What does a laboratory animal caretaker do?
A laboratory animal caretaker is in charge of monitoring and taking care of animals in a research facility or similar setting, ensuring to handle them properly and humanely. Their responsibilities include feeding the animals, examining them for any diseases or injuries, gathering and preparing samples, and maintaining the cleanliness of work areas. Furthermore, as a laboratory animal caretaker, it is essential to provide research and clerical assistance to staff, all while upholding the laboratory's safety policies and regulations.
Laboratory animal caretaker responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real laboratory animal caretaker resumes:
- Manage pigs, sheep, chickens, horses, etc.-fed/groom animals-Assisted with animal theme events-Assured customers' safe positive interactions with animals
- Assist in managing shelter for animals and arranging for adoption or euthanasia of confiscate animals.
- Care for animals involve in laboratory research such as rats, mice, pigs, rabbits, toads, and squirrels.
- Perform grooming duties such as; washing, brushing, clipping, and trimming coats, cutting nails and cleaning ears.
- Complete physical checks and monitor patients to detect unusual or harmful behavior and report observations to professional staff.
- Keep animals account update through Avimark.
- Experience in Avimark computer systems for recording an animal's health conditions and history.
- Help with incoming pets as well as with the adoption of the pet by their forever home families.
Laboratory animal caretaker skills and personality traits
We calculated that 19% of Laboratory Animal Caretakers are proficient in Ventilation, Safety Procedures, and Pigs. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Manual dexterity, and Physical strength.
We break down the percentage of Laboratory Animal Caretakers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Ventilation, 19%
Feed animals, maintained water systems, maintain ventilation settings, and related tasks.
- Safety Procedures, 15%
Understand and follow biosafety procedures and train others on proper procedures.
- Pigs, 12%
Cared for the welfare of various barn animals including horses, donkeys, pigs, and cows.
- Animal Species, 6%
Assist with the restraint and manipulation of various animal species.
- Insemination, 6%
Assisted foreman with artificial insemination duties.
- Research Animals, 5%
Provide all animal care of research animals, followed all federal, state and animal rules and regulations.
Common skills that a laboratory animal caretaker uses to do their job include "ventilation," "safety procedures," and "pigs." You can find details on the most important laboratory animal caretaker responsibilities below.
Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a laboratory animal caretaker to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers communicate with pet owners, veterinarians, veterinary technologists and technicians, and other assistants." Laboratory animal caretakers often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "have great communication and customer service skills, and practice safe animal handling. "
Manual dexterity. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling laboratory animal caretaker duties is manual dexterity. The role rewards competence in this skill because "veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers must be adept in both handling animals and using medical instruments and laboratory equipment." According to a laboratory animal caretaker resume, here's how laboratory animal caretakers can utilize manual dexterity in their job responsibilities: "stocked storage room full of imported animal food of all kinds using pallet jacks and manual labor. "
Physical strength. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of laboratory animal caretakers is physical strength. This skill is critical to many everyday laboratory animal caretaker duties, as "veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers must be strong enough to handle, move, and restrain animals." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "collected and recorded animal information such as size, physical condition, treatments received, medications given, and food intake. "
Compassion. laboratory animal caretaker responsibilities often require "compassion." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers must treat animals with kindness and show compassion to both the animals and their owners." This resume example shows what laboratory animal caretakers do with compassion on a typical day: "informed patients with discharge instructions; maintained compassion, sympathy and professionalism during high-stress situations. "
Detail oriented. Another crucial skill for a laboratory animal caretaker to carry out their responsibilities is "detail oriented." A big part of what laboratory animal caretakers relies on this skill, since "veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers must follow instructions exactly as directed." How this skill relates to laboratory animal caretaker duties can be seen in an example from a laboratory animal caretaker resume snippet: "observed minute changes in animal health and environment and kept detailed logs of observations. "
The three companies that hire the most laboratory animal caretakers are:
- Iowa Select Farms7 laboratory animal caretakers jobs
- Children's National Medical Center3 laboratory animal caretakers jobs
- Seaboard2 laboratory animal caretakers jobs
