Animal Coordinator | Pet Wrangler at Skill

Overview Placement Type: Temporary Salary: $20-24 Hourly Start Date: 01.05.2026 Locations: Plantation, Florida and Richardson, TXPosition OverviewWe are seeking an experienced Pet Wrangler to join our dynamic Studios Team. The ideal candidate has worked with animals in a professional setting, preferably with animal training experience. This role is essential in working with pet talent for both video and photography productions, ensuring animal comfort, safety, and optimal performance while capturing high-quality content for e-commerce, web content, social media, TV commercials, and digital platforms.Our studios create engaging content where pets are the main stars. The Pet Wrangler will be part of the Pet Talent team, working closely with pet talent, pet parents, and in-house content creators in a fast-paced production setting.This role is a continuous talent pipeline opportunity. We are building a pool of qualified candidates for current and future openings.Key ResponsibilitiesAnimal Handling & On-Set ManagementWork directly with animals (primarily dogs and cats, occasionally horses, reptiles, rodents, guinea pigs, bunnies, ferrets, and other small animals) during photo shoots and video productionsApply knowledge of species and breed-specific behaviors to encourage pets to present desirable behaviors for the cameraUse treats, positive reinforcement, and trained commands (sit, stay, lay) to guide animals into proper positions for photographers and videographersSupervise all interactions with pets to ensure the safety of both animals and people in the studioManage shoots involving multiple products with single animals while maintaining variety across platformsAnimal Welfare & AdvocacyServe as the voice and advocate for pet talent, prioritizing their comfort and well-being throughout all productionsAllow animals time to acclimate to the studio environment and assess their temperament for shoot suitabilityMonitor animal behavior and stress levels; recognize signs of distress and make decisions to pause or end sessions when animals are not comfortableNote any changes in behavior and communicate to the Manager, Pet HandlingIdentify and report any safety concerns on or off setCraft and maintain a stress-free environment for pets on set by advocating for their needsTraining & DevelopmentConduct training sessions with cats and dogs using positive reinforcement techniquesBuild the confidence and skills of pets in the studio through positive reinforcement trainingWrite training plans for shaping new behaviorsTake initiative in advancing knowledge and skills on animal behavior and training conceptsConduct extensive research on new animal behavior training techniquesMentor wranglers on new training techniques and approachesBuild and present educational presentations for the pet team and studio staffPet Talent CoordinationComplete studio testing with new pets to determine their eligibility for castingUpdate pet casting database with pet photos and behavioral informationNetwork with potential pet parent contacts for castingBuild positive relationships with pet parentsCommunicate with internal teams to set pets up for success on set and propose alternative solutions when neededStudio OperationsSet up, break down, and clean pet holding areasCollaborate closely with photographers, stylists, videographers, and pet parents to ensure successful shoot outcomesFollow all Pet Talent Team procedures and protocolsAssist Pet Talent Team with other duties as assignedWork with both freelance and full-time team members with diverse experience levelsRequired QualificationsMinimum 1 year of professional animal experienceMust be comfortable working with all animals including cats, dogs, horses, reptiles, and rodentsNo animal allergiesAbility to read animal body language and behavior cuesKnowledge of basic animal training commands and positive reinforcement techniquesPet CPR certification (or willingness to obtain upon hire; requires annual renewal)Patience and calm demeanor when working with animalsPhysical ability to handle animals of various sizes safelyStrong interpersonal and communication skillsAbility to work in a fast-paced production environmentPreferred QualificationsKnowledge of animal behavior/behavior analysis in the animal training fieldPrevious experience in studio or production environmentsFamiliarity with e-commerce photography and video production workflowsCustomer service or retail backgroundTraining and mentorship experiencePresentation and educational skillsWork EnvironmentStudio setting with controlled lighting, video, and photography equipmentTypical hours: 7:30 AM - 5:00 PMFreelance/contract or full-time schedule based on production needs (typically 2-5 days per week for contract positions)Fast-paced, collaborative team environmentWork with diverse team including photographers, videographers, stylists, other animal handlers, and content creatorsSkills & AttributesAttention to detailStrong sense of urgencyAbility to create a warm and welcoming environmentAdaptability and problem-solving skillsTeam-oriented mindsetComfort handling animals with varying temperamentsStrong observation and assessment abilitiesExcellent communication skillsSelf-motivated and proactive in learningAbility to advocate effectively for animal welfareLocation-Specific InformationThis position is available at two studio locations:Richardson, TX (Dallas area)Plantation, FloridaBoth studios produce content for website, social media platforms, television commercials, and various digital channels, with pet talent as the primary focus of productions.#LI-MM3**About Aquent Talent:**Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world's biggest brands.Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. More information on our awesome benefits!Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We're about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.