Canine Caretaker

A Canine Caretaker is responsible for the safety of our dog pack, providing excellent customer service to our pet parents, and cleaning our facility.

What will I be doing?

Specifically, you would be responsible for performing the following tasks to the highest standards:

· Managing our daytime dog pack for their safety. This includes taking preventive action before problems arise between dogs, separating dogs as needed, using appropriate intervention measures to prevent and stop scuffles.

· Cleaning our indoor/outdoor facilities which involve vacuuming, mopping, hosing, and immediate poop pickup.

· Feeding dogs their meals and medications, then documenting in a log for each dog.

· Interacting pleasantly with customers in the lobby and building relationships. This including gathering details of the dog’s stay at check-in and processing payments at check-out. For daycare dogs, this involves tracking packages and collecting payments as needed.

· Taking customer phone calls, including setting up trials for new clients, making reservations for existing clients, and answering general questions.

· Photographing dogs according to our social media specifications.

· Immediate, appropriate action for any injuries and/or medical concerns which may include handling first-aid for dogs and employees/self. Taking care of bleeding toenails, puncture wounds, over-heating, cuts, splinters, etc.

What are we looking for?

Since being founded in 2003, K-9 Kingdom has been a local business focused on being a kennel-free facility where dogs can be dogs, a wonderland for dogs. Our team members work together to care for our pack 24/7. We look for demonstration of these key attributes:

· Accuracy and attention to detail

· Proactive, professional communication, verbal and written

· Teamwork and dependability

· Productivity and urgency

· Customer focus and integrity

· Adaptability and creativity

What will it be like to work at K-9 Kingdom?

Dog behavior can be unpredictable. While we have trials for all new dog clients, issues can arise as dogs age and temperaments can change depending on the length of the dog’s stay. You should expect that you will have minor bumps and bruises and scratches from claws. In some cases serious injuries can arise, including but not limited to, broken nose, joint injuries, slip and fall, trip and fall, and dog bites.

We use a lot of water, you may douse yourself with a hose, spill water bowls, or have your feet peed on.

Dogs bark. Dogs howl. This can make it very difficult to communicate with coworkers or take phone calls.

However, with all that, we still love working here because we love dogs and are rewarded with unlimited tail wags.

Physical demands involve walking around and being on your feet most of the shift, bending over multiple times a day (poop pickup and using the washer and dryer for laundry), lifting at least 50 lbs alone, moving through doorways without letting dogs through, carrying large water bowls and moving toddler beds & cots, winding up a hose, mopping and vacuuming, washing dishes, etc.

Mental/emotional demands involve problem solving to make sure the dogs are safe and happy throughout the day, not getting frustrated when dogs don’t behave or do what you want, balancing the needs of human customers with the dogs you are caretaking, using resources efficiently, calculating costs, alphabetizing files, using computer software, etc.

Requirements:

· Reliable, flexible transportation.

· Proof of identity.

· Employment eligibility in the United States. Individuals aged 14-17 years old must obtain a work permit from their school district to work which school is in session and a parent signature.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: From $11.00 per hour

Expected hours: 20 – 35 per week

Shift:

• Morning shift
• Overnight shift

Work setting:

• In-person

Application Question(s):

• What personal experience do you have working with dogs? (dog ownership, house-sitting, dog walking, etc.)
• Our shifts run: 6am-noon, noon-6pm, 2pm-8pm, and overnight 8pm-6am. Will this structure work for you? What are your desired shifts? (For this job posting, we are only hiring 6am-noon and 8pm-6am.)
• What professional experience do you have working with dogs? (i.e. vet tech, grooming, dog training, dog daycare, dog kennels, etc.) If no professional experience, write "None". (Note from hiring manager: If this is left blank, you will not move forward to an in-person interview.)

Work Location: In person