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When searching for a job that allows you to work with animals on a daily basis, you’ll probably come across kennel assistants. They are hired by animal shelters, veterinary clinics, boarding kennels and other businesses that house animals. While these businesses often have other professionals on their payroll, kennel assistants serve a specific purpose. To learn more about kennel assistants and what they do, keep reading.

What Is a Kennel Assistant?

Also known as a kennel attendant, a kennel assistant is a worker who cares for boarded animals. Many businesses, as well as some nonprofit organizations, provide boarding services for animals. They offer a safe environment where animals like dogs and cats can stay for an extended period. A kennel assistant is a worker who cares for boarded animals at these establishments.

Most kennel assistants work as boarding kennels. A boarding kennel is a business that offers animal housing services for a fee. If an owner is planning to take a trip for leisure or work-related purposes, the owner may drop off his or her pet at a boarding kennel. The boarding kennel will then care for the owner’s pet by providing food, water, exercise and medical care. It usually costs less to board an animal at a kennel than to pay for a pet sitter. Kennel assistants work in boarding kennels such as this where they care for owners’ pets.

In addition to boarding kennels, some kennel assistants work at veterinary clinics. Injured and sick animals often need supervision. Rather than sending an injured or sick animal back home, veterinary clinics may provide boarding services. The veterinary clinic’s workers, including kennel assistants, will supervise and care for the boarded animals until they are released to their respective owners. Kennel assistants may also work as animal shelters where they provide similar services to boarded animals.

Duties and Responsibilities of Kennel Assistants

Kennel assistants have a wide range of duties and responsibilities pertaining to the care for boarded animals. They must provide food and water to boarded animals. Whether it’s a cat, dog or any other animal, all boarded animals need food and water. Kennel assistants ensure that all of the boarded animals have access to clean water and the appropriate food.

In addition to providing food and water, kennel assistants must walk boarded animals. Dogs need to be walked so that they can stretch their legs and soak up the sunshine. At the same, it offers dogs an opportunity to “do their business” outside. Kennel assistants will typically follow a schedule that involves walking boarded dogs periodically throughout the day.

Kennel assistants also clean the kennels in which boarded animals are housed. Kennels inevitably get dirty. When a dog or cat stays inside a kennel for multiple days, they’ll typically make a mess — even if they are taken for walks outside. Therefore, kennel assistants must clean and sanitize the kennels.

It’s important to note that kennel assistants don’t provide medical services to boarded animals. Even if they work at a veterinary clinic, kennel assistants don’t have the training and credentials needed to provide medical services. If a boarded animal needs medical care, a veterinarian will provide it.

Benefits of Working as a Kennel Assistant

Working as a kennel assistant offers some attractive benefits, one of which is the ability to work with animals. Most people love spending time with animals, but few have the opportunity to get paid for it. As a kennel assistant, you’ll have the opportunity to work with animals while earning a paycheck in the process.

Kennel assistants are needed throughout the country. No matter where you live, there’s probably a business or nonprofit nearby in need of a kennel assistant. As previously mentioned, kennel assistants work at boarding kennels, veterinary clinics, animal shelters and other establishments that provide boarding services.

You’ll typically have professional advancement opportunities when working as a kennel assistant. In other words, you can work your way up to a higher position. Boarding kennels often have managers who supervise kennel assistants. If you work as a kennel assistant long enough — and if you excel at their job — you may find employment as a kennel manager.

How to Become a Kennel Assistant

It’s relatively easy to get hired as a kennel assistant. You don’t need a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or any other formal education. Rather, most boarding kennels and other boarding establishments only require a high school diploma. As long as you have a high school diploma or the equivalent, you’ll meet the prerequisites needed to secure a job as a kennel assistant.

Of course, if you have any other previous experience working with animals, you’ll have a better shot at landing a job as a kennel assistant. Prior experience will set you apart from other candidates. Employers will see that you’ve worked with animals in the past, so they’ll feel more confident hiring you.