Careers With Animals

In the United States people spend millions of dollars on their pets annually. Over the past few years there has been an increase in exotic pets; however the majority of people still own a dog or a cat. Our family has two of each. Our pets are well cared for and loved. They are treated as part of the family. They are given presents on Christmas and we celebrate their birthdays. Our two children have always been very loving towards the animals and help to take care of them.

Although both our son and daughter care about our animals, our daughter has a special way with animals. She has always been interested in anything and everything having to do with animals. As a very young child she watched animal planet and discovery channel instead of cartoons. She always said that she was interested in careers with animals. Whenever she had to do a presentation or research paper about planning for her future she would research careers with animals.

Each time she would do additional research she would change her mind on what she wanted to do. I thought she would concentrate on zoology or animal biology but when she began looking at different university’s to attend; she concentrated on schools where she could receive her veterinary degree. Of all the careers with animals that she could concentrate on she picked the career with the longest time commitment, but also the one that could be the most rewarding.

As she began her studies she had to be very dedicated. Veterinary science is a very competitive and difficult field to get into. I assumed she would concentrate on becoming a small animal veterinarian because these are the animals she was exposed to in our home. I was very surprised when she announced that she wanted to be a farm vet. There is a need for large animal vets in rural areas. She applied for and received a fellowship to work for a summer with a rural veterinarian clinic.

She would assist the vet on calls out to farms and would also help with surgeries in the office. This vet also had a small animal practice so she had exposure to both areas. She fell in love with working with the large animals. She plans to work in a clinic similar to the one where she did her field experience. Her goal is to have her own practice in a small rural area some day. I know where ever she works the animals will be well cared for.