Animal caretakers give care to animals at shelters, zoos, kennels, pet shops, stables, aquariums, and research labs.
The Bronx Zoo features over 4,000 animals. Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo has over 1,200. The Baltimore Zoo has 2,700 animals. The San Diego Zoo is so large that it cannot be covered on foot in one day. That's a lot of wildlife to view! What's more, all those animals must be taken care of. Their exhibits must be kept clean. The animals must be fed and monitored to make sure they are healthy and thriving. Who rises to this challenge?
Animal caretakers feed, water, bathe, groom, and exercise animals. They play with animals and provide companionship to them. They watch animals, record their condition, and report any problems. They clean and repair pens, cages, and equipment. Animal groomers bathe cats and dogs. They trim their hair or nails, care for their skin, and clean their ears. They treat animals for fleas and other pests. Some animal caretakers work in animal hospitals as helpers to veterinary technicians. They follow directions of the veterinarian and veterinary technicians to give basic care to animals. They may also clean surgical equipment.
In pet stores, animal caretakers sell animals and pet food to customers. They advise customers on care of pets and teach obedience classes. They also prepare animals for shipping and delivery.
In animal shelters, caretakers take applications from people who want to adopt animals. They give shots to newly admitted animals. They may have to put to death seriously ill, severely injured, or unwanted animals. In wildlife shelters, they may clean birds whose lives are at risk from oil spills. They may help nurse other injured wildlife back to health, feeding and comforting them. In stables, they saddle and unsaddle horses, give them rubdowns, and walk them to cool down after rides. They feed and groom horses and clean their stalls. They polish saddles, clean and organize tack rooms, and store supplies and feed.
In zoos, caretakers are called keepers or zookeepers. They prepare diets, clean enclosures, and monitor animals' behavior. They may help in research studies and answer questions from visitors. Keepers may work with a broad group of animals, such as mammals or birds. In research labs, jobs range from feeding and cleaning up after animals, to giving medicine and performing surgery. Lab workers take care of mice, rats, birds, monkeys, and cats. Some animal caretakers work in livestock yards, where they move farm animals, groom them, and show them for auction.
Aquarists take care of fish and other water life in aquariums. They prepare food, feed fish and other animals, and clean tanks. They monitor water for temperature and cleanliness. They watch the fish for disease or injury. They report problems and may treat fish.
Farriers take care of horses' feet. They take shoes off and examine hooves for bruises and cracks. They trim and shape hooves. They select aluminum or steel shoes. They fit, shape, and nail shoes to hooves. They also treat hooves that are badly shaped or injured. They may put on corrective shoes.
Many animal caretakers answer questions about animal behavior, habitat, breeding habits, or activities. They may answer questions for animal owners or the public. They may also answer telephones and schedule appointments to treat or see animals.