Gauri Chabbra
Do you love the cuddly comfort of pets? Can you feel the love of animals and understand their language? Well, if this is the case you can translate your passion into a promising profession where you can care for and nurture animals.
Getting in
For an oft trodden path like that of a vet, you might require a bachelor’s degree in biology, animal science, or a related field if is a specialized field like veterinary science whereas for other off beat pathways you do not require to have any specialized training or qualifications.
You will have to complete BVSc & AH (Bachelor of veterinary science and animal husbandry), a five-year programthe eligibility criterion for which is 50% of the aggregate marks in English, physics, chemistry and biology.For specialization, you can go in for MVSc in medicine, surgery, biochemistry, genetics and breeding, poultry science, biotechnology, pharmacology, physiology, immunology.
Institute scape
*Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Science University, Ludhiana.
*College of Veterinary Sciences, Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar
Career Pathways:
There is a broad spectrum of career options open before you ranging from being a vet to a dog walker.
Veterinary Sciences
A veterinarian, or a vet, is a physician for animals and a practitioner of veterinary medicine. Most vets look after dogs, cats, or other domesticated animals, while some treat wild animals, too, like the big cats and other animals kept in a zoo. Some veterinarians specialize in the care of livestock too.
Treating an animal is more of experience and a caring attitude than cognizance of a battery of tests. As Dr Ramesh Kumar, veterinary doctor says, “Dealing with animals is very difficult as very few people are ready to spend money on an animal. If it’s a human being, you can put them through CT scan, blood tests and ultrasound to be sure about the ailment. So, most of the times, we have to just go by our experience in dealing with animals.
Besides, you can also foray into Border Security Forces and the army. The former employs veterinarians for the care and treatment of their mounted regiments which have horses, mules, camels and dogs while the latter can work as officers of the Remount Veterinary Corps.
If zoo interests you, you can be a zoo keeper where you will be responsible for monitoring the daily health and well-being of zoo animals. Keepers typically aren’t directly responsible for the treatment of health problems in zoo animals – that is typically a zoo veterinarian’s job. You may be required to feed animals and clean their enclosures.
Education and Research
For those of you who have a PG degree in animal genetics and breeding can apply for the post of assistant professor in the faculty of veterinary, animal science, agriculture and fisheries and for the post of scientist in various animal, veterinary and fisheries institutions. You can work in research or academics at centers of repute like the Indian Veterinary Research Institute or a state university, State Veterinary and Animal Sciences and Agricultural Universities and ICAR institutes,National Dairy Development Board, State Dairy Co-operative Federation, NABARD FAO, wild life institute and national institute of animal welfareand commercialized banks.
Here, you can get job as chief executive officer, scientist, and farm manager.
Animal Breeding
With renewed focus on protecting animals from extinction, many private companies have come up that are engaged in in healthcare aspects of animal and human being. Armed with an M.Sc. in animal genetics and breeding, you can also work as animal breeder on livestock and poultry farms of NGO and private companies engaged in animal research. There is lack of skilled animal breeders in the area of livestock genetic improvement.
Training
If you’ve ever watched any television crime documentaries like Crime Patrol, you’ve undoubtedly seen police canine units featuring dogs that sniff out drugs hidden in a car or help locate a missing person.These dogs are trained by experts in this field.
Thesame is true when it comes to training aquatic animals like dolphins that perform at aquariums and the horses that race for fortune and fame. You might not require a formal certification for these jobs, all you need is a heart that cares for animals.
Animal Protection and outreach
If your heart beats for these animals, jobs are a plenty with the local shelters, rescue groups, and NGO’s that deal with animal welfare. These organizations may hire you as cruelty inspectors and as enforcers of laws against animal cruelty. Today, with a lot of emphasis being laid by environmentalists, you can find shelters run by dedicated people who help abandoned or injured animals get some rest and healing. Some of them go to the extent of adopting them.
Similarly, wildlife professionals work to ensure endangered animals get the protection they’re possibilities in animal-focused research.
These same types of organizations often employ outreach personnel to teach the general public about various animals and their habitats.
Petcare
You can also volunteer to take dogs out for a walk. You need to educate yourself about dog body language, pack-management techniques and canine first aid. You also have to build a strong recall with dogs by enforcing commands, learn fight prevention, pack composition and other essential dog-walking fundamentals.
Pet groomers help keep pets looking their best by providing regular services, including bathing, combing, shearing and nail-cutting. As a pet groomer, you can work out of your own home, travel to a client’s home, or work in a shop or a mobile grooming van. A day in the work life of a groomer might include seeing eight to 10 dogs a day.
In this time crunched world, pet sitters would come to your rescue when you need to go out for a vacation or your odd working hours do not allow you to take care of your pet. Generally, pet sitting when an owner is away includes feeding the pet, providing water and giving the pet attention up to twice a day for approximately an hour each time. You can also provide overnight coverage. While you may need a college degree in biology or animal science to work in a zoo or aquarium, you need only a passion for animals to work in a kennel, shelter or animal hospital as an animal attendant. Attendants feed, water and bathe animals, and disinfect and repair their habitats. They also socialize with animals, giving them attention and observing behavioral changes that could cause injury or illness.
Entrepreneurship
Perhaps you have a unique mishmash of skills and interests that, combined with your love for animals, could turn into a successful business. Pet store owners function much like other small business owners. The main difference is that their daily tasks center around pets. If you choose this career path, you should be prepared to interact with people and act as a responsible business owner. You may need to keep track of your store’s finances and inventory, oversee employees, promote your business and ensure customer satisfaction. There are other small businesses that pet lovers can start, including pet grooming, boarding, sitting and walking services.
So, build on your passion for animals and pave your way to your pet career…
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