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Kennel Assistant Jobs in Ruston, LA (NOW HIRING)

Tractor Supply Company

Groomer, Petsense

Ruston, LA · On-site

Sanitizes and maintains upkeep of all grooming tools and equipment to eliminates injury and spread of diseases to other pet clients. * Assist in store operations as needed Required Qualifications ...

Tractor Supply Company

Groomer, Petsense

Ruston, LA

Sanitizes and maintains upkeep of all grooming tools and equipment to eliminates injury and spread of diseases to other pet clients. * Assist in store operations as needed Required Qualifications ...

All JobsKennel JobsKennel Assistant JobsKennel Assistant Jobs in Ruston, LA

Kennel Assistant information

See Ruston, LA salary details

$5

$9

$14

How much do kennel assistant jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average hourly pay for kennel assistant in Ruston, LA is $9.97, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $7.74 and $11.63 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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 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 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 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 worth it?

A kennel assistant performs tasks such as cleaning animal enclosures, feeding pets, and providing basic care, often in a fast-paced environment. The role can offer valuable experience for those interested in animal care and may lead to advancement in the veterinary or pet care fields, but it typically involves physical labor and low to moderate pay. Whether it is worth it depends on individual career goals and interest in working with animals.

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 prior experience working with animals.
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Cities near Ruston, LA with the most Kennel Assistant job openings:

Kennel Assistant jobs near you
Infographic showing various Kennel Assistant job openings in Ruston, LA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $20,748 per year, or $10 per hour.

Grooming Salon Leader

Tractor Supply Company

Ruston, LA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life

Re-posted 18 days ago

Tractor Supply rating

5.8

Company rating: 5.8 out of 10

Based on 1,316 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

430th of 734 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:
1.    Maintain regular and predictable attendance.
2.    Work scheduled shifts and have the ability to work varied hours, days, nights, weekends and overtime as dictated by business needs.
3.    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
4.    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
5.    Enforce and follow all salon policies and procedures.
6.    May also be required to perform other duties as assigned.
 

Qualifications
2+ years of experience required
High School Diploma is required
Any suitable combination of education and experience will be considered.
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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