Animal Care / Service Worker

Feed, water, groom, bathe, exercise, or otherwise provide care to promote and maintain the well-being of pets and other animals that are not raised for consumption, such as dogs, cats, race horses, ornamental fish or birds, zoo animals, and mice. Work in settings such as kennels, animal shelters, zoos, circuses, and aquariums. May keep records of feedings, treatments, and animals received or discharged. May clean, disinfect, and repair cages, pens, or fish tanks.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Animal Care Giver (ACG); Aquarist; Dog Bather; Dog Groomer; Groomer; Kennel Attendant; Kennel Technician (Kennel Tech); Pet Groomer; Pet Stylist; Zookeeper

Tasks

• Feed and water animals according to schedules and feeding instructions.
• Provide treatment to sick or injured animals, or contact veterinarians to secure treatment.
• Examine and observe animals to detect signs of illness, disease, or injury.
• Mix food, liquid formulas, medications, or food supplements according to instructions, prescriptions, and knowledge of animal species.
• Do facility laundry and clean, organize, maintain, and disinfect animal quarters, such as pens and stables, and equipment, such as saddles and bridles.
• Exercise animals to maintain their physical and mental health.
• Collect and record animal information, such as weight, size, physical condition, treatments received, medications given, and food intake.
• Respond to questions from patrons, and provide information about animals, such as behavior, habitat, breeding habits, or facility activities.
• Answer telephones and schedule appointments.
• Advise pet owners on how to care for their pets' health.
• Perform animal grooming duties, such as washing, brushing, clipping, and trimming coats, cutting nails, and cleaning ears.

Knowledge

• Customer and Personal Service
• Administrative
• English Language

Skills

• Monitoring
• Reading Comprehension
• Active Listening

Abilities

• Oral Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Problem Sensitivity
• Information Ordering
• Static Strength
• Near Vision
• Deductive Reasoning
• Inductive Reasoning
• Trunk Strength
• Speech Recognition
• Speech Clarity