Kennel Assistant

Job DescriptionAbout Eastside Veterinary Hospital
​​​​​​Our hospital has been owned and operated in ​Collinsville, OK by the same veterinarians since 1982. We have over 40 years of experience in veterinary care. The professional staff at EVH strive to provide comprehensive, high quality medical and surgical care with an emphasis on exceptional client services.

Eastside Veterinary Hospital’s facility is modern and well-equipped. It is designed to create a comfortable and welcoming environment for both pets and their owners. The hospital’s commitment to staying current with the latest veterinary technologies ensures that our patients receive the best possible care.

Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 7:30 am-6:00 pm, Saturday 8:00 am-12:00 pm

Saturday availability and rotating Sunday and holiday availability is required for this position. 

Pay: $12/hr

Position Purpose
Reporting into the Practice Manager, the Kennel Assistant provides care to address the needs of patients that are visiting the practice.  The Kennel Assistant ensures that the kennel area is clean and safe for all patients by cleaning cages, runs, and ward areas and washing laundry.  The Kennel Assistant walks, feeds, and cleans patients (as needed and supervised by Doctor or Technician).

Kennel Assistant Competencies

• Patience & Compassion: Remaining professional while still making Doctors, teammates, clients, and patients feel as comfortable as possible regardless of the situation or challenges presented.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: Carefully coordinating actions with practice team members.  Quickly incorporating feedback to ensure positive results.  Sharing ideas and being open to other’s ideas.  Continually looking for ways to help others.
• Communicating: Conveying boarding outcomes to clients and teammates to ensure successful client care.
• Active Listening: Following the expressed wishes of clients.
• Client Satisfaction: Ensuring all activities and interactions result in the highest level of client satisfaction.

Essential Responsibilities

• Provides great care for patients visiting the practice
• Ensures patients are admitted noting the client’s specific instructions to ensure a quality outcome including contact information and pick up time.
• Accurately and legibly records information related to the patient such as feeding schedules, appearance, and behavior during practice visit.
• Observes patient’s appearance and activity for general physical condition, obvious signs of illness, disease and discontent.
• Appropriately handles patients and as needed, properly restrains hard-to-control patients.
• Walks patients several times a day to provide exercise and time for elimination of bowels and bladder.
• Applies knowledge of normal food and liquid requirements and as required, provides special food and liquids.
• Ensures patients are clean and fresh smelling and have been checked by a Technician / Doctor prior to discharge; ensures patient has all personal property upon exit.
• Ensures cages and patients are properly numbered and identified and that personal property (toys, treats, blankets, leashes) are stored in the proper areas and identified.
• Regularly cleans, disinfects 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.  Performs general cleaning in other areas of the hospital to control the spread of disease. Washes and sterilizes water and food bowls.
• Launders and dries towels and blankets.
• Walks hospital grounds regularly and cleans any trash and stool material; empties trash throughout the practice and grounds.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements / Qualifications

• Ability to work weekends and holidays
• Previous veterinary or animal care experience preferred
• Ability to lift patients up to 25 pounds; ability to lift patients over 25 pounds with assistance
• Practices OSHA safety techniques including proper PPE

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