A love of animals that is nurtured into adulthood can lead to a career. From selling things for animals to taking care of pets to managing shelters and helping at zoos, there are lots of career choices. 

1. Animal shelter manager: As someone who runs more than 25 shelters for sick and injured animals, I am always looking for someone who is trained in animal hospital management. And, like me, there are hundreds of shelters in India who are dying to get someone. You don’t have to be a vet, you simply have to know how to run an emergency hospital. Even if you have a degree in human hospital management and like animals, this works.

2. Dog Obedience Training: This is a huge industry, and continues to grow as dog owners realize the benefits of professional obedience training. Training classes can be held at home in a one-on-one or group format, or if your home isn’t suitable you can travel to your customers’ homes and train one-on-one. You can strike deals with schools and community centres to hold dog obedience classes on weekends and nights. If you’re serious about making dog obedience training your career, I strongly suggest you receive professional training to become an instructor and obtain the required certifications. You can train dogs for the police and commercial security services – even for colony association.

3. . Dog Walking Service: Perfect for the person who has time, patience and a love of dogs. There are various styles of multi-lead dog walking collars and leashes available that will allow three or more dogs to be walked at the same time without becoming tangled and increasing revenues. To secure clients for the service, simply design a promotional flier that explains your dog walking service and qualifications. Distribute the fliers to groomers, kennels, pet stores, community animal shelters, and veterinarians.

4. Homemade Dog Food and dog biscuits: If you keep your prices reasonable people are willing to pay for daily meals and dog treats. I know a retired lady who made a fortune out of this twenty years ago. All you need to get started are dog biscuit recipes, healthy ingredients, biscuit molds and a catchy name. Making dog food is an opportunity for pet-loving entrepreneurs who want to work from home. You can advertise through all the usual animal outlets and dog shows.

5. Animal Pick Up & Drop Off Service - sometimes animals may need transportation to the Vet because their owner may not be able to take them. You can pick up their animals take them to their appointments and pick them up as well. If you sold memberships which guaranteed 12 visits a year, you might be in business.

6. Birdhouses. This interesting franchise opportunity might not make you rich, but it certainly would provide an additional part-time business income. You need basic woodworking equipment and skills to design, build, and sell your own birdhouses. Good for you and for the birds.

7. Animal Camps: No villages have access to animal medicine. Make a small team with a vet that takes on a district and go weekly to villages to see the animals that belong to people: cows, goats, horses etc. Charge for the treatment. If you do this everyday, you will earn money and provide a much needed service.

8. Open a training centre for village animal nurses. You can train them in diagnosis,vaccines and give them first aid kits. This will give them employment and bring much needed help to the villages

9. Start an event management company for animal welfare groups. All of us need money and too many animal welfare people who should be looking after animals simply get tired and withdraw because the cost of running shelters/ambulances and feeding and medicines cannot be borne by a few people. Let me be your first customer!

10. All cities need a professional laboratory for animals.  Xray, MRI, blood testing. Start one and you will be flooded by requests from vets for their customers.

11. Write articles on animals for newspapers and magazines. You will earn money and you will sensitize many people.

12. If you are an advocate, specialize in animal cases. There are hundreds of cruelty complaints I get every day, many vets people want to sue, lots of animal issues that need Public Interest Litigation. If you specialize in this field, I guarantee you lots of work and lots of media attention. My last lawyer is still getting invitations abroad to lecture – even though he has not done an animal case for years after he became famous and picked up huge awards!

There’s nothing like getting paid to do something you love. I have left out zookeeper, wildlife researcher or wildlife guide for tourists. The good news is, as an animal lover, opportunities abound. Just don’t become a dogbreeder, a professional kennel club runner, a dairy or any livestock owner. Don’t start a hotel round a nature sanctuary and disturb it.  Only very bad people do that.

To join the animal welfare movement contact gandhim@nic.in