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Compare different laboratory animal caretakers
Laboratory animal caretaker vs. Kennel technician
Kennel technicians are employees who work in animal boarding houses, veterinary clinics, and shelters. Primarily, they take care of and maintain animals living in a kennel. They are responsible for the upkeep of animals under their supervision and ensure they are healthy, happy, and clean. Often, they work with cats and dogs, although they may also care for other domestic animals. They should have skills in handling animals, sanitation, cleaning, friendly office help, and primary animal care.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a laboratory animal caretaker are more likely to require skills like "ventilation," "safety procedures," "pigs," and "dependability." On the other hand, a job as a kennel technician requires skills like "pet," "scheduling appointments," "animal hospital," and "exam rooms." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Kennel technicians really shine in the government industry with an average salary of $29,269. Comparatively, laboratory animal caretakers tend to make the most money in the government industry with an average salary of $28,695.The education levels that kennel technicians earn slightly differ from laboratory animal caretakers. In particular, kennel technicians are 0.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a laboratory animal caretaker. Additionally, they're 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Laboratory animal caretaker vs. Kennel attendant
A kennel attendant is responsible for the daily care of boarded dogs and kennel maintenance. Some of the duties that you will perform will include cleaning cages, scheduling boarding appointments, and monitoring the behavior of these dogs. In addition, it is your responsibility to clean spilled food and animal waste and to dispose of trash on time. Other duties include walking animals if required, ensuring that the animals are always comfortable, and evacuating them when an emergency arises.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real laboratory animal caretaker resumes. While laboratory animal caretaker responsibilities can utilize skills like "ventilation," "safety procedures," "dependability," and "insemination," kennel attendants use skills like "pet," "animal hospital," "animal restraint," and "exam rooms."
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Kennel attendants tend to reach similar levels of education than laboratory animal caretakers. In fact, they're 0.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Laboratory animal caretaker vs. Kennel assistant
A kennel assistant is an individual who takes responsibility in the daily care of animals like cats and dogs at boarding kennels or veterinary clinics. Primarily, kennel assistants provide care to pets that includes feeding and grooming. They collect and maintain any information involving the pets. It is their job to administer pet's medications under the supervision of vet technicians or veterinarians. The skills necessary for this job include patience, customer service, animal care, teamwork, and communication.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a laboratory animal caretaker is likely to be skilled in "ventilation," "safety procedures," "dependability," and "insemination," while a typical kennel assistant is skilled in "pet," "patients," "animal hospital," and "patrol."
Kennel assistants earn the best pay in the health care industry, where they command an average salary of $28,395. Laboratory animal caretakers earn the highest pay from the government industry, with an average salary of $28,695.kennel assistants typically earn similar educational levels compared to laboratory animal caretakers. Specifically, they're 0.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Laboratory animal caretaker vs. Vet assistant
VET Assistants are in-charge of taking care of the well-being of animals in Veterinary clinics and hospitals. Most of the tasks involved are feeding, bathing, weighing, and providing overall nursing care of animals on a routine and sometimes daily basis. VET is short for Veterinary, and as the job title implies, one must also provide assistance to Veterinarians, Veterinary Technologists, or Animal Scientists during Procedures and even Surgeries. A VET Assistant is expected to be equipped with good communication skills and compassion towards animals, but above all, one must also have emotional strength as there are cases which might involve abuse and even euthanasia.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between laboratory animal caretakers and vet assistants, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a laboratory animal caretaker might have more use for skills like "ventilation," "safety procedures," "pigs," and "dependability." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of vet assistants require skills like "pet," "patients," "exam rooms," and "patient care. "
The manufacturing industry tends to pay the highest salaries for vet assistants, with average annual pay of $33,495. Comparatively, the highest laboratory animal caretaker annual salary comes from the government industry.vet assistants reach similar levels of education compared to laboratory animal caretakers, in general. The difference is that they're 0.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.7% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of laboratory animal caretaker
Updated January 8, 2025
