Getting a Job with Animals?

I am very interested in starting a job in the pet industry:
-grooming
-veterinary care
-training
-pet sitting
-pet photography(working w/ business' for covers of mags, foods, ext.)
-pet rescues
and any others anyone can think of.
Would anyone please like to tell me the pro's and con's of any jobs and what I need to do to get started in the field now (in high school at the moment) and what I should do in the future. Also if you have any information on how much approx. it takes to get into the field and become successful. I do have experience with animals and I currently own/pay for 2 dogs right now (trained them both myself but get them groomed professionally) if that matters at all.
Thanks for any and all advice.

I have recently finished my B.S. in animal behavior/anthrozoology, and will be moving on to a PhD. I work with rescues, rehab, training, and public education. I spent a lot of years researching a similar career desire as you. Other than being a vet or vet tech there are few marketable degree's for working with companion animals unless you get your PhD in Psychology (become a pet therapist/behaviorist, this is the traditional Skinner rout) or a hard science PhD in EcologyEvolutionBehavior (think Jane Goodall), Wildlife Management, or Animal Husbandry, and then apply these towards companion animals. There are also a couple Animal Behavior PhD programs in the US. A B.S. in any animal field will allow you to be qualified as an assistant only. I have spent most of my time volunteering/internships, This is critical if your serious about the field. Also, as the vet tech said, ours is not a profitable career in even the slightest way (ie I have the education of a chemist with the pay of a janitor). Your education is extremely important (I have everything from calculus to organic chem and physics) work hard in math and science. If math isn't exactly your strong suit, follow the psychology, business rout. I even have a friend who works in animal related non-profit organizations as a public relations specialist (she started out as a journalist). Finally, check out anthrozoology.org and the ISAZ. I know you will find something to suit you! I may not be rich, but I'm happy!

try getting a part time job at a pet store for the meantime while you decide on what you want to do later on.

i have been a vet tech for 6 years and can tell you that since you are still in high school your best bet is to go to vet school if you want a job in the animal field at all. techs really dont get paid as much as they are worth and you can probably find a job now while you are in high school at a vet's office working in the afternoon. most vets hire teenagers because they can pay them less and train them as they go. it is a great experience because you learn from the bottom up. i started out cleaning cages and now i can place IV's, trach tubes, take x-rays, run bloodwork, assist in surgery and a whole lot more. i love my job and wouldnt trade it for the world but i accepted long ago that i do it because i love animals and not because i want to get rich. of course the pro's are easy. you get back so much more from the animals and their owners. i have owners that followed me when i switched jobs. they changed their vet because they were that close to me as a tech. good luck and again i would recommend vet school. if i was back in high school that is the route i would take, knowing what i know now. if you have any more questions please feel free to email me

I'd work at a pet store part-time, go to vet-school, or work at a vet's office as a secretary to see what you want later.