Veterinary Kennel Technician / Room Assistant

The Kennel Technician/Room Assistant provides care and the basic needs of animals that are being groomed, boarded or that are patients of Healthy Paws Animal Hospital including cleaning of cages, runs and ward areas, laundry, walking, and proper feeding, medicating and care of all hospitalized patients. The Kennel Technician/Room Assistant assists the veterinary technicians and doctors to the fullest possible extent, to help improve the quality of care given to the patients and to aid the doctors

Primary Job Responsibilities

• Provide friendly, quality client care to the patients and clients of Healthy Paws Animal Hospital. Kennel assistants must possess good critical thinking and problem solving skills, compassion, and a positive attitude.
• Observe animal appearance and activity for general physical condition, obvious signs of illness, disease and discontent.
• Handle animals as required and restrain animals.
• Walk hospitalized and boarded dogs several times a day to provide exercise and time for elimination of bowels and bladder.
• Bathe, groom and provide tender loving care to boarded and hospitalized animals.
• Provide care for animals housed/visiting the Hospital. Report signs of illness, disease, injury or unusual activity to animal health technicians/veterinarians.
• Apply knowledge of normal food and liquid requirements of animals. As required, provide special food and liquids.
• Assure animals being discharged have been checked by veterinary technician and/or veterinarian. Ensure that animals are clean and fresh smelling prior to discharge.
• Under the supervision of veterinarians or technicians, assist with the administration of medications, post operative care or preparation of samples for laboratory examination, collect specimens, clean instruments, and fill prescriptions as authorized.
• Ensure that cages and animals are properly numbered and identified and that personal property (toys, treats, blankets, leashes) are stored in the proper area and identified.
• Clean, disinfect and maintain kennels, cages, runs and stalls as often as is necessary to ensure no cages or kennels are soiled and odors are not apparent. Perform general cleaning in other areas of the hospital to control the spread of disease. Wash and sterilize water and food bowls.
• Launder and dry towels and blankets.
• Patrol hospital grounds daily, picking up any trash and stool material.
• Empty trash. Sweep, mop, dust facility.
• Bathe and dry animals. Perform nail trims, ear cleanings, and anal gland expression.
• Record information such as feeding schedules, appearance, behavior of animals that are boarded, groomed or hospitalized.
• Exhibit a technical knowledge of products and medications sold, including dietary products. Demonstrate the ability to explain and educate clients on products and answer their questions regarding product purchase/use.
• Demonstrate warmth, courtesy and professionalism in all interactions with clients. Exercise compassion and care in all interactions with patients.
• Restrain animals in a safe, efficient and compassionate manner during examinations and procedures. Know how to properly handle difficult or contentious animals.
• Follow established procedures in order to assist veterinarians with examinations and facilitate the flow of clients and patients. Consult with veterinarians and/or veterinary technicians on a daily basis to plan each day's activities. Keep doctors apprised of potential problems, discussions with clients, etc.
• Greet clients and escort them and their pets into an exam room. Place the patient on the exam table and prepare for the doctor to enter the room.
• Obtain basic information (weight, temperature, etc) on the pet.
• On occasion, obtain any laboratory samples that may be needed from the pet or make sure that laboratory work is performed by another team member while the patient is still in the exam room. Utilize a fecal loop when necessary.
• Anticipate and prepare any medications or vaccines the doctor will need to treat the patient.
• Assist the veterinarian within the exam room by restraining the animal, preparing forms, obtaining instruments, etc. Remain in the exam room until excused by the veterinarian and/or veterinary technician
• Assist with radiographs following proper safety procedures.
• Accurately dispense prescription medications as directed by the veterinarian.
• Document controlled drug logs anytime a controlled drug is used. Follow appropriate safety and handling of hazardous materials. Follow established hospital safety guidelines regarding radiographs, controlled drugs, animal handling, etc.
• Clean and straighten exam rooms, treatment and lab areas. Restock exam rooms with supplies as needed. Assist other team members to keep the public areas of the practice clean and well maintained. Clean and maintain all medical equipment as required.
• Demonstrate initiative and teamwork in everyday duties, assisting other team members within the practice.
• Organize work area and exercise time management skills to maximize personal efficiency within the practice. Prioritize tasks and handle multiple tasks in a calm, organized manner.
• Work well with all team members and ensure that your actions support the hospital, the doctors, and the practice philosophy.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Whenever in doubt or need help, you are expected to seek assistance and guidance; ask for help and clarification!

Organizational Structure

The Kennel Technician/Room Assistant works under the direct supervision of the lead veterinary technician who will indicate general assignments, limitations and priorities. Deviations or unfamiliar situations are referred to the senior kennel/room assistant. The veterinarians and/or veterinary technicians provide additional, specific instructions for new, difficult or unusual assignments in animal health care, including suggested work methods or advice on source materials available.

The kennel technician/room assistant uses initiative in carrying out recurring assignments independently without specific instructions, but refers deviations, problems, and unfamiliar situations not covered by instructions to the veterinary technicians for decision or help. The veterinary technicians assure that finished work and methods used are technically accurate and in compliance with instructions or established procedures. Review of the work increases with more difficult assignments, if the kennel technician/room assistant has not previously performed similar assignments.

Veterinarians and/or veterinary technicians provide specific instructions in giving medications, feeding specific diets or following special sanitary procedures. Recurring assignments are performed independently. Completed work is reviewed for technical accuracy and compliance with established policy and procedures. Accepting training, correction, and constructive criticism is essential.

