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Kennel Assistant Jobs in Rockingham, NC (NOW HIRING)

Sweep, vacuum, clean and sanitize cages, tubs and other cleaning as needed to maintain standards * Assist in store operations as needed Required Qualifications Experience: Minimum of 1-year ...

Sweep, vacuum, clean and sanitize cages, tubs and other cleaning as needed to maintain standards * Assist in store operations as needed Required Qualifications Experience: Minimum of 1-year ...

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Kennel Assistant information

See Rockingham, NC salary details

$6

$10

$14

How much do kennel assistant jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 23, 2026, the average hourly pay for kennel assistant in Rockingham, NC is $10.40, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $8.08 and $12.16 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What Does a Kennel Assitant 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 are kennel assistants?

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.

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.

Is being a kennel assistant hard?

Being a kennel assistant involves physically demanding tasks such as cleaning, feeding, and caring for animals, often requiring attention to detail and good time management. The job can be repetitive and may involve working in various weather conditions or handling difficult animals, but it generally does not require advanced qualifications. Experience with animals and a willingness to perform manual labor are beneficial for success in this role.

What is the salary of a kennel technician?

The salary of a kennel technician typically ranges from $10 to $15 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer. Full-time positions often include benefits such as paid time off and health insurance.

How to be a kennel assistant?

To become a kennel assistant, you should have a genuine interest in caring for animals, good physical stamina, and the ability to perform tasks such as cleaning kennels, feeding animals, and providing basic care. Prior experience with animals or certifications in pet first aid can be beneficial. A positive attitude, reliability, and the ability to work in a team are important qualities for this role.

What is the job description of a kennel assistant?

A kennel assistant is responsible for caring for animals in a kennel or shelter, including feeding, cleaning, and providing basic health monitoring. They often assist with maintaining a clean environment, handling animals safely, and supporting veterinary staff as needed. Good communication skills and the ability to work in a physically active environment are important for this role.
What are the most commonly searched types of Kennel jobs in Rockingham, NC? The most popular types of Kennel jobs in Rockingham, NC are:
What job categories do people searching Kennel Assistant jobs in Rockingham, NC look for? The top searched job categories for Kennel Assistant jobs in Rockingham, NC are:
What cities near Rockingham, NC are hiring for Kennel Assistant jobs? Cities near Rockingham, NC with the most Kennel Assistant job openings:
Infographic showing various Kennel Assistant job openings in Rockingham, NC as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $21,639 per year, or $10.4 per hour.
Grooming Salon Leader Petsense

Grooming Salon Leader Petsense

Tractor Supply Company

Laurinburg, NC • On-site

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life

Posted 12 days ago


Tractor Supply rating

5.7

Company rating: 5.7 out of 10

Based on 1,281 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

455th of 716 rated retailers


Job description

Overall Job Summary

This position is responsible for leading the operations of the grooming salon, achieving targeted goals and driving results to grow the business. This includes overseeing daily operations of the salon, training and coaching staff, and providing exceptional customer service to all pet parents and their dogs. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities (Min 5%)

As a Salon Leader, it is essential that you be available, flexible, adaptable and service-oriented, as you must be able to fulfill all of the the following requirements:

  • Maintain regular and predictable attendance.
  • Work scheduled shifts and have the ability to work varied hours, days, nights, weekends and overtime as dictated by business needs.
  • Take the initiative to support selling initiatives (TEAM):
    • Thank the Customer
    • Engage with the customer and/or pet
    • Advise products or services
    • Make it Memorable
  • Salon Leaders are required to perform a combination of the following duties throughout their day. Although daily tasks may vary day to day, our business and staffing model makes it essential every Salon Leader be able to perform all fo the following duties accurately, efficiently, and safely on a regular basis and without advance notice:
    • Manage the day to day operations of the Groom Shop; including scheduling, safety checklists, and salon audits
    • Assist in hiring and onboarding all new Groomers and Groom Technicians. This includes ensuring timely completion of all training requirements, mentoring where needed throughout training and evaluating potential and current employee grooming skills
    • Partner with Store Manager daily/weekly; filter communication to salon and manage business to plan
    • Drive salon growth - calling existing and new customers, scheduling appointments, follow-up phone calls and reminders to customers, attending community events, holding in-store events, working with rescue groups and more
    • Lead salon team members by driving professional development, coaching for improvement and reviewing performance key metrics
    • Provide professional grooming services for dogs using the knowledge of canine characteristics and grooming styles and techniques
    • Safe Pet Handling
    • Demonstrating Professionalism
    • Equipment Handling and Maintenance
    • Ensures the safety and well-being of animals
    • Inspects animals for external signs of parasites, disease or injury and reports findings to pet owners.
    • Practice Safety and Sanitization protocols
    • Sanitizes and maintains upkeep of all grooming tools and equipment to eliminates injury and spread of diseases to other pet clients.
    • Maintains records of all pet clients to include services provided and vaccination records.
    • Operate computer as needed.
    • Recovery of store, if needed.
    • Ensure the safety and well-being of live animals. Sanitize and maintain holding tanks and care for live animals as required
    • Complete all documentation associated with any of the above job duties
  • Enforce and follow all salon policies and procedures.
  • May also be required to perform other duties as assigned.
     
