KENNEL ATTENDANT — MORNINGS, EVENINGS, WEEKENDS & HOLIDAYS
Ames Pet Resort | Ames, Iowa
Pay
- Training rate: $13.00 per hour
- After successful completion of initial training and required sign-offs:
o $13.50 per hour without prior relevant experience
o $13.75 per hour with relevant animal-care experience
- Saturday and Sunday shifts receive an additional $0.50 per hour weekend differential
- Designated holidays are paid at time-and-a-half when worked
Pay progression is based on completed training, demonstrated skill, and approval—not simply the number of shifts worked.
Job Type
Required Availability
Applicants must have:
- Flexible availability for both morning and late-afternoon or evening shifts
- Availability for at least two weekends per month
- Availability to participate in the holiday rotation
- The ability to work different shifts based on animal-care coverage and business needs
Evening and weekend availability is required for all applicants. Applicants who are only available during weekday daytime hours may not be considered for this opening.
About the Position
Ames Pet Resort is looking for dependable and caring Kennel Attendants to support the daily care of boarding and daycare pets.
This is a physically active, hands-on animal-care position. Although spending time with pets is an important part of the job, a large portion of the work involves cleaning, sanitation, laundry, dishes, animal waste, documentation, and following detailed care instructions.
No previous professional animal-care experience is required. New kennel employees begin as KIT—Kennel in Training—and follow APR’s structured See It, Train It, Do It training process.
Employees begin with lower-risk responsibilities and may earn access to additional duties as they demonstrate skill, consistency, interest, and safe decision-making.
Initial Responsibilities
New Kennel Attendants will begin by learning and completing responsibilities such as:
- Cleaning and sanitizing kennels, hallways, bowls, and assigned animal-care areas
- Completing laundry and dishes
- Removing animal waste from indoor and outdoor areas
- Completing approved one-on-one enrichment services
- Maintaining clean water and safe, comfortable animal spaces as assigned
- Following cleaning, chemical, and sanitation procedures
- Reading and following care instructions
- Documenting completed tasks accurately
- Observing pets for changes in behavior, comfort, or condition
- Reporting questions, concerns, mistakes, or unusual behavior promptly
- Supporting general facility cleanliness and organization
Responsibilities Employees May Grow Into
As employees complete training and receive required sign-offs, they may be approved to learn and perform additional responsibilities such as:
- Approved small-group play
- Scheduled potty breaks and safe kennel transitions
- Feeding routines
- Medication administration
- Full daycare supervision
- More advanced animal-handling responsibilities
- Training or leadership responsibilities when appropriate
Employees are not expected to learn every responsibility immediately. Advancement is based on demonstrated readiness, consistency, safety, and interest.
Essential Functions
The employee must be able to perform the following essential functions, with or without reasonable accommodation:
- Remain standing, walking, bending, kneeling, reaching, and moving for much of the shift
- Safely handle and maintain control of dogs and cats of varying sizes, energy levels, and strength
- Lift and carry up to 50 pounds
- Hold and control leashes and safely move animals through doors, gates, kennels, and shared areas
- Respond promptly to animal-safety concerns and follow APR’s incident and emergency procedures
- Work around loud barking, animal odors, hair, dander, urine, feces, vomit, and cleaning chemicals
- Work both indoors and outdoors in changing weather conditions
- Read and follow written care instructions accurately
- Complete required documentation clearly and promptly
- Communicate questions, concerns, and safety issues without delay
- Maintain reliable attendance and arrive ready to work at the scheduled start time
Qualifications
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Previous professional animal-care experience is preferred but not required
- Genuine interest in animal care and welfare
- Willingness to complete cleaning and sanitation work thoroughly
- Ability to follow detailed instructions and established procedures
- Strong attention to detail
- Dependable attendance and communication
- Ability to work independently within assigned responsibilities
- Ability to cooperate with coworkers and accept coaching
- Willingness to ask questions rather than guess
- Ability to remain calm and attentive in a noisy, fast-paced environment
What Success Looks Like
Successful Kennel Attendants:
- Understand that cleaning and sanitation are essential parts of quality animal care
- Follow care instructions and established procedures without taking shortcuts
- Handle animals safely within their approved training level
- Communicate questions, mistakes, and animal-care concerns promptly
- Maintain dependable attendance
- Work cooperatively with the team
- Take accountability for their work
- Show interest in learning while staying within their approved responsibilities
Benefits and Perks
Benefits may include, subject to eligibility requirements and applicable plan terms:
- Health insurance for eligible full-time employees
- Dental insurance for eligible full-time employees
- Vision insurance for eligible full-time employees
- Retirement plan with a 3% employer match for eligible employees
- Paid time off for eligible full-time employees
- Discounted boarding services
- Discounted grooming services
- Structured training and opportunities for skill advancement
- Approved employee dogs may attend work subject to APR policy, facility capacity, vaccination requirements, and temperament approval
Equal Employment Opportunity
Ames Pet Resort is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants are considered without regard to disability or any other status protected by applicable law.
APR provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees when required by law. Applicants who need an accommodation during the application or interview process may notify Management.
Pay: From $13.50 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
