Vet. School -vs-Grooming School?

Personally I think Vet tech would be more suitable for you. Grooming is very physically demanding and seenms tough on your body. I know Gretchen went to a good grooming school and then hasn't been able to find a job either here or in Florida. She has finally given up and is working as a receptionist at a vet clinic and they will pay for her to get trained as a tech. I worked as a tech before and loved it. It can certainly be physically demanding at times but I do think it's easier overall on your body. I don't know anything about the Ivy Tech program other than they never contacted me after I submitted my info to them. Good luck to you. I've been thinking about getting back into animals as well but the pay isn't near what I make now and I have a very flexible schedule which allows me to take the dogs to the vet or go pick up a rescue.

I think both sound like great jobs, but something you might want to consider is how much they're going to cost you over time. As a vet tech, you're probably not going to be spending much of your own money (except maybe a stethoscope?). On the other hand, a groomer usually has to buy their own tools (scissors, combs, etc), most of which have to be replaced/sharpened eventually. At least, that's what my groomer told me. I can imagine you can spend quite a bit of money on grooming supplies if you're not careful. Also, how are your people skills? A groomer is directly responsible for the way the pet looks in the end, and if you're not good dealing with people, having to talk to a picky/unhappy owner could drag you down. A vet tech doesn't always have as much interaction with people, and let's be honest... If something goes wrong with a pet in a vet clinic, the veterinarian is probably going to get the heat for it and deal with the angry owners (unfortunately). Just a couple things to think about.