Overview
Pet Place is looking for a dependable, compassionate, and motivated animal care team member to join our growing daycare and boarding facility in Montgomery, IL. This is a hands-on position for someone who genuinely enjoys working with dogs while also understanding that professional pet care involves much more than simply playing with them.
Our team members are responsible for providing safe, individualized care to dogs with a wide variety of personalities, play styles, energy levels, and needs. A typical shift may include actively supervising playgroups, managing dog behavior and group dynamics, feeding and caring for boarding dogs, providing enrichment, taking photos and sending updates to pet parents, completing cleaning and sanitation tasks, and helping with daily facility operations.
We take dog behavior, safety, and emotional wellbeing seriously. Our goal is to create an environment where dogs are able to socialize, play, rest, and build confidence without being forced into a one-size-fits-all daycare experience. Team members are expected to learn canine body language, recognize changes in behavior, and actively participate in maintaining safe and appropriate interactions.
This is a fast-paced, physical, and sometimes messy job. You should be comfortable being on your feet, working indoors and outdoors, cleaning up after dogs, handling dogs of all sizes, and taking initiative when something needs to be done. We’re looking for someone who can become an active part of our close knit team.
Previous professional animal care experience is a plus, but we especially value reliability, willingness to learn, attention to detail, strong communication, and a genuine commitment to providing exceptional care to every dog entrusted to us.
Duties
- Supervise and actively manage dog playgroups with a strong focus on safety, appropriate social behavior, and healthy group dynamics
- Provide hands-on care for daycare and boarding dogs, including feeding, potty breaks, rest rotations, enrichment, and general comfort
- Learn to recognize canine body language, stress signals, play styles, and changes in behavior
- Use positive, appropriate handling techniques to redirect unwanted behaviors and help dogs regulate during play
- Maintain a clean, safe, and sanitary facility through frequent cleaning, disinfecting, laundry, dishes, kennel care, and yard cleanup
- Follow individualized care instructions, including feeding schedules, medications, behavioral notes, and special accommodations
- Provide thoughtful updates and photos to pet parents throughout their dog’s stay
- Assist with dog check-ins, pick-ups, transitions, and introductions
- Work both independently and as part of a team, taking initiative rather than waiting to be assigned every task
- Stay organized and attentive in a fast-paced, physically active environment with multiple dogs and responsibilities at once
- Spend significant time standing, walking, bending, cleaning, and working both indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions
- Comfortably and safely handle dogs of all breeds, sizes, ages, energy levels, and personalities
- Participate in ongoing training and education surrounding dog behavior, safe handling, group management, and quality pet care
- Communicate clearly with management and coworkers about behavioral, medical, or safety concerns
- Help us maintain a higher standard of daycare and boarding where each dog is treated as an individual—not simply placed into a one-size-fits-all environment
Qualifications
- Must be 16 years of age or older and have reliable transportation
- Genuine interest in working with dogs and learning more about canine behavior and safe handling
- Previous experience in dog daycare, boarding, veterinary care, grooming, training, rescue, or another professional animal-care environment is preferred but not required
- Comfortable working hands-on with dogs of all breeds, sizes, ages, temperaments, and energy levels
- Ability to remain calm, confident, and attentive in a busy environment with multiple dogs
- Strong observational skills and willingness to learn canine body language, play styles, stress signals, and appropriate intervention techniques
- Reliable, punctual, and able to consistently arrive for scheduled shifts
- Able to follow detailed feeding, medication, behavioral, and care instructions
- Comfortable working independently, taking initiative, and identifying what needs to be done without constant direction
- Strong communication skills and ability to work cooperatively with management, coworkers, and pet parents
- Willing and able to perform frequent cleaning and sanitation tasks—this position involves a lot of cleaning!
- Able to stand and walk for extended periods and regularly bend, squat, reach, lift, and perform other physical tasks associated with animal care
- Comfortable working both indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions
- Able to safely handle strong, energetic, or excitable dogs and respond appropriately during unexpected situations
- Must be comfortable around barking, shedding, slobber, pet waste, and the other less-glamorous realities of working with dogs
- Willingness to complete required training and continue developing skills in dog behavior, group management, safety, and professional pet care
- Availability for a flexible schedule, including weekends and holidays, as boarding and animal care operate every day of the year
Join us in creating a caring environment where animals thrive! Your dedication will help ensure every pet receives the highest quality of care while fostering a safe, clean, and joyful space for all.
Pay: From $15.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- On-the-job training
- Opportunities for advancement
- Paid time off
- Paid training
Application Question(s):
- Required Application Step: All applicants must complete Pet Place’s official job application on our website using the provided link. Are you willing to complete this application in order to be considered for the position? (https://www.petplaceusa.com/jobs)
Ability to Commute:
- Montgomery, IL 60538 (Required)
Work Location: In person
