Kennel Assistant - Columbia, IL

Vetcor•Columbia, IL

8d•Onsite

About The Position

Mueller Veterinary Services is looking for a Kennel Assistant to help care for boarding patients while maintaining a clean, safe, and welcoming hospital. This position is ideal for someone who loves animals, enjoys staying active, and takes pride in keeping spaces clean and organized. You’ll provide daily care for dogs and cats, monitor their comfort and wellbeing, and support teammates throughout the hospital. Previous animal care experience is helpful but not required. We’re happy to train a motivated candidate who is ready to learn and contribute. The work you do helps ensure every boarding pet has a clean space, fresh food and water, appropriate exercise, and attentive care throughout their stay. You’ll also serve as an important extra set of eyes. By observing changes in appetite, behavior, elimination, or comfort and communicating those concerns promptly, you’ll help the medical team respond to each pet’s needs. This role also provides an excellent introduction to veterinary medicine. You’ll work around experienced veterinary professionals, learn hospital procedures, and develop practical skills in animal handling, patient observation, sanitation, teamwork, and communication. The position is active and requires hard work, but it also offers the satisfaction of knowing that your effort directly supports pets, clients, and the entire hospital team.

Requirements

Must be at least 16 years old
A genuine passion for animals and their wellbeing
Reliability, punctuality, and a strong work ethic
A self-motivated approach to completing responsibilities
The ability to work independently and as part of a team
Comfort handling dogs and cats of different sizes, breeds, and temperaments
A patient and compassionate approach to animal care
The ability to follow written feeding, medication, and care instructions
Strong attention to detail
The ability to recognize and report changes in a pet’s behavior or condition
A willingness to perform cleaning, laundry, and sanitation duties throughout the day
The ability to safely lift up to 50 pounds
The ability to remain active and on your feet for extended periods
Comfort bending, kneeling, walking, and performing repetitive tasks
Comfort working around animal hair, odors, cleaning products, and bodily fluids
The ability to remain productive in a fast-paced veterinary environment
Availability to work rotating weekends and holidays
A willingness to learn and follow established hospital procedures

Nice To Haves

Previous animal care, kennel, boarding, or veterinary experience is a plus but not required.

Responsibilities

Provide attentive daily care for boarding dogs and cats
Feed pets according to written instructions
Administer medications as directed and appropriately trained
Monitor food and water intake, elimination, behavior, and overall comfort
Report signs of illness, discomfort, or unusual behavior to the medical team
Walk dogs and provide appropriate exercise
Clean and maintain outdoor exercise areas
Clean and disinfect kennels, cages, litter boxes, bowls, and boarding equipment
Prepare clean and comfortable spaces for incoming boarding pets
Confirm that departing pets leave with their food, medications, and personal belongings
Wash, dry, fold, organize, and restock hospital laundry
Sweep, mop, disinfect, and maintain cleanliness throughout the hospital
Empty trash and dispose of waste according to hospital procedures
Clean and restock treatment rooms and exam rooms
Help maintain organized boarding, treatment, and common areas
Assist veterinary technicians with patient handling and other tasks as needed
Support reception staff with appointment reminder calls and basic administrative duties
File medical charts and maintain organized records
Complete end-of-day closing responsibilities
Help secure the kennel and clinic at closing
Follow hospital safety, sanitation, and animal-care protocols
Support teammates and jump in wherever help is needed