What will you do?
You feed, shear and groom them, make sure they get enough exercise and keep their enclosures clean. You also welcome customers, answer the phone and keep files up to date. Depending on the employer you work as a caretaker in an animal boarding facility, as an animal shelter assistant or as a pet sitter who looks after animals at home.
- Care for and feed animals on a fixed schedule
- Maintain animal enclosures and monitor hygiene
- Organise the housing of the animals
- Teach animals everyday routines
- Care for sick animals or animals that need extra help
- Record data and keep track of supplies
Skills to develop
- Patience and a good feel for animal behaviour
- Physical fitness for outdoor work and work on your feet
- Hygienic and precise way of working
- Customer-friendly attitude at the desk and on the phone
- Basic administrative skills for files and stock
Your foundation for this occupation
Understand species-specific behaviour, feeding and housing. Recognising normal behaviour helps detect changes.
From preparation to your first day
Develop the practical skills
Practise feeding, enclosure cleaning and calm handling under care procedures.
Check your work
Record appetite, behaviour and observations; report changes to the supervisor.
How can you grow?
Specialise in a species, shelter work or care coordination.
Frequently asked questions
Should I treat an animal that appears unwell?
Observe and report concrete signs. Treatment and medication follow the responsible professional and veterinary arrangements.