Did you know, even without studying for a degree you can still find animal care jobs.
Birmingham, for instance, has a wealth of opportunities to begin a career working with animals. Whether you’re looking for your first job or to move into the industry from a previous career, here are some ideas to inspire your next career move in the area:
1. Dog Handling – Brit Sec, Tamworth, have an opening for trainee security dog handlers. The position doesn’t require any specific qualifications but does request a year of work in security. A full UK driving license is essential and the applicant must be 25+ years old, for insurance reasons. The only other requirement is that any applicants be in good health. A good level of fitness will be a game-changer in this role, as you’ll need the energy and stamina to commit to training your own dog and possibly to travelling around the country, as the role could require you to work away for up to two weeks away at a time. Successful applicants will receive full training and be prepared for the NASDU Level 2 qualification.
2. Animal Care Assistant – The RSPCA Birmingham Animal Centre often have vacancies for caring and compassionate assistants, who would be able to help with all areas of animal care, from cleaning and feeding to customer communication and management of written records. The role requires no specific educational qualifications, but a good understanding of animal handling and a proficiency with Microsoft Word/Excel are key skills for this role, as is
an aptitude for teamwork. For anyone looking for a varied role within the spectrum of animal care jobs, Birmingham’s Animal Centre would be a great place to start. Versatility and adaptability are key to being an Animal Care Assistant. Similar positions in Dudley, Sutton Coldfield and Coventry are also open.
3. Kennel and Dog Home Assistants – There are numerous dog homes, shelters and privately run kennels situated in Birmingham and the surrounding area, and a wide range of jobs are on offer. Julianna’s Kennels and Cattery, Solihull, is currently looking for a new addition to join their team on a full-time basis. The position requires only one year of past experience in animal care and a UK driving license. Birmingham Dogs Home, Sunnyside, is always on the lookout for animal rights supporters to help them rescue and rehome unloved pets. They are hosting an open day on August 19th, if you’d like to find out more about the organisation and their work. Paws4Thought Pet Sitting Service (based in Worcester) are also recruiting animal lovers to offer house sitting services during holiday and busy working periods. There’s plenty
out there – full-time, part-time, clinic-based or work-from-home positions – so there really will be something to suit everyone!
4. Voluntary Work – Many animal care jobs, Birmingham and beyond, don’t require a degree or educational certificates but do desire previous experience in an area of animal care or welfare. Voluntary work is the perfect means of both gaining the required experience and understanding a specific area of animal care in which you’d like to work. A good place to start would be Birmingham Animal Centre, where the RSPCA relies on volunteers to help
them care for sick or injured animals brought to them. Volunteering opportunities are also available at the Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park. These volunteering roles include habitat management, environmental maintenance and keeping track of the many different species of wildlife that make the parks across Birmingham their home.