Careers for Animal Lovers Careers for Animal Lovers January 2014 | Page 3

THE GROWING VETERINARY INDUSTRY
The love and desire to help animals is the main
reason most people become involved in the
veterinary industry. Often, when people think of
Veterinarians they think of the professionals
that have helped their own pets. It is easy to
picture working alongside a veterinarian
providing medical assistance to animals.

VARIETY OF SETTINGS
Veterinarians can work in a variety of settings.
Some are mobile working from a van that carries
most of the tools they need when tending to
horses, cattle, and sheep on rural farms. Others
are in zoos working with exotic species, in
processing facilities inspecting the safety of
food, or in the lab working with samples from
animals they have never seen. With the diversity
to work in a variety of environments comes a
greater chance for career satisfaction. Dr.
Robert A. Dietl, chair of the American Veterinary
Medical Association Membership Services
Committee, offered one theory on why this is:
"Veterinary medicine is very diversified, so there
are many opportunities to find your niche. If I
got out of veterinary school and tried large
animal medicine out in the country and I didn't
like it, I could try small animal veterinary

medicine, research, or academia, or I could go
into corporate medicine. There are a lot of
opportunities in veterinary medicine, so you
don't get pigeonholed in a career you don't
enjoy."
Comparable to most medical professions, the
passion to help is often why men and women in
the Veterinary industry are willing to work long
hours covering many nights and weekends while
risking injury during encounters with scared and
sick animals. With the growing amount of pets
among the retiring baby boomer generation, the
field is highly regarded and, according to the
Bureau of Labor statistics, expected to grow
over 30 percent faster than average when
compared to all occupations in the United
States.
As the need for more animal care grows so will
the demand for veterinarians and all their
support staff, including veterinary technicians
and veterinary receptionists, that help run an
office. By becoming educated and gaining
experience now, animal lovers with the passion
to help can be in a unique position to grow with
the industry into a career they love.

"VETERINARY
MEDICINE IS VERY
DIVERSIFIED,

SO

THERE ARE MANY
OPPORTUNITIES
TO

FIND

YOUR

NICHE."

3 0%

BY BECOMING EDUCATED
AND GAINING EXPERIENCE
NOW, ANIMAL LOVERS WITH
THE PASSION TO HELP CAN
BE IN A UNIQUE POSITION
TO GROW WITH THE
INDUSTRY INTO A CAREER
THEY LOVE.

Image courtesy of Khunaspix/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net