Kennel Attendant

Kennel Attendant Job Description
Classification: Non-Exempt
Job Summary
Under policy direction from the Hospital Manager, the Kennel Attendant provides direct care
and maintenance of the kennel, hospital, walking area, and surroundings, feeding, and general
husbandry of boarding pets.
Kennel Attendant Duties and Responsibilities
The following is a list of essential job requirements. This list may be revised at any time and
additional duties not listed here may be assigned as needed.
❖ Client Relations and Customer Service
❖ Boarding Admission
❖ Boarding Care
❖ Housekeeping and Maintenance of Hospital and Exterior Areas
❖ Maintenance of Building Exterior
❖ Fine motor skills adequate for utilizing hospital equipment such as a computer, etc.
❖ Adhere to appropriate dress code to include proper scrubs and nametag.
Client Relations and Customer Service
❖ Demonstrate excellent relations with clients/pets.
❖ Assist Receptionists with client/patient check-in and out, as directed. Verify that all
provided services and/or products have been accurately entered in the computer on the
client’s invoice.
❖ Ensure that clients and pets feel welcome and comfortable.
❖ Build rapport with clients and pets. Exceed the client’s expectations of service.
❖ Immediately greet clients and pets by name (and correct gender).
❖ Quickly understand and initiate the process of meeting client and patient needs.
❖ Help new clients fill out boarding forms. Ensure all admission forms are completed in
their entirety and all client emergency information is complete.
❖ Support reception staff by ensuring client requests are handled in a timely manner.
❖ Notifies Hospital Manager if a client has a complaint or concern.
❖ Ability to effectively communicate and educate clients on general animal husbandry and
answer non-medical questions. Refuse to provide medical advice.
❖ Understand general dietary requirements and feeding schedules of patients.
❖ Ensure all paperwork is set up and ready for the client to minimize client wait times and
frustration.
Boarding Admissions
❖ Always provide outstanding customer service, even with difficult clients.
❖ Answer phone calls in a professional and efficient manner.
❖ Document all phone messages clearly and accurately.
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❖ Assist with boarding appointments as directed. For example, scheduling appointments
with complete information, confirmation of appointment, informing clients of boarding
policies and procedures.
❖ Admitting boarders who may include obtaining vaccination/health records, boarding
release forms, pet food notations, medications, and client property according to policies
and procedures.
❖ Adhere to appropriate dress code to include scrubs and nametag.
Boarder Care
❖ Compassionate care is the top priority for all boarding pets.
❖ Follow hospital procedures and protocols for boarding/patient care.
❖ Ensure boarder comfort, making sure room temperature is appropriate, bedding is clean,
etc.
❖ Keep kennels clean, orderly and free of waste and odors.
❖ Feed boarders as scheduled, updating records with relevant information.
❖ Exercise (walk) boarders
❖ Bath or clean pets immediately if they become soiled with urine or feces
❖ Ability to recognize potential health care issues, i.e. signs and behavior patterns that
suggest an animal may be stressed, sick, in pain, or need a veterinarian’s examination.
Housekeeping and Maintenance of Hospital
❖ Gather and stock supplies and food as directed.
❖ Janitorial care of the hospital and boarding areas, following hospital cleaning and
disinfecting protocols.
❖ Make certain entire hospital including treatment, kennels, and food storage are kept clean
throughout the day (so that a client could come back and see his/her pet without any
notice). This includes your own clothing and appearance.
❖ Change bedding, clean cages, kennels, runs, and floors.
❖ Laundry.
❖ Washing, drying, and organizing dishes and bowls.
❖ Advise Hospital Manager of any conditions that are unsafe including unrecognized
hazards or infractions of safety rules. Report Accidents or injuries immediately.
Maintenance of Building Exterior
❖ Keep the exterior walk, play areas and/or runs clean and orderly and free of feces
❖ Keep exterior walking area(s) and parking lot safe to walk by removing fecal matter,
debris, shoveling snow and sweeping as directed.
❖ Keep the exterior free of odor and disease by following cleaning and disinfecting
protocols.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
❖ Multi-task, prioritize and work with minimal supervision after the initial training period.
❖ Work well with a team.
❖ Must treat animals with care and respect and work well with them.
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❖ Flexible workdays. Ability to work various hours and shifts, including holidays and
weekends.
❖ Desire to help or improve the quality of care with animals.
❖ Dependable attendance and punctuality are required.
❖ Follow all rules and guidelines given but not limited to animal handling/safety training,
and notices from management.
Education and Experience
❖ High School Diploma or GED.
Physical Requirements
❖ Dependable attendance is required
❖ Any allergies to animals must be controlled through medication
❖ Must be able to lift 40 lbs.
❖ Must be willing to work long or irregular hours under pressure conditions.
❖ This position requires the ability to sit, walk, squat, bend, stand, reach, lift and type
constantly for a minimum of 8 hours a day.
❖ Visual acuity sufficient to maintain accurate records, recognize people, and understand
written directions.
❖ Ability to speak and hear sufficiently to understand, give information in person and over
the telephone.
Hospital Environment
❖ Animal areas may be humid, noisy, and odorous.
❖ Exposure to pests such as fleas and ticks and other zoonotic diseases.
❖ While handling animals, there is a possibility of being bitten or scratched.
❖ Dust and pet dander are common within the practice.
I have read and fully understand the positions responsibilities, duties and what is expected
of me. I am able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without
reasonable accommodation.
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Print Name
Date
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Signature
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