Kennel Assistant Job Description
Kennel assistants must value the quality of care we provide at Del Valle Pet Hospital and uphold our mission statement: To practice the highest quality medicine, provide and maintain a professional clinical setting benefit our clients and patients and to create a stimulating, organized and pleasant work environment. The assistant aids the veterinarian and team in achieving greater efficiency in overall patient care. Assistants should enjoy working with people and animals. Assistants must be detail oriented and make good decisions, respond quickly and calmly to crises and always maintain high standards of patient care. An assistant’s focus is ever-changing according to the priority of the moment. This often requires significant multi-tasking and a creative thinking ability. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to set a good example, and promote a positive work environment. Assistants need to communicate clearly with the veterinarians, other team members as well as with clients to ensure that patients receive the care that they need. Kennel assistants must show emotional strength, stability and maturity. Ability to read and write legibly in English and to communicate clearly with the team. Basic computer literacy, including typing, and experience with general office equipment and software such as Microsoft Windows, Word, and Excel. Learn how to use the practice management software (Avimark). Some assistants perform clerical duties as well. Kennel assistants do many daily husbandry tasks working under the supervision of a veterinarian or veterinary technician, such as restrain patients during examinations and treatment, feeding, weighing, cleaning cages, examination and operating rooms.You will be at risk for being bitten or scratched by the animals in your care. Some of your patients may be aggressive or frightened. Perform physical duties include repetitive standing, walking, bending, twisting, kneeling, stooping, and lifting up to 50lbs. Must be able to grasp, hold and manipulate objects. Other physical duties include working on a computer/ phone for extended periods of time. You will have to restrain animals while veterinarians and technicians examine them or provide treatment. Kennel assistants must be able to respond calmly and quickly to frequent auditory signals, warnings, or communication from other staff, animals or medical equipment. Assistants should be able to work unaffected in an environment where dogs are barking loudly or constantly. Must be able to make independent and common sense decisions. In addition to the animal care you will play a vital role for the pet owners, as you are often the first point of contact for clients, and as such, set the tone for the overall veterinary hospital experience. Kennel assistants must be comfortable with people and possess good communication skills. Good communication and interpersonal skills are important as you interact so vitally with the team and occasionally with clients we all must work as cohesive team members with all of the staff of the hospital-always with the same goal in mind: a happy, healthy pet and pet family.
To apply, please email your resume to info@delvallepethospital.com with the email subject as follows – Job Application: Kennel Assistant. We look forward to meeting you!