How over is it?

A mood ring wired to real instruments

AI exposure Personal care and service

Will AI replace animal caretakers?

Animal Caretakers. US occupation 39-2021.

0.0%

of the time animal caretakers spend on their work goes on tasks where AI is already being used to do that work.of animal caretakers' working hours go on tasks AI has already started taking off their plate.

Ranked 346 of 756 US occupations. No AI use seen in the work yet, along with 410 other occupations.No handover started yet, along with 410 other occupations.

Average US job 7.7%

Among the least exposed jobs there are.Still waiting for liberation.

What AI already does for animal caretakersWhat animal caretakers no longer do alone

O*NET lists 22 tasks for animal caretakers. None of them shows meaningful AI use at work yet.

What it does not touch, yetWhat still needs a human

22 of the 22 tasks show no AI use at work in the data.

  • Advise pet owners on how to care for their pets' health.Core task
  • Answer telephones and schedule appointments.Core task
  • Collect and record animal information, such as weight, size, physical condition, treatments received, medications given, and food intake.Core task
  • Do facility laundry and clean, organize, maintain, and disinfect animal quarters, such as pens and stables, and equipment, such as saddles and bridles.Core task
  • Examine and observe animals to detect signs of illness, disease, or injury.Core task
  • Exercise animals to maintain their physical and mental health.Core task
Show the other 16
  • Feed and water animals according to schedules and feeding instructions.Core task
  • Mix food, liquid formulas, medications, or food supplements according to instructions, prescriptions, and knowledge of animal species.Core task
  • Perform animal grooming duties, such as washing, brushing, clipping, and trimming coats, cutting nails, and cleaning ears.Core task
  • Provide treatment to sick or injured animals, or contact veterinarians to secure treatment.Core task
  • Respond to questions from patrons, and provide information about animals, such as behavior, habitat, breeding habits, or facility activities.Core task
  • Adjust controls to regulate specified temperature and humidity of animal quarters, nurseries, or exhibit areas.
  • Anesthetize and inoculate animals, according to instructions.
  • Clean and disinfect surgical equipment.
  • Discuss with clients their pets' grooming needs.
  • Find homes for stray or unwanted animals.
  • Install, maintain, and repair animal care facility equipment, such as infrared lights, feeding devices, and cages.
  • Observe and caution children petting and feeding animals in designated areas to ensure the safety of humans and animals.
  • Order, unload, and store feed and supplies.
  • Sell pet food and supplies.
  • Train animals to perform certain tasks.
  • Transfer animals between enclosures to facilitate breeding, birthing, shipping, or rearrangement of exhibits.

How that compares

Among the 27 personal care and service occupations, animal caretakers rank 9. The group averages 1.9%, and its most exposed job is Concierges at 18.8%. The average US occupation sits at 7.7%.

All 756 occupations, ranked

Level with 0.0%

  1. 346Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians 0.0%
  2. 346Anesthesiologists 0.0%
  3. 346Animal Breeders 0.0%

What this does and does not mean

Exposure is observed use, not a forecast. Anthropic maps work conversations with Claude onto the tasks O*NET lists for each job and asks, of the tasks AI could speed up, which are actually being used for at work. A use that does the task outright counts in full and a use that assists a person counts half. The task scores are averaged into the occupation figure by the share of time spent on each task.

A high figure means AI is already part of how this work gets done. It does not mean anyone has been replaced. Anthropic's own reading of the labour market finds no systematic rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting exposed jobs.No measurable rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting these jobs. Gap years for everyone. Labor market impacts, 5 March 2026.

Task list and titles from O*NET 31.0 by the US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. Scores from the Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Checked 1 November 2026. How the ranking works.