physiology, veterinarians need the fine motor skills to perform delicate surgery as well as the strength to perform difficult orthopedic surgeries on large dogs. Veterinarians who wish to specialize face additional years of study and testing before they can become accredited.
Profiles of Master’s Degree Programs
The Tufts University Center for Animals and Public Policy, established in 1983, offers a master of science in animals and public policy. According to the center, this program “explores historical, philosophical, scientific, cultural, legal and political underpinnings of contemporary human-animal relationships.” The curriculum includes animals in society, human-animal studies, and public policy. With this degree, graduates may continue study in such fields as veterinary medicine or law or find work at nonprofit organizations, with corporations, or at government agencies. Some graduates of the program become editors, writers, journalists, shelter administrators, or humane educators.
The University of Illinois (above) offers a master of science degree in biology with a specialization in applied animal behavior. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) provides adjunct support. The in-residence, two-year interdisciplinary program is designed to provide graduate training for careers in such fields as applied animal behavior, companion-animal-behavior consulting, and training and behavior for shelter animals. Each student must complete a research project. Students applying to the program should be able to show evidence of animal-related experience, such as volunteering at an animal shelter, training animals, or exhibiting dogs or cats.
Amie Lamoreaux Hesbach, relaxing here with her dogs, worked as a licensed physical therapist before becoming a certified canine rehabilitation practitioner.
While veterinary technicians and technologists don’t have the same lengthy course of study as veterinarians do, they must be graduates of two- or four-year programs in their fields. Because of advances in veterinary care that require prior training, strictly on-the-job training is a rarity.
Pet rehabilitation is another area that calls for extensive education. Pet rehab practitioners may start out by studying human physical therapy, which requires a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. Although any undergraduate major is acceptable, students in the initial stages of undergraduate preparation should consider a major in kinesiology or the biological sciences, which tend to be the most direct routes to a physical-therapy program. This path requires additional study to learn animal anatomy so that the rehabilitator can appropriately apply physical-therapy techniques. Other pet rehab practitioners are veterinarians who have gone on to study physical-therapy techniques so they can use them in their practices.
Professional Requirements and Licensing
Regardless of their paths of learning, people in the fields of grooming, training, and handling can improve their skills and build their businesses by meeting the requirements for membership in a professional organization, such as the National Dog Groomers Association, the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, or the Professional Handlers Association. Licensing is another factor to consider. Trainers and professional handlers can simply hang out a shingle and they’re in business. Groomers, however, may be required to be licensed in the states where they work. They may also face restrictions on the services they’re allowed to perform—such as cleaning teeth—unless they’re working under the supervision of a veterinarian. Be aware of licensing and other professional requirements before you decide on your career path.
Experience Versus Education
Don’t be discouraged if years of difficult study don’t sound appealing. Not everyone is suited to that, and not every pet-related career requires a college degree. Sometimes experience does trump book learning. The success of dog trainer Cesar Millan is an example of what can happen if you have a knack for dealing with animals. You may find that apprenticing with a well-known trainer, groomer, or handler is considered just as valuable as a college degree, if not more so.
That said, it never hurts to have an education to fall back on, especially in a slow economy or in the event of an accident or illness that prevents you from continuing your chosen career. And in some instances, a college degree can give you an edge over people who have experience only. It can also help you develop better speaking and writing skills, which can be essential in communicating with clients and employees. It can give you a more in-depth background in your field as well. A dog trainer who has studied behavioral psychology is likely to have a better or more well-rounded understanding of why dogs behave in certain ways and how to motivate them.
Even better than a person who has either experience or formal education is one who has both. That’s a combination that is hard to beat.
EDUCATION RESOURCES
Blue Ridge Community College, Veterinary Technology, http://community.brcc.edu/vettech
Bucknell University, Animal Behavior Program, www.bucknell.edu/AnimalBehavior.xml
Canisius College, Animal Behavior, www.canisius.edu/biopsych/anbehav
Purdue University, Center for the Human-Animal Bond, www.vet.purdue.edu/chab/edu.htm
Tufts University, Center for Animals and Public Policy, www.tufts.edu/vet/capp
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, School of Integrative Biology, http://sib.illinois.edu
University of New Hampshire, Thompson School of Applied Science, [email protected]
Getting the Job
You’ve decided where your heart lies in the world of working with and for dogs. You’ve achieved the necessary education, and you’re ready to go to work. Now you just need to find the perfect job for you. Bear in mind that in any job search, the two most important things you can do are individualize your communications, so you stand out from the pack, and build relationships with everyone you meet.
Your Job Search
Looking for a job has come a long way from running your finger down a newspaper column of classified ads, hoping that the right job will be there, waiting for you. Students have resources, such as internships and career placement offices; most major companies post job openings on their Web sites; professional associations and alumni groups are often sources of career opportunities; and of course, there’s the Internet, with job-hunting sites such as Monster and professional networking sites such as LinkedIn. There are animal-specific job-hunting Web sites as well, such
