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Animal Therapy Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Alliance Animal Health

Animal Care Coordinator

Hudson, NH · On-site

$15 - $18/hr

... therapy, in-house pharmacy, surgery, urgent/immediate care, rehabilitation services, and ... As an Animal Care Coordinator, you'll play an essential role in supporting our veterinary team by ...

Vale Veterinary Hospital

Be Seen First

Small Animal Veterinarian

Vale, NC · On-site

$85K - $150K/yr

Our hospital has all the modern equipment including but not limited to 3 ultrasound units, small animal digital radiographs, in-house IDEXX bloodwork and urinalysis machines, cold therapy laser ...

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Animal Therapy information

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$10

$18

$26

How much do animal therapy jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for animal therapy in the United States is $18.30, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.14 and $20.43 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Animal Therapy vs Animal-Assisted Activities?

AspectAnimal TherapyAnimal-Assisted Activities
CredentialsCertified Animal Therapists or trained professionals with certifications in therapy animal programsGenerally no formal certification; involves volunteers or handlers
Work EnvironmentHospitals, clinics, therapy centers, nursing homesCommunity events, schools, recreational settings
PurposeProvide targeted therapeutic benefits to individuals with specific needsEnhance well-being and social interaction, less clinical focus
Employer & Industry UsageHealthcare, mental health, rehabilitation servicesNonprofits, community programs, educational institutions

Animal Therapy involves trained professionals providing structured therapeutic interventions using animals, often in clinical settings. In contrast, Animal-Assisted Activities are more casual, aimed at improving general well-being without specific therapeutic goals. Both roles involve working with animals, but their credentials, environments, and objectives differ significantly.

What is the highest paid job working with dogs?

The highest paid jobs working with dogs typically include veterinary surgeons and specialized animal behavior consultants, with veterinarians earning a median annual salary of over $100,000. Advanced certifications, experience, and working in private practices or specialty clinics can increase earning potential for these roles.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Animal Therapist, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Animal Therapist, you need expertise in animal behavior, therapeutic techniques, and usually a relevant degree or certification in animal-assisted therapy or veterinary fields. Familiarity with behavioral assessment tools, therapy protocols, and safety procedures is often required. Compassion, patience, and strong interpersonal communication skills help build trust with both animals and clients. These competencies are crucial for effectively facilitating therapeutic outcomes and ensuring the safety and well-being of all participants.

How to get a job in animal therapy?

To work in animal therapy, individuals typically need a background in healthcare, psychology, or social work, along with experience working with animals. Certification programs in animal-assisted therapy are available and can enhance job prospects, while strong communication and empathy skills are essential for success in this field.

How do you become an animal therapist?

To become an animal therapist, individuals typically complete a relevant degree or certification in animal-assisted therapy, psychology, or a related field. Gaining experience working with animals and obtaining certifications from recognized organizations can enhance credibility and job prospects in this specialized field.

What are some common challenges faced by animal therapists when working with clients and their animals?

Animal therapists often encounter challenges such as building trust between the animal and client, managing unpredictable animal behavior, and ensuring the safety and comfort of both parties during sessions. Additionally, therapists must adapt their techniques to suit different animal personalities and client needs, which can require creativity and patience. Collaboration with veterinarians, trainers, and other healthcare professionals is also essential to provide holistic care, making strong communication skills a valuable asset in this role.

Is animal-assisted therapy a good career?

Animal-assisted therapy is a growing field that involves working with animals to support mental and physical health in various settings such as hospitals, schools, and nursing homes. Careers in this area often require training in therapy techniques, animal handling, and certification, and can offer meaningful work helping individuals improve their well-being.

What is animal therapy?

Animal therapy, also known as animal-assisted therapy (AAT), is a therapeutic intervention that incorporates animals, such as dogs, cats, horses, or other pets, into the treatment process. The presence of animals can help promote emotional and physical well-being, reduce stress, and improve social or cognitive functioning in patients. Animal therapy is used in a variety of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and mental health facilities, to support individuals coping with health issues, trauma, or developmental challenges.
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Animal Therapy jobs near you
Animal Caretaker

Animal Caretaker

Charles River Laboratories, Inc.

Baltimore, MD

$21/hr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 10 days ago

Charles River Laboratories rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 91 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

26th of 71 rated pharmaceutical

Job description

For 75 years, Charles River employees have worked together to assist in the discovery, development and safe manufacture of new drug therapies. When you join our family, you will have a significant impact on the health and well-being of people across the globe. Whether your background is in life sciences, finance, IT, sales or another area, your skills will play an important role in the work we perform. In return, we’ll help you build a career that you can feel passionate about.

