Animal Care and Service Workers

Animal Care and Service Workers typically perform the following tasks: • Feed and water animals according to schedules and feeding instructions. • Provide treatment to sick or injured animals, or contact veterinarians to secure treatment. • Examine and observe animals to detect signs of illness, disease, or injury. • Mix food, liquid formulas, medications, or food supplements according to instructions, prescriptions, and knowledge of animal species. • Do facility laundry and clean, organize, maintain, and disinfect animal quarters, such as pens and stables, and equipment, such as saddles and bridles. • Exercise animals to maintain their physical and mental health. • Collect and record animal information, such as weight, size, physical condition, treatments received, medications given, and food intake. • Respond to questions from patrons, and provide information about animals, such as behavior, habitat, breeding habits, or facility activities. • Answer telephones and schedule appointments. • Advise pet owners on how to care for their pets' health. • Perform animal grooming duties, such as washing, brushing, clipping, and trimming coats, cutting nails, and cleaning ears. • Observe and caution children petting and feeding animals in designated areas to ensure the safety of humans and animals. • Clean and disinfect surgical equipment. • Find homes for stray or unwanted animals. • Discuss with clients their pets' grooming needs. • Transfer animals between enclosures to facilitate breeding, birthing, shipping, or rearrangement of exhibits. • Adjust controls to regulate specified temperature and humidity of animal quarters, nurseries, or exhibit areas. • Anesthetize and inoculate animals, according to instructions. • Install, maintain, and repair animal care facility equipment, such as infrared lights, feeding devices, and cages. • Train animals to perform certain tasks.