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Working Animals Jobs in Columbus, IN (NOW HIRING)

Must be comfortable working with dogs and cats. Must provide own tools (clippers, blades, shears ... Display compassion with animals and treat them accordingly * Exhibit attention to detail * Read ...

Must be comfortable working with dogs and cats. Must provide own tools (clippers, blades, shears ... Display compassion with animals and treat them accordingly * Exhibit attention to detail * Read ...

WAS Labor Breeders

Seymour, IN · On-site

$14 - $17.50/hr

Must be able to work with live animals and continually have their health and well-being at the top of the daily list. (All house workers must continually monitor three essential items - feed, water ...

Must be able to work with live animals and continually have their health and well-being at the top of the daily list. (All house workers must continually monitor three essential items - feed, water ...

JA Labor Cage-Free

North Vernon, IN · On-site

$13.25 - $16.75/hr

Must be able to work with live animals and continually have their health and well-being at the top of the daily list. (All house workers must continually monitor three essential items - feed, water ...

WAS Labor Breeders

Seymour, IN · On-site

$14 - $17.50/hr

Must be able to work with live animals and continually have their health and well-being at the top of the daily list. (All house workers must continually monitor three essential items - feed, water ...

BF Labor Pullets

Seymour, IN · On-site

$14 - $17.50/hr

Must be able to work with live animals and continually have their health and well-being at the top of the daily list. (All house workers must continually monitor three essential items - feed, water ...

Must be able to work with live animals and continually have their health and well-being at the top of the daily list. (All house workers must continually monitor three essential items - feed, water ...

Handle and care for all live animals including their food, bedding and habitat * Assist in training ... Working Conditions * Working environment is favorable, generally working inside with moderate noise.

Handle and care for all live animals including their food, bedding and habitat * Assist in training ... Working Conditions * Working environment is favorable, generally working inside with moderate noise.

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Working Animals information

See Columbus, IN salary details

$7

$12

$17

How much do working animals jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 28, 2026, the average hourly pay for working animals in Columbus, IN is $12.83, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $10.96 and $14.33 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a working animal?

Working animals are animals that have been trained to perform specific tasks or services for humans. These roles can include herding livestock, pulling carts or plows, providing transportation, assisting people with disabilities, performing search and rescue, or even detecting drugs and explosives. Common examples include horses, dogs, donkeys, and oxen. Working animals have played a significant role in human societies throughout history and continue to be important in many industries and communities today.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to work with working animals?

To excel as an animal trainer for working animals, you need a strong understanding of animal behavior, training techniques, and relevant animal care practices, often supported by a high school diploma or animal science coursework. Familiarity with positive reinforcement tools, clicker training systems, and animal handling equipment is typically required. Patience, clear communication, and observational skills are crucial soft skills that help build trust and ensure effective training. These competencies are vital for ensuring the safety, well-being, and optimal performance of working animals in professional settings.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working with service or therapy animals, and how can these be managed?

Professionals who work with service or therapy animals often encounter challenges such as maintaining the animals’ training and behavior standards, ensuring their health and well-being, and fostering effective communication between the animal and handler. It’s also common to navigate public misconceptions and access issues when bringing animals into various environments. Managing these challenges involves ongoing education, regular health check-ups for the animals, and strong teamwork with both human and animal partners. Support from experienced colleagues and continuing professional development are also valuable in overcoming these daily obstacles.

What is the difference between Working Animals vs Search and Rescue Dogs?

AspectWorking AnimalsSearch and Rescue Dogs
Required CredentialsBasic training, certifications vary by taskAdvanced training, certifications in search and rescue techniques
Work EnvironmentFarms, farms, urban areas, specialized environmentsDisaster sites, wilderness, urban search zones
Employer & IndustryAgriculture, transportation, service industriesEmergency services, rescue organizations

Working Animals encompass a broad range of animals trained for various tasks across industries, while Search and Rescue Dogs are specifically trained to locate missing persons in disaster or wilderness scenarios. Both roles require specialized training, but Search and Rescue Dogs undergo more intensive certification processes and operate primarily in emergency environments. Understanding these differences helps clarify their unique functions and training requirements.

What careers let you work with working animals?

Careers involving working animals include roles such as animal trainer, equine veterinarian, livestock handler, search and rescue dog handler, and zoo keeper. These jobs often require specialized training, certifications, and hands-on experience working directly with animals in various environments like farms, shelters, or training facilities.

What cities near Columbus, IN are hiring for Working Animals jobs?

Cities near Columbus, IN with the most Working Animals job openings:

Infographic showing various Working Animals job openings in Columbus, IN as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 2% Contract, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 86% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $26,693 per year, or $12.8 per hour.