Required Qualifications

Experience: Must demonstrate knowledge and skills in the grooming industry with a minimum of 2+ years experience grooming pets under the leadership of a professional groomer. Supervisory experience preferred. Must be comfortable working with dogs and cats. Ability to demonstrate patience and compassion for animals. Must provide own tools (clippers, blades, shears) or be willing purchase required tools.

Education: High school diploma or equivalent required. Any suitable combination of education and experience will be considered. Regardless of education level, Associates must be able to read, write and count accurately.
 

High Demand IT Specialized Skills
Platform Knowledge
Preferred knowledge, skills or abilities
  • Operate and use all grooming tools and equipment including bathing tubs, brushes, combs, scissors, clippers, dryers, and bathing products such as perfumed shampoo and soaps
  • Communicate effectively with Associates and customers
  • Display compassion with animals and treat them accordingly
  • Exhibit attention to detail
  • Read, write and count to accurately complete all documentation
  • Problem solving skills
  • Basic computer skills
  • Strong interpersonal skills and ability to resolve issues ethically and with minimal conflict.
     
Working Conditions
  • Working environment is favorable, generally working inside with moderate noise.
  • Indoor floors and outdoor lots generally are hard surfaces (concrete, asphalt, etc.) lighting and temperature are adequate.
  • Exposure to wet conditions, particularly when bathing dogs.
  • Exposure to sharp grooming instruments, perfumed shampoos and soaps, pets, and pet waste.
  • Exposure to cats and dogs of all sizes, breeds, and temperaments.
  • Work shifts vary from one store to another, but generally are no less than 4 hours and may exceed 8 hours
  • Promote a safe and productive work environment for Team Members and customers and adhere to Company safety training and guidelines
Physical Requirements
  • This position is non-sedentary.
  • It is essential that Team Members have the physical and mental stamina and ability to move throughout the store and outdoor areas quickly and safely.
  • It is essential to operate all equipment related to their job duties efficiently, safely, properly and accurately; and to provide the highest level of customer service.
  • Ability to move and transfer live animals, equipment, and merchandise weighing up to 50 pounds.
  • Ability to stand and maintain a stationary position for up to 8 hours while grooming animals.
  • Ability to frequently move for 4-8 hours per day around the salon to groom animals, clean, and maintain the salon.
  • Ability to utilize grooming instruments including shears and dryers.
  • Ability to occasionally lift or reach merchandise overhead.
  • Ability to bend, kneel, and squat frequently to position oneself to groom animals, clean shelves, and stock merchandise and equipment.
  • Ability to constantly operate store equipment such as computer, cash register, and other store equipment.
  • Ability to read, write, and count accurately to complete all documentation.
  • Ability to utilize strong written and verbal communication skills to communicate effectively with team members and customers.
  • Ability to successfully complete all required training.
Disclaimer

This job description represents an overview of the responsibilities for the above referenced position.  It is not intended to represent a comprehensive list of responsibilities.  An Associate should perform all duties as assigned by his/ her supervisor.

Company Info

At Tractor Supply and Petsense by Tractor Supply, our Team Members are the heart of our success. Their dedication, passion, and hard work drive everything we do, and we are committed to supporting them with a comprehensive and accessible total reward package. We understand the evolving needs of our Team Members and their families, and we strive to offer meaningful, competitive, and sustainable benefits that support their well-being today and in the future.

Our benefits extend beyond medical, dental, and vision coverage, including company-paid life and disability insurance, paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement, and family planning resources such as adoption and surrogacy assistance, for all full-time Team Members and all part-time Team Members. Part time new hires gain eligibility for TSC Benefits by averaging at least 15 hours per week during their 90-day lookback period. The lookback period starts the first of the month following the date of hire. If the 15-hour requirement was met, the benefits eligibility date will be the first day of the month following 4 months of continuous service.

Please visit this link for more specific information about the benefits and leave policies applicable to the position you're applying for.


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