Some say you need more than two hands for this one. The reception area is responsible for scheduling and intake in this case isn't as easy as it might seem. Then again a waiting room for people is often a handful too!

Animals require a lot of time for the full treatment: flea bath, grooming, drying and little extras like nail clipping and ear cleaning. A calm but firm manner comes in handy for the actual grooming, as some "clients" might not be accustomed to being handled. Other critters are anxious about their owners leaving and will bark or mew for their whole stay. You'll have to be patient and use your girl skills to calm these poor guys down. Groomers and other animal-care specialists can find more information at PetGroomer.com and Petco.com.

Vet Assistants

The advantage here is on-the-job training. Busy vets will have you involved in almost every aspect of animal care, from writing up patient charts to assisting with shots, administering medicine orally and doing simple tests, such as tear-duct or stool sampling. This is a great chance to see if full blown vet school is your cup of tea and gives you a taste of the medical treatments that animals need to stay healthy. Financially, the next step up would be a veterinary technician, for which specialized schooling is necessary. A large practice might consider paying your way. Check out Aphis.usda.gov and Fifi-inc.com.