According to the APPA, pet owners spent an estimated $12.2 billion on veterinary care in 2009. The BLS expects employment for veterinarians to increase 33 percent through 2018. Do you have a more analytical mind and an interest in research? Scientists have decoded the canine genome, but there’s still much to learn from it about what makes dogs tick. Studying the genetic underpinnings of the canine species is only one of the opportunities available to someone with an interest in biology.
Veterinary Care
The median annual earnings of veterinarians in 2008 were $79,050. Veterinarians who practice in East or West Coast cities or who specialize in a particular field will probably earn the most, but they are also more likely to have higher overhead costs and higher living expenses. Becoming a veterinarian also requires an investment of time and education. Veterinarians must complete four years of college plus several more years of veterinary school.
If you are not sure that you are cut out to be a veterinarian, but you are still interested in the field of pet health, you may want to train as a veterinary technician or a veterinary technologist. Employment in this field is expected to grow by 36 percent—that is a much faster rate than average for all occupations—through the year 2018. Specializing in advanced veterinary services, such as dental care and surgery, can create additional opportunities.
Besides working in a veterinary practice, veterinary technicians and technologists can seek jobs at biomedical facilities, diagnostic laboratories, wildlife facilities, humane societies, animal-control facilities, boarding kennels, drug- or food-manufacturing companies, and food-safety inspection facilities.
Charles Cruft: The P.T. Barnum of Dog Shows
A young Charles Cruft began his association with canines as an employee of Spratt’s dog food company. It was as a Spratt’s representative that Cruft visited Paris to assist with a dog show at the World Exhibition in 1879. From this experience, Cruft decided to start his own dog shows in London and soon became the Barnum of the European dog-show world. Naming the show after himself, the publicity-hungry entrepreneur hailed Cruft’s Dog Show “the greatest show on earth” and attracted thousands of entries, including the Collies and Pomeranians of the reigning monarch Queen Victoria. Crufts quickly became the most prestigious show in the United Kingdom—and perhaps the world. After Cruft’s death in 1938, the show was sold to the English Kennel Club, which continues to produce the show each winter, still attracting thousands of purebred dogs from around the world.
Scientific Research
Biologists with an interest in dogs and wildlife might study the origin, behavior, diseases, and life processes of wild canids, such as wolves in Yellowstone National Park or endangered African wild dogs. The findings of these professionals help us understand more about our own domestic dogs. Ecologists study the relationships among organisms and between organisms and their environments. In wild dogs, that might involve observing the effects of such factors as population size, the abundance or absence of prey, or the encroachment of humans into the dogs’ territory.
Other biologists work in research and development of new veterinary drugs, treatments, and diagnostic tests. Research using techniques such as recombining DNA has led to the production of new and safer vaccines for dogs. Biotechnology researchers isolate genes and determine their function. This work leads to the discovery of genes associated with specific diseases and inherited traits, such as certain types of cancer. Biological research can have commercial applications in the pet-food industry, as well. A career in biology may lead to managerial or administrative positions, such as planning and overseeing programs for testing pet foods and drugs or directing activities at municipal zoos.
National Park Service wildlife biologist Doug Smith carries a tranquilized wolf in Yellowstone National Park.
Your Career Path and Education
Know thyself. This admonition from the ancient Greeks may be the best career advice ever given. Being aware of and honest about your interests and abilities is the first step in finding the career that’s right for you, whether you are a high-school or college student or someone seeking a career in a new field.
One of the advantages of working with dogs is the variety of backgrounds that can lead to a rewarding position. Depending on your career interest, the educational requirements for working with dogs range from a high-school diploma (sometimes not even that) to years of graduate study. Take into account your learning style and level of interest in higher education when deciding which job will be right for you.
Discovering Your Path
In deciding on a career path, consider your skills and your personality. People have different types of skills, some that are natural and some that they acquire through school, work, and life experiences. Skills you may learn in school include meeting deadlines, working under pressure, problem solving, presenting ideas verbally or in writing, speaking a foreign language, and working as a member of a team. Skills learned on the job may include human-resource management, project administration, and research or design techniques. The abilities to relate to people and to pay attention to detail often come through day-to-day living but may be learned in school or the workplace.
Questions to Ask
To find the career that will match your talents and bring you the most satisfaction, begin by asking yourself the following questions:
Personality Traits
How do I enjoy spending my days?
What do I like thinking, learning, and talking about?
Do I enjoy talking to people or am I the quiet type?
Do I like asking people questions?
What kind of people do I enjoy being around?
Do I like being the center of attention, or do I prefer the background?
Would I rather live in the city or in the country?
Do I like to travel, or am I a homebody?
What are my favorite volunteer activities, hobbies, or sports?
Skills
Am I analytical or creative?
Do I have artistic abilities in writing, photography, or art?
Do I excel in science and mathematics classes?
Am I good at selling things or persuading people to my way of thinking?
Work Environment
Would I rather work for a big corporation, a small company, or myself?
Do I prefer to be part of a team or to work on my own?
Do I like being busy all the time, or do I need plenty of time to spend with friends and family to be at my best?
How much money would I like to make?
Animal Specifics
What animal-related activities do I enjoy?
Am I good at teaching my pet tricks