Kennel Attendant

Description

Position Summary

A kennel attendant provides daily care, feeding and exercise of boarded pets. He or she also pays close attention to pets’ status such as signs of stress and changes in eating or elimination habits, promptly notifying technicians and veterinarians when a pet needs medical attention. The kennel attendant interacts with clients in person and by phone and e-mail. Proper record documentation and accurate completion of boarding forms and cage cards is critical. A kennel attendant must pay close attention to details, understand and follow proper feeding and sanitation procedures and monitor boarded pets. 

Reports to: Lodging/Daycare Operations Manager

Job Responsibilities

Kennel Duties, 95%:

• Provide compassionate care to boarding pets
• Walk through kennel area regularly, checking each pet for any abnormal activity such as vomiting, diarrhea or blood in the cage or run
• Report abnormal activity to doctors and technicians, pull patient’s medical record
• Recognize emergency situations, enlisting the aid of doctors and technicians
• Mark records correctly for eating, drinking and elimination habits
• Feed and water animals according to schedules
• Clean and disinfect cages, runs and yard as needed, using hoses and spray bottles of disinfectant. Use a squeegee to remove excess water.
• Clean cat litter boxes and disinfect kitty condos
• Clean and disinfect all food and water bowls
• Wear personal protective equipment required for the area and maintain the personal protective equipment in good working order. Personal protective equipment includes goggles or face shields, aprons, full body aprons, gloves, boots and booties or other equipment assigned.
• Move pets to yard or other areas so runs can be disinfected; return animal to correct run after the run is clean and dry.
• Remove soiled bedding and take it to the laundry area
• Place clean bedding in runs
• Operate washer and dryer to clean kennel bedding and hospital laundry
• Give baths to animals that quality for a bath before they go home
• Administer medications to pets that require medications while boarding
• Supervise animals when they are in the yard
• Perform “TLC” play times or walks for clients who have requested it
• Check-in animals for boarding, talk with owners, write specific feeding and medication instructions, play times, walks, additional services; Record all information on boarding forms
• Place ID collars on all animals
• Administer flea and tick control on all animals
• Take pets to treatment area for all medical services to be administered
• Record and label all personal belongings
• Record medication instructions on the kennel medication board
• Check out animals for boarding, talk with owners, return all personal belongings and review boarding report card with client
• Take animals to exam room if there is a doctor discharge
• Make medical records for animals needing a doctor exam, inform Client Services Specialist that there are now doctor charges and a doctor discharge is needed
• Collect any samples requested by the doctor or technician
• Know proper animal restraint techniques
• Maintain food and supply storage areas
• Understand infectious diseases and how to control and prevent their spread

Client Education & Marketing Duties, 5%:

• Prepare boarding report cards for animals going home 

Requirements

Educational Requirements & Skills Needed

Educational Requirements:

• High school diploma or equivalent, or in process of obtaining
• Experience in caring for animals, proper restraint techniques
• Minimum age requirement of 16 years old

Skills Needed:

• Ability to read and comprehend instructions
• Effective communication with clients in person and by phone, e-mail and written reports
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals

Physical Obligations:

• Able to lift patients and carry equipment up to 25 pounds; ability to lift patients or carry equipment over 25 pounds with assistance
• Endure sitting, standing and walking on hard floor surfaces for extended periods
• Type information for patient records and prescription labels into the computer
• Able to work in noisy work conditions with sounds from animals and equipment
• Take safety precautions for exposure to toxins, drugs, anesthesia and radiation