Cats

Cats are wonderful companions. They share our joys and sorrows and in return give us unconditional love. Many of us are feel lonely and crave for company. Old people are always looking for someone who can share some time with them. Similarly, childless couple also feel lonely. For such people cat adoption is a wonderful idea. It will bring joy to their lives and also make them more enthusiastic and sanguine towards life.

Dogs

The epitomes of loyalty, dogs have been one of the oldest companions of man. They have been with him to the hunting expeditions in the jungle, guarded his homes, pulled his sledges on snow and played with him, all with utmost devotion and love. Unlike friends and family, a man's dog does not desert him in prosperity and poverty. Dogs are perhaps the only friends you will find in this world that will be happy with the tidbits and won't accuse you of almost everything you do

By Rebecca Simmons

Alice Calabrese was desperate for a change. Eleven years into a successful career in retail banking, the animal lover realized that she wasn't happy in her job.

"I was at a point in my career where every day it was a chore to get out of bed and go to work. I was looking for a new job where I could feel good about what I did every day and know that I was making a difference for the better," she says.

A year after Alice's job search began, that change came in the form of a new position in animal welfare as the Development Director for the Humane Society at Lollypop Farm in Fairport, New York. Now President/CEO, Calabrese is just one of millions of people around the globe who work in the animal protection field.

Perhaps you, like Alice, are interested in an animal-friendly career as well. But where to begin? The first step is to identify your job interests. The possibilities are endless. From animal control officer to special events planner to animal protection lobbyist, there are hundreds of different career paths to choose from.

"There is a common misconception that if you want to help animals, your only option is to become a veterinarian. And that's just not the case," says Betsy McFarland, director of communications for The HSUS's Companion Animals section. "Just about any skill can be geared toward helping animals. For example, there are lawyers who specialize in animal law. And at The HSUS, we have a full-time art director who designs our publications. We have a full-time accountant, librarian, and many other positions that utilize a variety of skills. You don't have to earn a DVM to help critters."

To learn more about the wide variety of positions available in the animal welfare field, check out the fields of specialization on Humane Society University's web site, search the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook, or look for books focusing on animal careers at your local library or bookstore. Reading advertised job openings is another great way to learn what types of jobs are available and get a more detailed description of specific opportunities.