Job description

The Kennel Assistant provides the care and basic needs of the animals that are being groomed, boarded, or are patients of Lake Grove Veterinary Clinic, including cleaning of cages, runs and ward areas, laundry, walking, and proper feeding, medicating, and care of all hospitalized patients. The Kennel Assistant is responsible for nightly cleaning and resetting of the hospital, including, but not limited to sweeping, mopping, emptying garbages and recycling, cleaning bathrooms, and other items necessary to maintain a sanitary veterinary hospital environment.

Position type and expected hours of work:

• Part-Time
• Shifts may vary
• Weekend, evening, and holiday shifts required

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Previous animal handling experience required

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Clerical

• Record information such as feeding schedules, amount patients have consumed, appearance, behavior of daycare and boarding patients both on paper and in electronic medical record.

Veterinary Polices/Procedures: Technical

• Observe animal appearance and activity for general physical condition, obvious signs of illness, disease, and discontent; report and annotate any abnormal observations.

• Ability to assess appropriate placement of patients for boarding, using personal observations, team feedback, and medical chart notes.

• Safely retrieve pets from owners at the request of receptionists, practitioners, and animal health technicians.

• Safely identify the appropriate use of a muzzle, including type and size.

• Handle and restrain animals.

• Under the direction of veterinarians or technicians, administer medications, document administration, collect specimens, clean instruments, and fill prescriptions as authorized.

• Walk, or let into runs, boarded dogs several times a day to provide exercise and time for elimination of bowels and bladder.

• Bathe, groom, and provide Tender Loving Care to boarded and hospitalized animals as requested by owners.

• Check on feline boarders in the morning, periodically throughout the day, and before shift end.

• Ensure fresh litterboxes, bedding, and water.

• Provide care for animals housed/visiting the Hospital. Report signs of illness, disease, injury, or unusual activity to animal health technicians/veterinarians.

• Follow written triage protocol for days scheduled without other team members on site. Identify what constitutes an emergency.

• Apply knowledge of normal food and water requirements of animals. As required, provide special food and liquids.

• Ensure animal health technician and/or practitioner have checked discharging animals as appropriate.

• Ensure that animals are clean and fresh smelling at all times; ensure return of all personal items including toys, treats, food, and medications.

• Ensure that all animal spaces, animals, and personal property (toys, treats, blankets, leashes) are properly numbered, identified, and stored.

• Clean, disinfect, and maintain all animal spaces as often as is necessary to ensure no soiling, moisture, or odors are apparent. Perform general cleaning in other areas of the hospital to control the spread of disease. Wash and sterilize water and food bowls daily.

• Launder and dry towels, blankets, and bedding.

• Patrol hospital grounds daily, picking up any trash and stool material. Empty trash.

• Groom animals utilizing techniques that vary depending on type of hair, coat, breed, and owner instructions. Bathe and dry animals. As requested, perform pedicures and anal gland expressions.

• Facilitate group play activities. Identify appropriate dog play groups, to ensure the comfort and safety of all participants

COMPETENCY: Basic Skills

• Possession of strong organizational skills.
• Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Ability to multi-task and return to tasks in progress if interrupted.
• Apply knowledge and skills in controlling/handling individual animal temperament.
• Ability to gain animal confidence when restraining them for transport, grooming, and/or treatment.
• Knowledge and application of proper methods of animal restraint.
• Ability to use cleaning materials and equipment with skill and efficiency.
• Ability to perform moderately heavy physical labor.
• Ability to interact with all animals in a fear-free, stress-free, respectful manner.
• Knowledge of principles and processes for providing client and personal services. This includes client needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of client satisfaction.
• Ability to work independently on assigned tasks as well as to accept direction on given assignments. Understand and carry out oral and written direction.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Communication Skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Possess exceptional interpersonal communication skills.
• Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Requires active listening skills, giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points be made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Requires telephone conversations.
• Requires use of electronic mail.
• Requires face-to-face discussions with individuals or team members.

Social Skills

• Work well with all employees and ensure that your actions support the hospital, the doctors, and the practice philosophy.
• Ability to work independently on assigned tasks as well as to accept direction on given assignments.
• Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals or the practice to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Ability to adjust actions in relation to other’s actions.
• Teaching others how to perform a task.
• Actively looking for ways to help others.
• Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Requires dealing with unpleasant, angry or discourteous people.

Technical Skills

• Knowledge of computers and relevant software applications including MS Office (Word).
• Perform routine maintenance on equipment and determine when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Job Types: Part-time, Full-time

Pay: $14.00 - $16.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 10 hour shift
• 4 hour shift
• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Holidays
• Weekend availability

COVID-19 considerations:
All employees are required to wear a mask at all times. All services are curbside.

Experience:

• Animal handling: 1 year (Required)

Work Location: One location

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