Description
Veterinary Kennel Attendant– Emergency and Critical Care
La Mesa, CA
Position Type: Full-Time
At Pet Emergency & Specialty Center La Mesa, a Thrive Pet Healthcare partner, we take action to empower your best care for pets, their families, and yourself.
We are a community of 400 clinics forming an extraordinary network of unparalleled resources and people. Through outstanding learning and career options, comprehensive benefits, and abundant support, you’ll be nurtured and appreciated for who you are and what you bring to the table. We come together in both the joys and heartaches of our profession to lift each other up through laughter and empathy.
And, we have plenty of fun along the way!
Who We Are
At Pet Emergency & Specialty Center, our team is dedicated to providing quality care to our patients and elevating our client experience.
We have several different specialists including Critical Care, Surgery, Internal Medicine, and Avian and Exotics. Collaboratively we strive to provide the highest level of care, education, and understanding to our clients, their pets, and our referring veterinarians.
What We Are Looking For
Pet Emergency & Specialty Center is looking for a Kennel attendant to join our Emergency and Critical Care Team. A
Veterinary Kennel Attendant plays an essential role in assisting with the care and comfort of animals in a veterinary clinic, animal hospital, or kennel setting. They provide general care and maintenance for pets while their owners are away or while the animals are receiving treatment. The role combines both animal care and facility management tasks.
Job Overview:
A Veterinary Kennel Attendant is responsible for the daily care, feeding, and cleaning of animals housed in the veterinary clinic or kennel. They assist veterinarians and technicians with animal care and ensure that all animals are kept in a clean, safe, and comfortable environment. This role is critical to ensuring the health and well-being of the animals in the facility.
Key Responsibilities:-
Animal Care:
-
Feed and water animals according to the specified diet plan and schedule.
-
Monitor animals for signs of illness or distress and report concerns to the veterinarian or technician.
-
Assist with Administering basic medications or treatments as directed by the veterinarian or veterinary technician.
-
Walk pets outside if requested following hospital protocol.
- Cleaning and Sanitation:
-
Clean animal kennels, cages, and pens daily, ensuring they are sanitary and free from odor.
-
Perform regular facility maintenance (sweeping, mopping, disinfecting surfaces).
-
Properly dispose of waste and keep areas tidy to prevent the spread of disease.
-
Keep all areas, including reception, exam rooms, treatment sinks, countertops, tables, floors, cages etc. clean at all times.
- Manage laundry area, keeping loads moving at all times.
- Monitor supplies and paper towels in all areas of the hospital.
- Empty garbage as needed. Pay attention to hospital odor control.
- Always display a “wet floor” sign after mopping an area.
- Perform general janitorial duties to help maintain a clean professional hospital. Restock inventory items and immediately note deficiencies on the “want list”.
- Assist with organizing and maintaining equipment, supplies, and inventory for animal care.
-
Record Keeping:
-
Maintain accurate records of each animal's care, feeding, and medication schedules.
-
Track and report any changes in the animal’s behavior, eating, or bathroom habits to the veterinary staff.
-
General Facility Management:
-
Assist with organizing and maintaining equipment, supplies, and inventory for animal care.
-
Assist with Animal Medical Care:
-
Help prepare animals for routine veterinary procedures or treatments.
-
Hold animals still or assist the veterinarian during examinations or procedures when necessary.
-
Monitor animals’ post-surgery or treatment for any adverse effects.
Skills and Qualifications:-
Animal Care Knowledge:
-
Familiarity with basic animal care and safety.
-
Understanding of animal behavior, especially dogs, cats, and other common pets.
-
Physical Stamina:
-
Ability to lift and move heavy animals or equipment as needed.
-
Ability to work on your feet for extended periods and handle physically demanding tasks.
-
Communication:
-
Excellent verbal communication skills, particularly in interacting with Team members.
-
Ability to work as part of a team and take direction from veterinarians and other staff.
-
Attention to Detail:
-
Strong observational skills for detecting changes in animal behavior, appearance, or health.
-
Ability to follow detailed instructions and complete tasks independently.
Preferred Qualifications:-
High school diploma or equivalent (or currently enrolled in veterinary or animal science courses).
-
Previous experience working with animals, such as in a kennel, animal shelter, or veterinary office.
-
CPR or first aid certification for animals (preferred but not required).
-
Comfort with handling various types of animals (small, large, and exotic).
Working Conditions:-
Will be required to work evenings, weekends, and holidays depending on the facility's hours of operation.
-
Physical demands may include standing, lifting, bending, and walking for long periods.
-
May be exposed to unpleasant odors, cleaning chemicals, and animal waste.
You’ll Grow With Us
Here, you can grow your career as best fits you through access to comprehensive learning and skillset programs. You can build your skills and earn credentials through:
- Our vast, diverse, and free library of continuing education courses - ThriveU
- Live, virtual interactive workshops to develop valuable leadership skills
-
A program to designed to teach you the fundamentals of running a pet hospital
-
And, with so many locations nationwide, you can find and move into any specialty, hospital type, or environment. Join us and provide your best care at a clinic that is deeply rooted within its community and bolstered by the resources of Thrive Pet Healthcare.
Benefits – our care in action
We provide benefits spread comprehensively across your mental, physical, emotional, and financial wellbeing designed to meet your needs as a unique individual. Some key benefits include:
- Paid time off including 8-weeks of full-pay parental leave, bereavement to grieve both humans and pets, and time off for new pet adoptions
- Top quality medical, dental, and vision insurance plus health savings account and flexible spending account
- Pet perks including free exams, discounts on products and services up to 75 percent off, and more at all Thrive Pet Healthcare locations
-
Mental health benefits including coaching and therapy sessions
-
401k with employer contribution and no waiting period
-
Continuing education and development support through our library of free CE courses and paid time off to complete
-
Scholarship opportunities and student loan support program
and so much more!
Compensation negotiable based experience with a hourly pay rate starting at $18-$20/ hour. The actual rate offered will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
3 Day Work Week (10 hour shifts). Thursday, Friday, Sunday and Mondays Swing shift. 2pm to 12:30am
At Thrive Pet Healthcare, we celebrate and embrace the uniqueness and diversity of all of our team members, pet parents, and pets. We strive to create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture where all team members belong and feel empowered.
