Did you know that Americans spent upward of $53 billion (yes, that is billion with a “B”) on services for their pets in 2012?
While food and vet care account for about two-thirds of the dollars spent, the remaining third (approximately $19 billion) was spent on alternative vet care (acupuncture, massage, etc.) grooming, boarding and pet-sitting services, and to a lesser degree, miscellaneous pet-related products and services.
Whoa doggie, that’s a lot of cash being spent on our four-legged friends!
Clearly there is plenty of opportunity here for people who want to turn their love of pets into a second-act career. If that sounds like you, I’ve put together a group of resources to help get you started exploring.
Breeders and Dog Show Judges: As readers of Second-Act Careers know, I have an interview with a woman in the book who works as both a breeder and an international dog show judge. Be sure to check out the website of the American Kennel Club to learn more about certification and training options in both of these careers.
Pet Trainers: Here are links to the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. Both sites offer lots of helpful information and resources for people interested in becoming a dog trainer.
Grooming/Walking and Pet Daycare Businesses: Long time readers of my blog know that I am a big fan of FabJob guides which are instantly downloadable step-by-step manuals and courses covering a wide variety of businesses. They feature several titles in the pet care space, such as Become a Pet Groomer and Become a Pet Sitter.
Pet-Related Franchises: There are an ever increasing number of pet franchises, ranging from grooming franchises to doggie daycare services to pet waste removal services. Here is a link to Entrepreneur magazine’s guide to pet franchises.
Pet Products: The website for the American Pet Products Association is a can’t miss site for anyone interested in learning more about producing, selling or marketing pet products.
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