I want to work with animals... what can I do?

[OldSpeclkledHen]

Am 42, have been doing my office job for 19 years... it pays the bills

But I'd really like to work with animals. Animals make me happy.

What can I do? But! Need to earn at least £22k 🙄🙄

Ladies of MN, put your thinking caps on please - all suggestions welcome xxx

Jobs where you work with animals are usually very low paying. I recommend you keep your job and volunteer at some local shelters or animal charities.

You could look into going into business for yourself and do pet sitting and dog walking. How much you make depends on how big your client base could be and the rate you charge.

Vet nurses earn about £22,000 but you'd need to train. What about a reception position in a vet surgery.
Volunteer work could be a good place to start.
I used to work with horses, the hours are long, the pay poor and progression not fantastic, but I absolutely loved it. Unfortunately it just didn't pay enough to live on when I wasn't a live in like the early years.

What is your home like? Could you accommodate pets whilst people are away etc as well as dog walking?

I have friends that have turned their home into a pet business and they are doing very well. They have dogs, cats, rabbits, Guinea-Bissau pigs, hamsters and even a tarantula to care for when their owners go away.

They also feed animals in their own homes and attend to horses etc

They are knowledgeable animal people and one is a fully trained groomer and they have a grooming room.

They also do dog training on a one on one.

Animal care careers:
nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-categories/animal-care

Dog daycare/walking and boarding.