We have been catching up with Rebecca Dawson, an Animal tutor at Kirklees College. Rebecca has years of experience in the animal care industry and is now putting that experience inspiring the next generation.
How long have you been teaching at Kirklees College?
I have been teaching for 2 years at the college, and before that I was an animal technician at Taylor Hill.
What experience did you have before teaching? Do you have any career highlights?
Before teaching, I was a zookeeper, I worked at Gulliver’s Valley and Flamingo Land resort. A career highlight would be when one of our Rhinos was chosen to be released into the wild in Rwanda.
We had to train her to go into her crate for the journey. She has now had a calf in the wild so she’s doing great and is contributing to saving the species from extinction.
What’s the best thing about a career working with animals?
One of the best things about a career working with animals is the sense of purpose it brings. You’re directly improving animal welfare, health, and quality of life. whether that’s through care, rehabilitation, conservation, training, or education.
What would you see is the best thing about studying one of the Animal Care courses at Kirklees College?
The best thing about studying an Animal Care course at Kirklees College is the balance of real hands-on experience with industry-relevant knowledge, which helps prepare you for genuine careers in animal care, management, welfare, or further study.
What advice would you give to someone in year 10 or year 11 looking to start their career in the industry?
Get as much voluntary experience as you can. Write to local vets, kennels, rescues, and zoos asking to volunteer and be prepared for hard work, animal careers can be physically demanding and require commitment
If a student is starting the course in September, how would you suggest they prepare over the next few weeks and months?
Gain experience with animals wherever possible, volunteering, pet care, farms, kennels, or rescue centres. Make sure you’re ready for practical work by having suitable clothing and being prepared for outdoor or hands-on tasks.
Study Animal Care at Kirklees College
In the UK, the animal care and management sector is a significant one, with approximately 84,700 people employed across 13,000 businesses (according to the Skills and Education Group).
Whether your dream job is working in a veterinary practice or as a Park Ranger, Kirklees College will put you on the path to a successful future. Visit the Animal Care section of the Kirklees College website and start your career today.