need vet techs but you typically need experience with working with those types of animals to get a job. Volunteering or an internship is a great way to get experience.

@sidneykitty I sent you a PM.

LTS3 said:

Volunteering or an internship is a great way to get experience.

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Yep, that's how my friend got her experience, volunteering.

Oh no sorry to hear that @Artiemom  . Luckily I should be okay as far as the physical work should go. Except maybe working with large dogs as I am a pretty small person...

Well I am keeping up my volunteering and we will see how it goes. @LTS3, yes there  certainly is and that is a good point. That is something that is nice to know there could always be some progression in the field. And I will PM you back.

Well, while I can't go back to school yet primarily for financial reasons, I am going to continue volunteering and start looking for an entry-level job to start me out somewhere in the field. Wish me luck!! I am hopeful that someone will give me a chance with no real work experience, but scared at the same time to leave my "comfort zone" behind. However, I think maybe it is the right choice for me and I guess in my heart I feel it is right. I watched the documentary One Week Job recently and found it very inspirational to follow your dreams/passion/goals in a way that works for you.