Pet Shop Assistant

Introduction

Pet shop assistants look after and sell animals, birds and fish. They also sell items such as food, bedding and cages. The work also involves feeding animals, cleaning cages and giving advice on the care of pets.

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Work Activities

Pet shop assistants look after animals, birds and fish in pet stores. They serve customers and carry out other retail duties, including handling cash and dealing with credit/debit card transactions.

Most pet stores sell small animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and gerbils, as well as caged birds and fish. Some sell puppies and kittens.

Assistants are responsible for cleaning and disinfecting the livestock's quarters, providing food and water and checking general health and condition. Any problems are reported to the owner or manager.

Assistants serve customers and sell pet food and accessories such as cages, hutches, bedding, feeding bowls, tablets, sprays and so on.

They also answer customers' queries about problems such as fleas or worming.

Other tasks include receiving and unpacking stock, replacing stock on the shelves and weighing up and bagging animal feed. Assistants are also expected to keep the shop clean and tidy.

Some pet shops sell pet food and accessories but not animals. In these shops, the work is very much like any other job in retailing.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

You should like animals but not be sentimental about them. It is important not to be squeamish about the more unpleasant tasks like clearing away droppings and cleaning cages.

Good speaking and listening skills are required for serving customers and giving advice on animal care. An interest in people, as well as animals, is necessary.

Numeracy skills are needed for handling cash.

This type of work may be unsuitable if you have certain allergies.

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Pay and Opportunities

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Pet shop assistants earn in the range of £220 - £240 a week. Higher earners can make around £280 - £350 a week.

Pet shop assistants usually work a basic 35-39 hour week. However, they may be required to work weekends and public holidays, so that animals can be fed. There are opportunities to work part time.

Most employers are small, high street pet shops.

Self-employment, as an owner-manager, is possible for those with enough money and expertise.

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Adult Opportunities

It is now illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Some entrants have skills and abilities gained in retail or customer service work. Others have experience of handling animals.

• 65% of people in occupations such as pet shop assistant work part-time.
• 3% have flexible hours.
• 5% work on a temporary basis.

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