When you’ve made the decision to obtain a second (or third) job in order to sustain your budget or meet savings or debt goals, why not make it something you enjoy? A fun side job can bring in extra cash and doesn’t need to make you miserable. When you look in the right places, you can often find extra work that appeals to your outdoorsy self, artistic side, or even your love of children.

What about if you love working with animals? You may think part-time jobs working with animals would be scarcely available, but there are more opportunities in related fields than you may realize. Below, we have some suggestions for side gigs working with animals to get you inspired for your job hunt.

Poop Scooping

Sure, this isn’t dealing directly with the puppies; but, it helps them and their owners out! Plus, there’s an average of $45 an hour to be earned here - and at your own pace!

Pet Sitting

Pet sitting, especially if done regularly, can be a pretty lucrative side business. These days, most pet owners are looking for a more personalized experience for their pets than just taking them to a kennel and dropping them off when they have to go out of town. You can decide if you offer your services in coming to the owner’s home, or you can allow the pets to stay with you in your home. A website that can help you get started with your pet sitting business is rover.com.

Dog Walking

This is a good gig for you and the dogs as everyone gets fresh air and exercise! Typically, you can set your own hours for this service and the jobs can range in payment up to $20 an hour.

Pet Photography

If you have camera skills, and better yet if you have a knack for getting Fido to sit still and pose for pictures - you should consider doing some professional pet photography! You will need more than just your smartphone to take pictures with, but the average cost paid per session is $175!

Pet Store

Pet stores are always looking for good help. Consider applying to one of your local pet stores for a part-time position. You get to work with animal lovers and animals with this position!

Animal Grooming

You can either apply to work for a groomer or advertise yourself as an independent pet groomer. Either way, this job tends to pay well with hourly base pay and tips. Who wouldn’t want to work with sweet pups and cats and make them beautiful?

Animal Blogging

If you love writing and animals, consider combining the two interests into a blog. If you are able to contribute content regularly to your blog, you can build up a regular readership; monetize your blog by allowing ad imprints or signing up for Google Adsense.

Obedience Training

Training pups is a helpful service to them and their owners; you could find this job rewarding in more ways than one. On average, dog trainers can earn about $11.50 an hour. BarkBusters.Com is a good place to check out for joining and providing in-home dog training services local to your area.

Veterinary Assistant

This can be a very rewarding job as you get to assist animals in need, provide love and care to them, and help with procedures at the clinic. There are not typically any schooling requirements associated with this job, but it can provide good experience if you plan on furthering your career in the field of animal care. The average hourly pay for this job is $15.