Kennel Assistant - Specialty and ER

POSITION SUMMARY The Kennel Assistant plays a vital role in supporting gold-standard patient care at PSVSE by ensuring all hospitalized and visiting pets have a clean, safe, and compassionate environment. This entry-level position focuses on patient comfort, hospital cleanliness, and supporting the medical team through daily cleaning, restocking, and animal handling tasks. WHAT YOU'LL DO (Essential Functions) Foster a culture built on PSVSE's core values: Compassion, Inclusion, Accountability, Innovation, and Gold-Standard Patient Care Clean and disinfect kennels, runs, treatment areas, and exam rooms following hospital sanitation protocols Provide clean bedding, fresh water, and comfort items for each patient Assist with walking dogs and helping with patient movement as requested by the medical team Support patient care by maintaining laundry, keeping treatment and ICU areas stocked, and ensuring supplies are readily available Monitor patient comfort and alert technicians or veterinarians to any concerns regarding behavior, appetite, or elimination Maintain organization and cleanliness in all animal care, treatment, and back-of-house areas Notify Inventory Manager when supplies run low and assist with simple maintenance tasks when needed Support a hospital environment that promotes teamwork, inclusion, and compassionate care Follow all hospital policies, safety guidelines, and animal handling procedures Perform other duties as assigned to support overall patient care and hospital operation WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR (Essential Qualifications) Experience Experience in animal care or customer service preferred, but not required — we train! Education High School Diploma or GED preferred Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Basic written and verbal communication skills Compassion, empathy, and a patient-centered mindset Ability to handle dogs and cats of all sizes safely and calmly Strong attention to detail and ability to follow protocols Good organizational and time-management skills Ability to work well in a fast-paced, collaborative environment Accountability and reliability in completing assigned tasks Willingness to learn, take direction, and support medical staff Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information discreetly WORKING CONDITIONS / PHYSICAL DEMANDS Regular walking, standing, bending, lifting, and repetitive motions Exposure to animals, cleaning agents, noise, and hospital environments Must be able to lift 30 lbs unassisted; 50 lbs with assistance Must be able to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed