Industry Profile -- by Mark Sproxton and Tom Babin

There's a good reason Calgary's Yellow Pages are bursting at the seams with listings of pet-related businesses. Figures from Statistics Canada and the City of Calgary show approximately $83 million a year goes to the pet industry in and around Cowtown.

About 350 businesses related to the pet industry are listed in the 1998 Calgary Business Directory. And there's ample ground for the largesse. Approximately 51 per cent of the households in Calgary reported pet expenditures, according to Statistics Canada's 1996 Family Expenditure Survey. And of those households reporting pet expenses, each spent an average of $520.55 a year on everything from pet food to veterinary services.

Estimates put the number of cats and dogs in Canada at eight million, and the country's expenditure on the pet food industry at $800 million a year. Figures from the US estimate that $20 billion is spent each year feeding and entertaining pets, with about $7 billion going toward pet maintenance and accessories.

So with 84,000 dogs, 84,000 cats plus a multitude of birds, fish, reptiles, rodents... there, naturally, are many people required to provide pet services. Currently, about 1,700 work in pet stores, kennels or as groomers or suppliers, according to figures from the Calgary Business Directory. Of the approximately 200 business offering pet services, 165 employ one to four people. Roughly the same scenario holds true for the health and health supply side of the industry. Just over 500 people work in this sector in about 130 businesses. And of those businesses, 100 employ four people or less.

Aside from some chain pet stores, the pet industry sports a high percentage of family-owned, or independently-owned small businesses. There's always work available for those with good qualifications, but employment opportunities aren't always easy to find. Obviously, there's plenty of openings for those with entrepreneurial skills and a good understanding of animal companions to find or fill a niche in the market. Overall, work in the pet industry generally provides a high degree of job satisfaction, but not necessarily high pay.

The title Animal Care Attendant is an all-encompassing term for an aquarist, kennel worker, animal shelter attendant and pet shop worker. Regardless of the position, all these workers will be required to clean and feed animals and their requisite accommodation, deal with the public, and assist with a multitude of other tasks.

Training for these positions comes through life and work experience. The more knowledge you have about pets and their needs before you start, the more employable you become. Volunteering or working part-time at kennels or pet shops is a good place to start. Wages for these paid positions typically runs in the minimum wage to $6 or $7 per hour range. Employment opportunities are limited. Aquarists may require additional training on handling chemicals and on plumbing and filtration systems.

Animal Health Technologists work in a number of locations, including veterinary clinics or animal hospitals, private businesses, and some pet shops. Some of the job duties include cleaning and polishing teeth, assisting vets with surgery, providing pet specific health advice, cleaning teeth, and first aid. Some cities, including Calgary, also employ animal health technologists at their animal service divisions to do preliminary treatment on captured stray animals.

Those interested in this career must graduate from a two-year animal health technology diploma program available at Fairview College, Lakeland College in Vermilion, NAIT, and Olds College. Salaries for workers starting in this career will range from $8 to $12 per hour. Depending on where employed, animal health technologists work Monday to Friday, with some weekend work and overtime required.

Pet Groomers are responsible for making peoples' pets look pretty. Groomers will book appointments, clean, cut and style pets' coats, and clip claws. A good understanding of animal behavior helps reduce the risk of being bitten and/or scratched.

While training for a groomer comes mainly from experience, two education programs are available in Alberta. The AB Dog Grooming School in Leduc, and My Pets Beauty Salon in Calgary offer 15 week and 16 week professional grooming certificates respectively. Job opportunities are considered average, with many groomers working on commission or for wages between $6 and $13 an hour. As with human hair stylists, a groomer's reputation and skill can determine the remuneration.

Veterinarians are responsible for treating illness and injuries, performing surgical and euthanasia services, and providing advice. Many vets work at animal hospitals or have their own practices and are often required to work weekends and overtime. Job opportunities are average, however, qualifying for the required post-secondary programs can be extremely competitive.

Before becoming a vet, a two-year pre-veterinary program is required before completing a four-year veterinary medicine degree and writing a national veterinary certification exam. Schools offering pre-vet programs are: Augustana University College (Camrose); The King's University College (Edmonton); Red Deer College; the University of Alberta; the University of Calgary; and the University of Lethbridge. The four Canadian schools offering four-year veterinary degrees are: the University of Saskatchewan; the University of Guelph; the University of Montreal (French instruction); and the Atlantic Veterinary College (Charlottetown). Vets average between $30,000 and $60,000 a year, although some in private practice may make more.

Entrepreneurs can capatalize on the growing concern for the overall well-being of pets. By marketing creative services, careers can be made by offering dog-walking, animal day-care, or animal restaurants. If trained, entrepreneurs can offer pet insurance, animal accupuncture, or behavior advice. As with any entrepreneurial venture, starting a new business is risky, but if a creative idea catches on, the earning potential is limitless.