Kennel Lead

Position Overview

This position will be responsible for the supervision of staff, control daycare dogs and ensure the dogs kept in their kennels and facility are cared for properly. Responsibility also includes maintenance and cleaning of the playrooms as well as other areas of the facility as needed. The Kennel Lead position has the responsibility for making sure all duties are completed each day throughout the facility.

Essential Functions

The duties of a kennel lead include, but are not limited to:

• Training for all new employees to understand Pet Vet standards
• Cleaning kennels
• Feeds and waters dogs: cleans and disinfects all food and water bowls
• Exercising and monitoring the behavior of boarded dogs
• Administers medication to animals as requested
• Responsible for creating work schedules and supervising staff members throughout facility
• Walks through kennel areas checking each animal individually for abnormal activity (vomiting, blood and diarrhea)
• Recognizes emergency situations
• Disinfect areas of facility as needed
• Monitoring animals’ health by administering vaccinations, checking for signs of illness or disease, and observing their behavior
• Training staff members in proper dog handling techniques and care procedures
• Supervising kennel workers to ensure that they are performing their jobs effectively
• Determining whether animals should be separated from the pack or if any special accommodations are needed to ensure their well being
• Monitoring the cleanliness of kennels to ensure that they are properly cleaned and sanitized
• Ensuring that all kennel staff members are complying with regulations regarding animal care and safety
• Monitoring and record keeping of animals housed in the kennel
• Maintaining a record of all animals housed in the kennel facility or shelter and their current status
• Provides compassionate care to pets
• Receives animals to be admitted weighing them upon entry; ensures that they have proper identification and records their respective locations
• Examines patients for external parasites such as fleas and/or ticks
• Communicates in a positive manner with owners and ensures that they feel comfortable leaving their pet(s)
• Gives hospital and kennel tours; highlights key features that differentiate our kennel/hospital from others in the area
• Feeds animals as prescribed by the attending Veterinarian or as the owner has requested; records appetites; water intake, as well as fecal and urine production
• Recognizes and reports any unusual conditions or abnormal behaviors and monitors pets for signs of distress or disease
• Gives baths to and brushes pets
• Assists Veterinarian s and technicians with the administration of medications or with pet restraint
• Maintains the cleanliness of the hospital each day; cleans equipment and facilities using
• chemicals and supplies; ensures the safe use of chemicals
• Follows a regular schedule for cleaning and sanitizing all cages, runs, wards and related areas; changes litter boxes and food/water bowls
• Completes the weekly and monthly chore list to maintain hospital cleanliness, equipment, and overall appearance of the hospital
• Correctly prioritizes tasks
• Maintains laundry for the kennel, grooming, and hospital
• Provides patients with fresh, clean bedding when appropriate
• Walks or brings dogs into the yard for exercising
• Maintains the grounds of the property including waste disposal; responsible for light maintenance of landscape upkeep and general building maintenance
• Prepares pets for discharge; gathers toys, bedding, medications, and food; checks pets for cleanliness, and measures and records their exit weights for comparison against their entry weights
• Releases pets to their owners as directed; ensures that every animal released is clean and properly groomed prior to their release
• Understands and carries out oral and written directions
  
  

Competencies:

• Organization
• Multitasking
• Communicating
  
  

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or GED
• Some experience working at a kennel or animal hospital preferred
• May consider an equivalent combination of education, certification, training, and/or experience
  
  

Position Requirements:

• Ability to work with or around sick animals, potentially hazardous materials, cleaning chemicals, gas anesthetics, zoonotic diseases, and unpleasant odors
• Must be flexible with scheduling and able to work some weekends and holidays
• This is a strenuous job requires a lot of lifting, cleaning, and constant motion
• Depending on functional area of assignment, tasks may involve extended periods at a keyboard or workstation and/or extended periods standing and/or walking
• May involve some climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling
• Some tasks involve the periodic performance of moderately physically demanding work, usually involving lifting or carrying moderately heavy animals (up to 50 pounds)
  
  

Additional Information:

The list of essential functions, as outlined in this job description, is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within this classification. The omission of any job function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein if such functions are a logical assignment to the position

Pay Range

$20—$25 USD

PetVet Care Centers, Inc. is one of the nation’s leading operators of veterinary hospitals for companion animals. The company operates over 450 hospitals across multiple states and employs over 11,000 people including over 800 veterinarians. Since its inception, PetVet has been structured around a model that is focused on developing a partnership between the hospitals and the company and providing the highest quality medicine and service.

PetVet is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, religion, citizenship, national origin/ancestry, physical/mental disabilities, military status or any other basis prohibited by law. EOE, M/F/D/V

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