With 54 million pets in the UK, we’re a nation of animal lovers.
A billion-pound industry and growing, working in the animal care and management profession is one of the most rewarding with students going on to achieve dream careers - often via university and degree-level study - in veterinary nursing and medicine, laboratory and ecological work, or pursuing animal-related roles in the police, retail and agricultural industries.
Our YouTube playlist
Hear from our students, tutors & alumni on our Animal Care playlist.
Navigate through the films by clicking on the top right icon!
Photo gallery
Kendal College was home to the UK’s first Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation Centre alongside its teaching department. Facilities include an intensive care and treatment room with industry-standard surgical equipment and digital X-ray facilities to provide the highest level of animal care and the best possible practical learning environment for students. Courses are headed up by experienced veterinary staff who could one day be out rescuing baby seals to another day getting hands-on with common wildlife casualties like injured birds or hedgehogs.
Students are encouraged to seek work placement opportunities with organisations and charities like the RSPCA and local vets. We are also proud to be working towards the Hedgehog Friendly Campus Silver Award! Read more about it here.
Animal Care can be studied as a full-time course or as an apprenticeship.
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The bearded dragons and geckos are not that scary, we are showed how to handle them properly and I feel more confident, I would never have touched a tarantula before but I would now!
Hannah Short, Animal Management Level 3
Meet your tutor
Sarah Neil
Watch moreSarah Neill, Marine Biologist & Animal Management Lecturer, was selected to join Sedna Epic on an expedition to the High Arctic this coming year. Women are still a minority in polar exploration & Sedna Epic provides a safe place for women to conduct fieldwork. Sarah discusses why this is still needed, her experiences with gender stereotypes and her hopes for the future.
Meet your tutor
Lisbeth Tuckey
Read MoreI Have been in charge of the Animal Rescue Centre since it opened and am the college’s Animal Care Lecturer and Veterinary Surgeon. It’s wonderful to be able to share my 30-year industry knowledge with what will be the next generation of animal carers. The response to the courses is fantastic, and our learners have gained so much from the amazing facilities we have.
View our courses
As part of an academic collaborative partnership with The University of Cumbria, this Foundation Degree provides an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, conservation strategies and management. The course is based at Kendal College, which has onsite facilities for wildlife rescue, triage, veterinary treatment and rehabilitation, as part of Kendal College Animal Rescue Centre.
As part of an academic collaborative partnership with The University of Cumbria, this new Foundation Degree provides an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of Marine Biology and Rehabilitation. The course is based at Kendal College, which has onsite facilities for wildlife rescue, triage, veterinary treatment and rehabilitation, as well as aquatics resources, as part of Kendal College Animal Rescue Centre.
This BTEC Level 1 is designed to give an introductory overview to some of the key principles, knowledge, understanding and skills relevant to the animal care sector.
This course is intended for anyone who would like to develop a career working with animals. Highly qualified and experienced veterinary, teaching and technical staff support students to achieve this qualification.
This course is intended for anyone who would like to develop a career working with animals and supports access to careers in the animal management sector. It is primarily for learners who are intending to gain employment directly, or progress to an apprenticeship or a higher-level animal management qualification e.g. degree. Highly qualified and experienced veterinary, technical and teaching staff support students to achieve this qualification.
This course is intended for anyone who would like to develop a career working with animals and supports access to careers in the animal management sector. It is primarily for learners who are intending to gain employment directly, or progress to an apprenticeship or a higher-level animal management qualification e.g. degree. Highly qualified and experienced veterinary, technical and teaching staff support students to achieve this qualification.
