Veterinarian Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker

1. Veterinarian Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker Matthew Renaud 1-22-10 3rd Hour Career Tech Foundations

2. Introduction Did you know that in 2008, 220,400 people in America worked in the animal assistant field. The career I would like to be in is a Veterinarian Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker. The reason I want to be in this career field is because I love animals. I always enjoyed watching Steve Irwin, The Crocodile Hunter, he was a great inspiration to me. I have been interested in animals since I was about six. I will be researching the working conditions, education, job outlook, earnings, and related occupations for this field.

3. Nature of Work • These are some things that you would do on a daily basis if you are going to be a veterinarian assistant- • Train • Feed • Water • Groom • Bathe • Exercise animals • Clean • Disinfect • Repair their cages • Play with the animals • Provide companionship • Observe behavioral changes that could indicate illness or injury

4. Working Conditions • Work may be- • Unpleasant • Physical • Emotionally demanding • Sometimes dangerous • Shift are or can be 24 hours • Or 8 hours a day, 5-6 days a week • Indoor and outdoor work

5. Training, Qualifications, and Advancements • You need a high school diploma or GED equivalent • In the future I will hopefully go to Florida State University • The classes I will take now are- • Biology • Chemistry • And other advanced science classes • I want to be in AP science classes

6. Job Outlook/Employment • I want to find career openings in Florida at Disney’s Animal Kingdom • Or in a veterinarian clinic in Florida • Excellent job outlook • Much faster than average employment • Employment rate will grow 21 percent over the next decade • Employment is rising

7. Earnings • Life style goals are- • Go to college in Florida • Being married with a family • High income • Live in Florida • Work in a good environment • $16,720 and $24,300 a year are the earnings • I would like more but I love this job • I will buy a nice house for my family with these earnings

8. Related Occupations • Back up career- • Animal control worker • Responsibilities- • Investigate reports of animal attacks/ animal cruelty • Interviewing witnesses • Collecting evidence • Remove stray, uncontrolled, or abused animals from undesirable condition • Always working around the area • Outlook is good in the future • Get $30,310 a year • Need a high school diploma and apply to a college • I do not like to see animals get hurt

9. Summary My feelings about being a Veterinarian Assistant/Animal Caretaker are good. I really like animals and I feel good about this job. It has a good job outlook, it pays okay, but I don’t care because I will be doing something I love. I want to move to Florida and work at The Animal Kingdom at Disney World and take care of all of the animals. Since I love animals and Disney this would be a great job for me. I would like to have a family and go to work every day and be happy with what I am doing, and if I can go into this career I will be. I look forward to being with and caring for the animals and having a friendship with them. The one thing that I am not looking forward to is cleaning the cages and things like that. My learning experience over all is that I still want to be a Veterinarian Assistant or Animal Caretaker, and even though it does not pay the best I would still like to be in this field.

10. Work Cited • http://www.ehow.com/how_2081167_become-animal-control-worker.html • http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos168.htm • http://www.collegeboard.com/csearch/majors_careers/profiles/careers/106195.html • http://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/507/Animal-Caretaker.html • http://www.qualityinfo.org/olmisj/ArticleReader?itemid=00002608