5 Jobs for People Who Love Animals

Professional pet sitters care for pets in the pets' own homes, giving them water, food, and attention once or twice daily for about an hour at a time while their owners are away. Some sitters even provide overnight stays.

Income potential: Pet sitters usually charge hourly per-visit fees. Holidays and summer months are the busiest seasons, with early morning and late evening hours typical for these pet jobs, says Ali O'Connor, a pet sitter and owner of Inko's Exemplary Pet Care Services in Naples, Fla. O'Connor charges $35 per hour and more for pets who have special needs and sits for five to 25 pets per week. After barely breaking even her first two years, O'Connor made $32,000 last year working "full throttle."

Startup costs: Because you are entering someone's home and are responsible for the pet 24/7 while owners are away, O'Connor strongly recommends pet-sitting insurance and bonding. Others costs include a reliable car, gas, pet treats and toys.

Check out: The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters in Mt. Laurel, N.J., offers a certification program that includes pet handling, business skills and first aid for these pet jobs.

Dog walkers typically work -- and walk -- six to eight hours per day, with one or more dogs. Some also offer obedience training. All walkers pick up poop en route.

Income potential: Dog walkers earn $30,000 to six-figure annual incomes in these pet jobs, with averages around $40,000 to $60,000, estimates Veronica Boutelle, founder of DogTec.org, which offers several resources in running dog-related businesses. Dog walkers charge an average hourly fee from $15 to $25, depending on whether the dog is walked in a pack or alone.

Startup costs: Startup costs for these pet jobs are extremely low, says Boutelle. It includes "a vehicle, if needed, some marketing, some education," she says. Aside from a business license, some park districts and city governments are beginning to require local permits for dog walkers, Boutelle says. DogTec's four-day Dog Walking Academy and certification program costs $550 and is offered in locations nationwide.

Check out: DogWalker.com, an online directory of dog walkers around the country, offers educational resources for those starting out.

Groomers get Fido and Fifi looking dapper (yes, there are cat groomers, too) through combing, bathing, nail-cutting and shearing.

Income potential: Pay is $75,000 to $100,000 per year, estimates Debra Kusch of Kusch's Canine Cleaners in Aloha, Ore. Kusch charges on the low end, from $25 to $30 per hour and grooms eight to 10 dogs per day, five days a week. To see if you want to become a self-employed groomer, Kusch suggests working for someone else first in pet jobs such as bathers or combers.

Startup costs: Groomers operate out of their own home, a shop or a mobile grooming van. Costs for basic grooming supplies and home modifications, such as pet tubs and crate dryers, are minimal, Kusch says. Starting your own shop costs $50,000 to $150,000 in major cities, according to online resource PetGroomer.com. Wag'n Tails Mobile Pet Grooming Conversions Inc., in Granger, Ind., offers basic trailers starting at $32,180 and its Pet Stylist Elite van for $83,192.

Check out: The National Dog Groomers Association of America Inc. in Clark, Pa., offers educational programs.

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