Pet Shop Assistant

Introduction

Pet shop assistants look after and sell animals, birds and fish. They also sell related 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. You should be confident about handling a wide range of animals with differing characteristics and needs. 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, particularly fur and feathers.

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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. 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 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 developed relevant skills and knowledge through retail or customer service work experience. Others have experience of handling animals.

Colleges will usually consider applications from candidates who do not meet their usual entry requirements. You should check the admissions policy of individual colleges.

It is possible to study for the National Proficiency Tests Council (NPTC)/City & Guilds Advanced Certificate in Pet Store Management (7760) by distance learning, through the Pet Care Trust.

• 66% of people in occupations such as pet shop assistant work part-time.
• 2% have flexible hours.
• 4% work on a temporary basis.

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