Job Summary

We are seeking an Animal Caretaker to join our Insourcing Solutions team located in Baltimore, MD.

As the Animal Caretaker, you will provide basic husbandry to rodents and lagomorphs, monitor environmental parameters for abnormalities and provide customer assistance to the investigative staff.  

Additional responsibilities include: 

- Perform daily animal husbandry duties to maintain quality and health of research animals, including: perform daily water bottle /automatic water line and cage checks; provide appropriate food and water; perform cage changing and/or cage cleaning. 

- Monitor environmental parameters and maintain written records 

- Assist with restraint and handling of various animal species. 

- Receive, inspect, and put away incoming animals; as well as provide for sentinel animals in each rodent housing area. 

- Operate equipment and perform general housekeeping. 

Job Qualifications

The following are minimum requirements related to the Animal Caretaker position: 

- AALAS certification at the ALAT level within one year of eligibility 

- 1 year of related experience in animal care

- 3 months working with lab animal species (rodents), preferred 

- High school diploma/ GED preferred 

The pay for this position is $21.00 USD per hour. 

The schedule is Monday through Friday 7AM-3:30PM, must be available to work some weekends and holidays when necessary. 

About Insourcing Solutions
Charles River Insourcing Solutions℠ can streamline research by delivering operational and cost efficiencies through the strategic insourcing of GMP, GLP and non-GLP research services from discovery through safety assessment. Insourcing Solutions℠ provides you with the ability to maintain control of your facility and expertise while leveraging available space.


About Charles River
Charles River is an early-stage contract research organization (CRO). We have built upon our foundation of laboratory animal medicine and science to develop a diverse portfolio of discovery and safety assessment services, both Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and non-GLP, to support clients from target identification through preclinical development. Charles River also provides a suite of products and services to support our clients’ clinical laboratory testing needs and manufacturing activities. Utilizing this broad portfolio of products and services enables our clients to create a more flexible drug development model, which reduces their costs, enhances their productivity and effectiveness to increase speed to market.

With over 20,000 employees within 110 facilities in over 20 countries around the globe, we are strategically positioned to coordinate worldwide resources and apply multidisciplinary perspectives in resolving our client’s unique challenges. Our client base includes global pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, government agencies and hospitals and academic institutions around the world.

At Charles River, we are passionate about our role in improving the quality of people’s lives. Our mission, our excellent science and our strong sense of purpose guide us in all that we do, and we approach each day with the knowledge that our work helps to improve the health and well-being of many across the globe. We have proudly worked on 80% of the drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the past five years.

We’re committed to providing benefits that elevate your quality of life.  Based on your position these may include:  bonus/incentives based on performance, 401K, paid time off, stock purchase program, Health and wellness coverage, employee and family wellbeing support programs, and work life balance flexibility.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Charles River is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, family status, pregnancy, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

It is unlawful in some states (including Massachusetts) to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

If you are interested in applying to Charles River Laboratories and need special assistance or an accommodation due to a disability to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the resume submission process, please contact a member of our Human Resources team by sending an e-mail message to crrecruitment_US@crl.com. This contact is for accommodation requests for individuals with disabilities only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

For more information, please visit www.criver.com.

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About Charles River

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Charles River is an early-stage contract research organization (CRO). We have built upon our foundation of laboratory animal medicine and science to develop a diverse portfolio of discovery and safety assessment services, both Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and non-GLP, to support clients from target identification through preclinical development. Charles River also provides a suite of products and services to support our clients' clinical laboratory testing needs and manufacturing activities. Utilizing this broad portfolio of products and services enables our clients to create a more flexible drug development model, which reduces their costs, enhances their productivity and effectiveness to increase speed to market. With over 20,000 employees within 110 facilities in 20 countries around the globe, we are strategically positioned to coordinate worldwide resources and apply multidisciplinary perspectives in resolving our client's unique challenges. Our client base includes global pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, government agencies and hospitals and academic institutions around the world. At Charles River, we are passionate about our role in improving the quality of people's lives. Our mission, our excellent science and our strong sense of purpose guide us in all that we do, and we approach each day with the knowledge that our work helps to improve the health and well-being of many across the globe. We have proudly supported the development of 86% of the drugs approved by the FDA in 2021.

Industry

Scientific research and development services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Wilmington, MA, US

Year founded

1947

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