Laboratory Animal Caretaker

People will do a lot in the name of science. Good Scientists might squander their life savings in order to fund new research, for instance. They might bend the rules of law to accommodate their objectives. They might even risk their own health and well-being for the sake of testing a new treatment, therapy, or drug.

One thing good Scientists won’t do, however, is mistreat animals, which is why most of them employ a Laboratory Animal Caretaker in their labs.

If you’re that Laboratory Animal Caretaker, it’s your job to take care of the animals that Scientists keep in their labs for use in research.

Whether the lab is at a university, a hospital, a museum, or a private research facility, it’s your duty as a Laboratory Animal Caretaker to ensure the welfare of all laboratory animals, which typically include mice, rats, rabbits, fish, ferrets, monkeys, dogs, frogs, pigs, birds, horses, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, sheep, and goats.

Whatever the creature, your duties are the same: First and foremost, you feed and water the animals, groom them, clean and disinfect their cages, and provide their bedding. In addition, you do many of the same tasks as a Laboratory Technician or Veterinary Assistant. For example, you watch animals for illness, injury, or unusual behavior; hold and restrain them during medical procedures; treat them with emergency first aid when necessary; perform diagnostic tests like X-rays; administer their medications and immunizations; and collect samples of their blood, urine, and feces for testing.

Basically, you’re a Zookeeper who works in a laboratory instead of a zoo!