Role
Location
Description
Kennel Assistant
The Kennel Assistant supports and adds value to an efficient organization dedicated to quality care and exceptional service. This position supports veterinarians and technicians in their daily tasks by cleaning and maintaining equipment; feeding, exercising and grooming pets; restraining and handling pets; monitoring the well-being of boarding and day care patients; and performing basic clerical work.
Essential Functions:
- Provides compassionate care to pets
- Receives animals to be admitted weighing them upon entry; ensures that they have proper identification and records their respective locations
- Examines patients for external parasites such as fleas and/or ticks
- Communicates in a positive manner with owners and ensures that they feel comfortable leaving their pet(s)
- Feeds animals as prescribed by the attending Veterinarian or as the owner has requested; records appetites; water intake, as well as fecal and urine production
- Recognizes and reports any unusual conditions or abnormal behaviors and monitors pets for signs of distress or disease.
- Gives baths to and brushes pets
- Assists Veterinarian s and technicians with the administration of medications or with pet restraint
- Maintains the cleanliness of the hospital each day; cleans equipment and facilities using chemicals and supplies; ensures the safe use of chemicals
- Follows a regular schedule for cleaning and sanitizing all cages, runs, wards and related areas; changes litter boxes and food/water bowls
- Completes the weekly and monthly chore list to maintain hospital cleanliness, equipment, and overall appearance of the hospital
- Correctly prioritizes tasks
- Maintains laundry for the kennel, grooming, and hospital
- Provides patients with fresh, clean bedding when appropriate
- Walks or brings dogs into the yard for exercising
- Prepares pets for discharge; gathers toys, bedding, medications, and food; checks pets for cleanliness, and measures and records their exit weights for comparison against their entry weights
- Releases pets to their owners as directed; ensures that every animal released is clean and properly groomed prior to their release
- Understands and carries out oral and written directions
- Remain professional and courteous to clients and co- workers while handling multiple tasks at once with many interruptions.
- Learn and understand our services and health recommendations and be able to clearly communicate these to clients.
- Be able to deal with difficult and/or aggressive patients in an effective manner meanwhile keeping yourself, the pet, and co-workers safe
- Performs other duties as assigned by Manager.
Position Requirements:
- Ability to work with or around sick animals, potentially hazardous materials, cleaning chemicals, gas anesthetics, zoonotic diseases, and unpleasant odors
- Must be flexible with scheduling and able to work some weekends and holidays
- This is a strenuous job that requires a lot of lifting, cleaning, and constant motion
- Depending on functional area of assignment, tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or work station and/or extended periods of time standing and/or walking
- May involve some climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling
- Some tasks involve the periodic performance of moderately physically demanding work, usually involving lifting or carrying moderately heavy animals.
At PetVet Care Centers, we’re committed to a Culture of Care — for pets, for the people who love them, and for the team members who make it all possible. With more than 420 hospitals across the U.S. and a team of over 11,000 dedicated professionals, including 1700+ veterinarians, we offer a unique blend of local leadership and national support that helps our hospitals thrive.
Our model is built on partnership, collaboration, and local medical autonomy, empowering each hospital to deliver high-quality care while benefiting from shared resources and a strong professional community. Whether you’re providing care in a hospital or supporting operations behind the scenes, PetVet is a place where you can grow your career, stay connected to your purpose, and make a meaningful impact.
You care for pets. We care for you.
PetVet is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, religion, citizenship, national origin/ancestry, physical/mental disabilities, military status or any other basis prohibited by law. EOE, M/F/D/V
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