Job description Veterinary Attendant in the Lethbridge–Medicine Hat Region

Find out what work is like for a veterinary attendant in Canada. This work description is applicable to all Pet groomers and animal care workers (NOC 65220).

Pet groomers and animal care workers

Description

Animal care workers feed, handle, train and groom animals and assist veterinarians, animal health technologists and technicians and animal breeders. Pet groomers clip coats, bathe and otherwise groom pets. Workers in this group are employed by animal hospitals and clinics, animal shelters, breeding and boarding kennels, zoos, laboratories, retail pet shops, dog training schools, pet grooming establishments, or may be self-employed.

Work week duration

Pet groomers and animal care workers usually work between 35 to 40 hours per week.
Between 35 to 40 hours

Job duties

Here are some of the main activities and tasks that Pet groomers and animal care workers have to perform, and some of the physical demands they involve:

  • Prepare food and feed animals, fish or birds at scheduled intervals
  • Clean and disinfect cages, pens and surrounding areas
  • Shampoo, clip and groom animals
  • Assist veterinarians and animal health technologists and technicians to inoculate and treat animals
  • Assist animal breeders to handle and nurture animals
  • Assist scientists and researchers in conducting laboratory tests with animals
  • Monitor and document animal behaviour
  • Train dogs to obey commands and perform specific duties in response to signals.

Physical demands Help - Physical Demands

  • Standing
  • Handling material manually
  • Bending or twisting the body
  • Making repetitive motions

Physical demands

Physical demands are the physical activities that the job requires the worker to do. Physical demands are selected according to the likeliness that workers will have to perform them for at least half of the time they spend at work.

Workplaces and employers

Here are the typical workplaces where Pet groomers and animal care workers are employed and some of their main characteristics:

  • Laboratories
  • Animal hospitals
  • Animal shelters
  • Animal clinics
  • Retail pet shops
  • Zoos
  • Breeding and boarding kennels
  • Pet grooming establishments
  • Dog training schools
  • Self-employed

Work environment Help - Physical Work Environment

  • Indoors, environmentally controlled
  • Sound and noise
  • Dangerous chemical substances
  • Biological agents
  • Skin injury

Physical proximity from others Help - Physical proximity from others

  • Close (at arm’s length)

Work environment

The work environment refers to the physical setting in which people work. The characteristics and conditions of the work environment are selected according to the likeliness that workers will be exposed to them at least once a week.

Physical proximity from others

Physical proximity from others refers to the physical distance between individuals in the workplace. The likeliness that the job requires to perform tasks while being physically close to other people is rated on a scale with 3 levels: "Somewhat close", "Close" and "Very close".

Related job titles

Here are some other related job titles that are found in the same occupational category (NOC 65220), and a list of similar occupations:

  • animal care worker (except farm)
  • dog groomer
  • dog trainer
  • kennel attendant
  • laboratory animal attendant
  • pet groomer
  • pound attendant
  • veterinary attendant
  • zoo attendant

Similar occupations Help - Similar occupations

Similar occupations

This section lists other occupations that are part of the same broad occupational category as Pet groomers and animal care workers in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). These occupations involve similar core qualifications but involve different responsibilities. To see more similar occupations, use the Job Transition Tool.

Sources Occupational and Skills Information System & National Occupational Classification

Labour Market Information Survey
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