Animal Care Assistant

Kennel Team Member

Position Overview

The purpose of this position is to provide for the daily care of boarding and day-care pets. This includes feeding, watering, cleaning, walking, bathing, medicating, and monitoring the well being of dogs, cats and, occasionally, other companion animals. This position requires a love of animals and the ability to warmly welcome and compassionately care for a wide variety of pets.

Kennel team members use excellent communication and client-service skills to admit and discharge pets and reassure nervous clients that their pets will be well cared for. Kennel team members demonstrate professional and courteous behavior toward clients and coworkers while handling multiple tasks, even during many interruptions.

Kennel team members empathize with clients and remain compassionate and well-mannered if a client becomes emotional or discourteous. They strongly believe in the quality of care provided and communicate this sense of assurance to clients. Kennel team members understand services and health recommendations for boarders and day-care pets and clearly communicate them to clients when admitting pets.

The Kennel Team Member administers medications to and bathes pets, including those that are fearful and/or aggressive. The Team Member monitors pets for signs of distress or disease and provides for the comfort of pets and sanitation of the facility by keeping the kennel area and grounds clean and odor-free.

Must be able to withstand unpleasant odors and noises. May be exposed to bites, scratches, animal waste, and contagious diseases.

Reporting Structure

Directly reports to Practice Manager.

Primary Responsibilities

General

• Understands and applies hospital policies and procedures.

• Keeps kennel and grounds clean, orderly, and clutter-free.

• Removes trash, sweeps, and mops daily.

• Launders bedding and surgical linens.

• Stocks supplies as needed.

• Attends staff and departmental meetings.

Client Relations

• Answers the telephone by third ring in courteous and friendly manner.

• Properly admits and releases all patients for the boarding kennel.

• Answers phone shoppers’ questions, establishing value associated with the services the facility provides.

• Verifies accurate health and vaccination history for all boarding and grooming patients.

• Obtains information from owner regarding pet’s medical needs and communicates it to the appropriate hospital staff.

• Obtains and documents information regarding accurate medications and administration, communicating that information to the appropriate hospital staff.

• Obtains and documents information concerning grooming services desired by clients.

• Places appointment-reminder phone calls, and provides clients with pre-appointment information or instructions.

• Communicates medical recommendations and reviews treatment plans with clients when services are due for admitted patients.

• Recommends additional services to clients, such as bath, groom, pedicure, and/or pamper session.

• Prepares paperwork for boarding/grooming patients.

• Reviews invoices, sets next appointments, and answers clients’ questions.

• Ensures client information is current via phone or in person.

Animal Care

• Provides compassionate patient care, including keeping patients clean, dry, and comfortable and alerting hospital to changes in patients’ condition while boarding.

• Administers flea medication on admit and release days.

• Medicates patients and logs medication data in computer.

• Records weight at admit and every seven days during stay.

• Applies name band to patient at admit and removes before release.

• Puts pets in secure cage with water and attaches necessary paperwork (cage card).

• Plays with pets during daily play times.

• Notes any concerns about pets’ medical condition, and contacts clients to obtain permission for medical treatment.

• Cleans and sterilizes runs and cages daily.

• Walks (three times per day), feeds, and medicates (as instructed) animals, and logs that data daily.

• Monitors and logs daily urination and defecation habits and any occurrence of vomiting or diarrhea.

• Bathes, trims nails of, and brushes out patients.

Personal Conduct

• Adheres to all hospital policies, standards, and procedures, including but not limited to uniforms, grooming, smoking, and personal calls, as stated in the hospital procedures manual.

• Serves as a representative of the hospital, displaying courtesy, tact, consideration, and a positive attitude in all interactions with clients, patients, and other staff members.

• Demonstrates initiative in everyday duties by seeking other work during down times, assisting other employees, and filling in for other employees as needed.

• Adheres to the posted work schedule. Arrives for work promptly and begins work at the start time. Follows hospital policies for reporting lateness or absences.

• Utilizes the time clock to clock in and out at the beginning and end of each day and during breaks.

• Organizes work area and exercises time-management skills to maximize personal efficiency.

• Prioritizes tasks and handles multiple tasks in a calm, organized manner.

Additional Duties

• Attends departmental and staff meetings.

• Performs other duties as required.

Requirements

• Education equivalent to the completion of the 12th grade.

• Availability to occasionally work uncommon hours and overtime and to be recalled in emergency situations.

• Excellent animal-handling skills, including the confidence and dexterity to administer medications to and bathe animals.

• Ability to properly restrain patients.

• Ability to complete assigned tasks in the time allotted without direct supervision.

• Demonstrated ability to show empathy toward clients and treat animals with respect and compassion.

• Excellent interpersonal communication skills.

• A commitment to outstanding client service.

• Ability to lift objects weighing 40 pounds without assistance and objects weighing more than 40 pounds with assistance.

• Ability to stay on task and work energetically for entire shift, sometimes exceeding 10 hours per day.

• Preferred: One year or more of experience in a veterinary hospital.