Here Are the 12 Coolest Jobs That Involve Working With Animals

Veterinarian may be the first thing that comes to mind, but all kinds of opportunities exist for furry-friend lovers looking for interesting jobs. Loving animals is an obvious requisite. Wanting to make a difference is another motivation cited by people looking for jobs working with animals. "I became a dog walker for flexibility. It allows me time to pursue my art career," says Josephine Bentivegna, who created a client overflow in just three years. Ian Burgess, a professional dog walker in Brooklyn, New York, can relate. "I spent 17 years on Wall Street. Now, I'm my own boss, getting fresh air instead of sitting behind a desk," he says. Looking into jobs working with animals? Here's an overview of some of the best jobs you can do working with animals:

1. Zoo Veterinarian
2. Veterinary Technologist/Technician
3. Veterinary Assistant
4. Zoologist
5. Animal Trainer
6. Seeing-Eye Dog Trainer
7. Animal Shelter Worker
8. Dog/Pet Sitter
9. Animal Nutritionist
10. Wildlife Technician
11. Animal Welfare Assistant
12. Marine Biologist

Now, let's take a look at the professions in more detail:

1. Zoo Veterinarian

If you agree with Simon and Garfunkel's "At the Zoo," you'll love this highly specialised career. Zoo vets spend their time tending to animals at — you guessed it — the zoo.

2. Veterinary Technologist/Technician

Vet techs are trained to do lab and clinical procedures and work hand-in-hand with veterinarians. Technologists acquire four years of training and technician jobs require two.

3. Veterinary Assistant

They assist veterinarians with kennel work, exercising the animals and clinical duties. A big plus is hands-on connection with creatures, great and small. Average salary is £27,259.

4. Zoologist

Zoologists work with animals in the wild and controlled environments such as zoos. They provide data that shapes wildlife conservation and preservation policy, work with animals extensively and spend time crunching numbers.

5. Animal Trainer

Obedience trainers work with dogs, horses and other animals on behavioral issues and competition preparedness.

6. Seeing-Eye Dog Trainer

In this job trainers get to spend significant one-to-one time with dogs getting them ready to assist visually impaired people. Professionals usually begin as apprentices at guide-dog schools but general dog trainers can be paid £8-£10 per hour or even more.

7. Animal Shelter Worker 

These detail-oriented, empathetic professionals facilitate pet adoptions and spend as much time on office work as they do with animals.

8. Dog Walker/Pet Sitter

These local saviors of animal parents are usually self-employed "visiting pals" to fur babies. Average hourly pay in the UK for dog walkers is £10 per hour.

9. Animal Nutritionist

Animal nutritionists spend their time determining the dietary needs of animals in captivity, studying animal behavior and economics to make recommendations to corporations or governmental agencies about diet. They spend more time in the lab than the barn.

10. Wildlife Technician

When animals in the wild are hurt, they may be sent to licensed wildlife rehabilitators for assessment. Wound care, cleaning and record keeping are required. Emergency response to oil spills, hurricanes and other disasters is common.

11. Animal Welfare Assistant

These highly trained professionals investigate animal abuse, protect and save animals and procure justice.

12. Marine Biologist

Sure, you won't necessarily work with cuddly animals, but this job can involve travel and scuba diving! Plus, you might study plants as well as animals. Average pay is £27,705 but it could be much higher depending on your education and training. Corey Kagan is a freelance writer living in New York. Her daughter is a wolf enthusiast who is considering a career as a wolf biologist.