Furry or Feathered, Large or Small
Most animal care workers go into the profession thinking they are going to work with cats and dogs. “For me it was horses,” says Dr. May. “I always knew that I would work with horses. I grew up around them, and have a deep love of horses. I made my choice based on what I was familiar with, which is what most of us do.”
The American Humane Association (also simply called American Humane) has sent animal welfare workers onto the sets of movies, commercials, and television series to make sure that animal actors are safe while portraying heroes, bad guys, and companions. The American Humane Association's Film & Television Unit works under the direction of the Screen Actors Guild.
Dog trainers often take an obedience class with their dog and become hooked. That's what happened to Jim Burwell. “I imagined what it would be like to take my dog to work with me,” he says. “I also thought in this profession, I could be around dogs all day.”
Kenneth Gold, PhD, an animal welfare specialist, chose to work with primates. “My sister says it's because I grew up reading ‘Curious George’ books,” he laughs. He studied psychology, biology, and zoology, and worked at zoos in the United States and abroad. His background and broad experience have led him to a position as an animal welfare specialist and field representative for the American Humane Association's Film & TV Unit.
Dr. Gold spends his days on movie and television sets making sure the animal actors are safe and treated well. “As a member of the American Humane Association, I am not working for the studios,” he explains. “I'm not beholden to the director or producer. My job is to make sure the animals are properly treated and that they avoid dangerous situations.”
He has safeguarded both large and small animals. “There are a lot of different types of animal actors,” he says. “I've worked with primates and household pets.”
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the majority of veterinary technicians are employed in private practice. However, there is a demand for technicians in biomedical research, colleges and universities, humane societies, zoos and wildlife facilities, and the military.
The diversity in this business is vast. It is possible to work as a veterinarian at a zoo and be around chimpanzees. You can work on a farm and take care of sheep and goats. Zookeepers interact with many different types of animals. Oceanographers and marine biologists work underwater with creatures from the sea. The animal population under the sea is as varied as on land.
“It's possible to specialize or be a generalist,” says Dr. May. “The work is out there, and the possibilities are truly endless. Whether you are working as a veterinarian on a farm or running a private practice taking care of dogs and cats, there are plenty of opportunities. It's just not the traditional places to work either. You can work at a wildlife center rescuing injured birds or as a police officer training dogs or horses.”
“Once you start investigating the different options, more doors open up,” says Dr. May. “Then you have to narrow down your choices. Animal workers can work with large or small, finned, feathered, or furry creatures. And you can specialize and work with multiple kinds of animals.”