Grooming Salon Leader Petsense

Tractor Supply Company

Seymour, IN • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life

Re-posted 26 days ago


Tractor Supply rating

5.8

Company rating: 5.8 out of 10

Based on 1,320 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

429th of 738 rated retailers


Job description

Overall Job Summary
This position is responsible for leading the operations of the grooming salon, achieving targeted goals and driving results to grow the business. This includes overseeing daily operations of the salon, training and coaching staff, and providing exceptional customer service to all pet parents and their dogs.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities (Min 5%)
As a Salon Leader, it is essential that you be available, flexible, adaptable and service-oriented, as you must be able to fulfill all of the the following requirements:
  • Maintain regular and predictable attendance.
  • Work scheduled shifts and have the ability to work varied hours, days, nights, weekends and overtime as dictated by business needs.
  • Take the initiative to support selling initiatives (TEAM):
    • Thank the Customer
    • Engage with the customer and/or pet
    • Advise products or services
    • Make it Memorable
  • Salon Leaders are required to perform a combination of the following duties throughout their day. Although daily tasks may vary day to day, our business and staffing model makes it essential every Salon Leader be able to perform all fo the following duties accurately, efficiently, and safely on a regular basis and without advance notice:
    • Manage the day to day operations of the Groom Shop; including scheduling, safety checklists, and salon audits
    • Assist in hiring and onboarding all new Groomers and Groom Technicians. This includes ensuring timely completion of all training requirements, mentoring where needed throughout training and evaluating potential and current employee grooming skills
    • Partner with Store Manager daily/weekly; filter communication to salon and manage business to plan
    • Drive salon growth - calling existing and new customers, scheduling appointments, follow-up phone calls and reminders to customers, attending community events, holding in-store events, working with rescue groups and more
    • Lead salon team members by driving professional development, coaching for improvement and reviewing performance key metrics
    • Provide professional grooming services for dogs using the knowledge of canine characteristics and grooming styles and techniques
    • Safe Pet Handling
    • Demonstrating Professionalism
    • Equipment Handling and Maintenance
    • Ensures the safety and well-being of animals
    • Inspects animals for external signs of parasites, disease or injury and reports findings to pet owners.
    • Practice Safety and Sanitization protocols
    • Sanitizes and maintains upkeep of all grooming tools and equipment to eliminates injury and spread of diseases to other pet clients.
    • Maintains records of all pet clients to include services provided and vaccination records.
    • Operate computer as needed.
    • Recovery of store, if needed.
    • Ensure the safety and well-being of live animals. Sanitize and maintain holding tanks and care for live animals as required
    • Complete all documentation associated with any of the above job duties
  • Enforce and follow all salon policies and procedures.
  • May also be required to perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications
2+ years of experience required
High School Diploma is required
Any suitable combination of education and experience will be considered.
High Demand IT Specialized Skills
Platform Knowledge
Preferred knowledge, skills or abilities
  • Operate and use all grooming tools and equipment including bathing tubs, brushes, combs, scissors, clippers, dryers, and bathing products such as perfumed shampoo and soaps
  • Communicate effectively with Associates and customers
  • Display compassion with animals and treat them accordingly
  • Exhibit attention to detail
  • Read, write and count to accurately complete all documentation
  • Problem solving skills
  • Basic computer skills
  • Strong interpersonal skills and ability to resolve issues ethically and with minimal conflict.

Working Conditions
  • Working environment is favorable, generally working inside with moderate noise.
  • Indoor floors and outdoor lots generally are hard surfaces (concrete, asphalt, etc.) lighting and temperature are adequate.
  • Exposure to wet conditions, particularly when bathing dogs.
  • Exposure to sharp grooming instruments, perfumed shampoos and soaps, pets, and pet waste.
  • Exposure to cats and dogs of all sizes, breeds, and temperaments.
  • Work shifts vary from one store to another, but generally are no less than 4 hours and may exceed 8 hours
  • Promote a safe and productive work environment for Team Members and customers and adhere to Company safety training and guidelines

Physical Requirements
  • This position is non-sedentary.
  • It is essential that Team Members have the physical and mental stamina and ability to move throughout the store and outdoor areas quickly and safely.
  • It is essential to operate all equipment related to their job duties efficiently, safely, properly and accurately; and to provide the highest level of customer service.
  • Ability to move and transfer live animals, equipment, and merchandise weighing up to 50 pounds.
  • Ability to stand and maintain a stationary position for up to 8 hours while grooming animals.
  • Ability to frequently move for 4-8 hours per day around the salon to groom animals, clean, and maintain the salon.
  • Ability to utilize grooming instruments including shears and dryers.
  • Ability to occasionally lift or reach merchandise overhead.
  • Ability to bend, kneel, and squat frequently to position oneself to groom animals, clean shelves, and stock merchandise and equipment.
  • Ability to constantly operate store equipment such as computer, cash register, and other store equipment.
  • Ability to read, write, and count accurately to complete all documentation.
  • Ability to utilize strong written and verbal communication skills to communicate effectively with team members and customers.
  • Ability to successfully complete all required training.

Disclaimer
This job description represents an overview of the responsibilities for the above referenced position. It is not intended to represent a comprehensive list of responsibilities. An Associate should perform all duties as assigned by his/ her supervisor.
Company Info
At Tractor Supply and Petsense by Tractor Supply, our Team Members are the heart of our success. Their dedication, passion, and hard work drive everything we do, and we are committed to supporting them with a comprehensive and accessible total reward package. We understand the evolving needs of our Team Members and their families, and we strive to offer meaningful, competitive, and sustainable benefits that support their well-being today and in the future.
Our benefits extend beyond medical, dental, and vision coverage, including company-paid life and disability insurance, paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement, and family planning resources such as adoption and surrogacy assistance, for all full-time Team Members and all part-time Team Members. Part time new hires gain eligibility for TSC Benefits by averaging at least 15 hours per week during their 90-day lookback period. The lookback period starts the first of the month following the date of hire. If the 15-hour requirement was met, the benefits eligibility date will be the first day of the month following 4 months of continuous service.
Please visit this link for more specific information about the benefits and leave policies applicable to the position you're applying for.
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CONNECTION
Our Mission and Values are more than just words on the wall - they're the one constant in an ever-changing environment and the bedrock on which we build our culture. They're the core of who we are and the foundation of every decision we make. It's not just what we do that sets us apart, but how we do it.
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EMPOWERMENT
We believe in managing your time for business and personal success, which is why we empower our Team Members to lead balanced lives through our benefits and total rewards offerings. For full-time and eligible part-time TSC and Petsense Team Members. We care about what you care about!
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OPPORTUNITY
A lot of care goes into providing legendary service at Tractor Supply Company, which is why our Team Members are our top priority. Want a career with a clear path for growth? Your Opportunity is Out Here at Tractor Supply and Petsense.
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