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Kennel Assistant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

American Veterinary Group

Kennel Assistant

Cairo, GA · On-site

Kennel Assistant Department: General Practice Hospitals Employment Type: Full Time Location: Cairo Animal Hospital Description We are seeking a Full-Time Kennel Assistant to help provide outstanding ...

EverVet Partners

Kennel Assistant

Manlius, NY

$16 - $19/hr

Why You'll Love this Kennel Assistant Job! Are you enthusiastic about animals and enjoy a lively work environment? If so, this Kennel Assistant position may be the ideal role for you! When you join ...

Gailor Animal Hospital

Kennel Assistant

Louisville, KY · On-site

Kennel Assistants are valuable members of our medical teams and play a crucial role in patient care. You will be responsible for providing direct support to the kennel and the care of its patients.

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How much do kennel assistant jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for kennel assistant in the United States is $12.36, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $9.62 and $14.42 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a kennel assistant do?

A kennel assistant performs a number of duties at a kennel, veterinary office, animal care shelter, or rescue facility. In this career, your responsibilities are to care for the animals at the facility and provide support to other, more senior animal care professionals, such as vet techs or veterinarians. You also feed the animals, take them for walks or exercise, and ensure that each cage is clean. More senior kennel assistants also help vet professionals with administering medication and vaccinations or perform those functions under supervision.

What is a kennel assistant?

Kennel assistants are animal care workers responsible for the daily care and well-being of animals, usually in boarding kennels, veterinary clinics, or animal shelters. Their duties include feeding, cleaning cages, exercising the animals, and monitoring their health and behavior. Kennel assistants also help with basic grooming and may assist veterinarians or other staff with medical treatments. They play a vital role in maintaining a clean and safe environment for animals and ensuring their comfort while they are away from their owners.

What are some common challenges faced by kennel assistants, and how can they be managed effectively?

Kennel assistants often encounter challenges such as managing multiple animals with different temperaments, maintaining strict cleanliness standards, and working in a fast-paced environment. Effective time management and strong attention to detail help ensure all animals receive proper care and that the facility remains sanitary. Building good communication with team members and supervisors also makes it easier to handle emergencies or behavioral issues. Many facilities provide training on safety protocols and animal handling, so staying proactive in learning and asking questions can make the role more manageable and rewarding.

Is it hard to be a kennel assistant?

Being a kennel assistant involves physically demanding tasks such as cleaning, feeding, and caring for animals, often requiring attention to detail and good communication skills. The job can be repetitive and may involve working in various weather conditions or long hours, but it generally does not require advanced qualifications. Experience with animals and a willingness to handle physical work are beneficial.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a kennel assistant, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Kennel Assistant, you need basic animal care knowledge, physical stamina, and often a high school diploma or equivalent as a minimum qualification. Familiarity with cleaning protocols, animal handling equipment, and sometimes pet management software is useful. Dependability, attention to detail, and compassion for animals are essential soft skills in this role. These skills and qualities are important to ensure the well-being of animals, maintain a clean and safe environment, and support effective kennel operations.

What is the difference between Kennel Assistant vs Pet Care Attendant?

AspectKennel AssistantPet Care Attendant
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma, on-the-job trainingHigh school diploma, basic pet care knowledge
Work EnvironmentAnimal shelters, kennels, veterinary clinicsPet stores, grooming salons, kennels
Employer & Industry UsageAnimal care facilities, sheltersPet retail, grooming, boarding facilities
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

While both Kennel Assistants and Pet Care Attendants work with animals in similar environments, Kennel Assistants typically focus on cleaning, feeding, and caring for animals in shelters or kennels. Pet Care Attendants may have broader responsibilities, including customer service and pet grooming. The roles often overlap, but Kennel Assistants usually work more directly with animal care tasks in shelter settings.

What education do you need to be a kennel assistant?

Kennel assistants typically do not need formal higher education but should have a high school diploma or equivalent. Basic knowledge of animal care, good communication skills, and the ability to handle physical tasks are important; some employers may provide on-the-job training or prefer candidates with experience working with animals.

Is being a kennel assistant worth it?

Kennel assistants perform tasks such as cleaning animal enclosures, feeding pets, and providing basic care, often working in animal shelters or veterinary clinics. The role can offer valuable experience for those interested in animal care, but it typically involves physically demanding work and low to moderate pay. Whether it is worth it depends on personal goals and interest in working with animals.
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Kennel Assistant jobs near you
Infographic showing various Kennel Assistant job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 75% Full Time, 20% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $25,703 per year, or $12.4 per hour.

Kennel Assistant

American Veterinary Group

Land O Lakes, FL • On-site

Part-time

Retirement

Posted 6 days ago

American Veterinary Group rating

5.4

Company rating: 5.4 out of 10

Based on 27 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

38th of 52 rated veterinary

Job description

Kennel Assistant
Department: General Practice Hospitals
Employment Type: Part Time
Location: Animal Health Center of Land O'Lakes
Description
We are seeking a Part-Time Kennel Assistant to help provide outstanding patient care and client service in a fast-paced, multi-doctor animal hospital.
The Kennel Assistant is responsible for maintaining back of hospital duties. These tasks include: caring for boarding animals, maintaining appropriate feeding schedules/providing prescribed medication to pets, maintaining the kennel area (cleaning and mopping), bathing animals and upholding the highest level of care for all pets. Additional duties may include general cleaning of the hospital and communicating directly with clients.
Ideal Candidate
  • Demonstrates professionalism, dependability, healthy and positive communication skills, and the ability to multi-task in a hands-on environment
  • Energetic people-and-pet person with excellent work ethic and social and organizational skills
  • Be compassionate/caring
  • Willing to work flexible hours including weekends
  • Can work individually, as well as on a team
  • Self-starter personality that can complete daily tasks without the need for constant direction
  • This position requires regular on-site presence as an essential function of the role. Due to the nature of veterinary hospital operations, in-person attendance is necessary to support patient care, respond to time-sensitive needs, collaborate with clinical teams, and maintain the safety and well-being of patients, clients, and staff. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities and will consider requests for reasonable accommodation in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable laws.

Skills, Knowledge, & Expertise
  • Must be able to lift 40 lbs.
  • Prior customer service experience
  • Prior experience working with animals in a hospital setting
  • Ability to work in a wet environment

Benefits
  • 401k Match
  • Discounted Veterinary Care
  • Scrub allowance
  • Hands-on and E-training
  • Professional growth opportunities

What American Veterinary Group employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

American Veterinary Group logo

About American Veterinary Group

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Founded in 2015, American Veterinary Group (AVG) owns and operates a network of 120+ veterinary practices throughout the South that treat and protect over 75,000 pets annually. Our goal is to provide ongoing, in-person support to ease the burden of the day-to-day operations of veterinary practices, including in-office staff training, educational and marketing tools, and back office support. We deliver high touch practice management solutions to help veterinarians focus on the needs of their patients, instead of the needs of their business. We are animal lovers above all else, and operate with the motto, "pet first, client first".

Industry

Hospitals

Company size

201 - 500 Employees

Headquarters location

Tampa, FL, US

Year founded

2015

Social media

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