Skills and Knowledge

• Apply knowledge and skills in controlling/handling individual animal temperament.
• Ability to gain animal confidence when restraining them for transport, grooming and/or treatment.
• Knowledge of proper methods of animal restraint.
• Ability to use cleaning materials and equipment with skill and efficiency.
• Ability to perform moderately heavy physical labor.
• Knowledge of the use, care, and storage of veterinary instruments, materials, and equipment.
• Knowledge of sterilization techniques to sterilize various instruments and materials.
• Knowledge of the instruments, materials, and standardized procedures used in the full variety of treatments to make preparations and provide "tableside" assistance.
• Knowledge of principles and processes for providing client and personal services. This includes client needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of client satisfaction.
• Ability to work independently on assigned tasks as well as to accept direction on given assignments. Understand and carry out oral and written direction.
• Possession of strong organizational skills.

Essential Functions

• Receive, handle and treat patients with skill, compassion and care.
• Ability to handle and to restrain animals using appropriate procedures.
• Ability to observe animal appearance and activity for general physical condition, obvious signs of illness, disease and discontent.
• Regular attendance and timeliness are an essential function in order to fulfill the requirements of this position.
• Ability to walk animals.
• Ability to clean and maintain kennels, cages, runs and stalls. Perform general cleaning in treatment, reception and surgery rooms to control the spread of disease. Wash and sterilize water and food bowls.
• Ability to observe animal appearance and activity for general physical condition, obvious signs of illness, disease and discontent.
• Regular attendance and timeliness are an essential function in order to fulfill the requirements of this position.
• Strong communication and client service skills. Considerable tact and diplomacy is required. Ability to work with clients and patients in a professional, friendly, hospitable manner.
• Work well with all employees and ensure that your actions support the hospital, the doctors, and the medicine that we practice.
• Perform general physical activities that require bending, standing, stooping, moving from room to room, sit, talk, and listen; may be required to walk or stand for long periods of time; will use hands to manipulate, handle, or feel; will reach with hands and arms.
• Frequently lift, carry dogs weighing 50 lbs. Walk and handle dogs weighing up to 150 lbs

Physical Effort

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the primary functions of this job.
• Frequently required to bend, stand, stoop, walk, sit, communicate, and listen.
• Frequently working in a bent position.
• Frequently use hands to manipulate, handle, or feel; will reach with hands and arms.
• Use strength or agility in capturing and restraining stronger, more active animals.
• Frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Occasionally handle dogs weighing up to and over 150 lbs. Assistance will be provided by animal handlers when working with larger animals.

Note: When duties and responsibilities change, job description will be reviewed and subject to changes of business necessity.

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to hazards associated with aggressive patients; hazards associated with infected animals and controlled substances; exposure to unpleasant odors and noises; exposure to bites, scratches and animal wastes; possible exposure to contagious diseases. Work is normally performed inside; some outside work is required.

Hours

Healthy Paws Animal Hospital operates Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, 7:30am – 5:00pm and Thursday 7:30am – 6:00pm. Work schedules are posted no less than two weeks in advance. In general, employees are scheduled for a four-day work week totaling an average of 35 hours per week, with scheduled rotating weekend and holiday kennel duties. During non-routine occasions employees may be scheduled to work more or less hours than is considered normal for the job classification. Some factors contributing to this include, but are not limited to, periods of low activity/scheduling and/or emergency/dire situations in order to meet the practice’s case load.

Benefits

• 40 hours PTO after 1 year of employment, 64 hours PTO after 5 years of employment, 80 hours PTO after 10 years of employment
• We observe holidays of major significance to the majority of our employee population. As a full-time regular employee, you are eligible for these holidays, including your birthday, paid at your regular daily rate.
• To encourage long-term savings, we offer both a traditional and ROTH 401(k) plan. This is available to all full time employees who are over the age of 21, and have completed their 90 day introductory period. The company will match 100% of your contributions, dollar for dollar, up to 1% of eligible pay, and 50% of each additional dollar greater than 1% and no more than 6% of eligible pay.
• The 401(k) plan has built-in discretionary profit sharing. This is a pre-tax contribution the company can make to the employees’ retirement account after the end of the year.
• All employees who have completed their 90 day introductory period will receive discounted veterinary services and products.
• Each full-time employee will be allowed to purchase scrubs when the clinic purchases scrubs. On average, we will try to place at least one scrub order per year.
• The practice will provide special social/entertainment and/or educational functions for the staff either in a partial or total capacity.
• It is the policy of Healthy Paws Animal Hospital to evaluate employee performance on a continuing basis and to do so more formally at periodic intervals. The purpose of these more formal evaluations is to allow management and employees to communicate concerning the employee’s job related behaviors compared to behaviors which are desired and expected.
• Full-time employees who are a member of the military reserves may take up to two weeks per year of unpaid leave to meet your annual obligation. If your reserve unit is called to active duty, your leave will be for the length of that active duty. A position consistent with the position you left will be made available to you upon your return. Healthy Paws Animal Hospital complies with Texas law with respect to job reinstatement following military leave.
• Both full-time and part-time employees who experience a medical disability that prevents them from working for an extended period of time may be eligible for a medical leave of absence.
• Healthy Paws Animal Hospital understands that circumstances may arise in your life that requires you to be away from work for an extended period of time. Should this occur, an unpaid personal leave of absence may be granted for some period of time.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $12.00 - $14.00 per hour

Expected hours: 34 – 38 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Continuing education credits
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Uniform allowance
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Rotating weekends
• Weekends as needed

Work Location: In person

Salary : $12 - $14