Animal Care Assistant

British Veterinary Association; Shefford; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A local veterinary clinic in the United Kingdom is looking for a passionate Animal Care Assistant. In this full-time role, you will support the daily care of animals in a compassionate environment. Responsibilities include animal care, maintaining hygiene, and assisting clients. A QQI qualification in Animal Care is preferred, and previous experience is a plus. Join a friendly team dedicated to animal welfare!

Benefits

Annual Leave

Birthday Leave

Paid Maternity Leave

Cycle to Work Scheme

Qualifications

• Loves animals and can handle emotional situations.
• A great communicator and team player.
• Able to multitask in a busy environment.

Responsibilities

• Daily care and comfort of patients.
• Maintaining hygiene standards in the clinic.
• Welcoming clients and providing customer service.

Skills

Compassionate

Communication

Reliability

Organizational Skills

Multitasking

Education

QQI or similar qualification in Animal Care

Job description

Overview

Join Our Passionate Team - Animal Care Assistant Wanted!

Do you dream of making a real difference in the lives of animals?

At Rathcoole Vets, we're more than just a clinic - we're a compassionate, close-knit team dedicated to giving every pet the love and care they deserve. We're on the lookout for a caring and enthusiastic Animal Care Assistant to become a valued part of our team. If you're passionate about animal welfare, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and take pride in cleanliness and care, we'd love to hear from you!

The Role

• Job Title: Animal Care Assistant
• Hours: Full-time, Fixed Term contract
• Shifts: Monday to Friday, 9:30am-6pm
• No Weekend, Evening or Bank Holiday work
• Pay: €13.50 per hour
• Start Date: September 2025

What You\'ll Be Doing

As an Animal Care Assistant, you\'ll play a key role in the daily care and comfort of our patients. From feeding and exercising our furry friends to maintaining top-tier hygiene standards in our clinic, you\'ll be hands-on in supporting both pets, and the team who care for them. You\'ll also assist with front-of-house duties, including welcoming clients, answering phones, booking appointments, and providing compassionate customer service to pet owners. Whether you\'re helping in the treatment room with our veterinary team or at the reception desk, you\'ll be an essential part of creating a calm, clean, and caring environment for every animal-and person-that walks through our doors.

Applicant Requirements

• Compassionate, patient, and truly loves animals
• Trustworthy, reliable, and calm under pressure
• Able to handle emotional situations with empathy and strength
• A great communicator and team player
• Exceptionally tidy and organized
• Comfortable multitasking in a busy environment

Qualifications & Experience

• A QQI or similar qualification in Animal Care
• Previous experience in animal care of a veterinary setting is a big plus (but not essential)

Why Join Rathcoole Vets?

Our 100% Small animal practice in Rathcoole is a busy, first opinion practice located in South Dublin. At Rathcoole Vets you can expect individualised, state-of-the-art medical care for our patients. We keep our practice up to date with all the latest equipment necessary to offer our high standards of service including digital radiography, ultrasound and a fully equipped laboratory with comprehensive blood and urine analysis. Our sister branches are in Carlow, Athy and Portlaois. We are mostly first opinion practices with our main referral centre in Athy. We offer a range of referral services including Orthopaedics, Ultrasound (both cardiac and abdominal), and Soft Tissue Surgery. Our practice in Rathcoole works very closely with several local and national charities.

Our friendly Rathcoole team is made of 1 Veterinary Surgeon and 2 Veterinary Nurses. We are proud of our relaxed, healthy working environment with an excellent support team on-site, all the expected benefits of being part of a larger veterinary group, plus the unique benefits of being an IVC Evidensia employee.

Benefits (Subject to Pro Rata)

We offer a competitive salary along with great benefits, including:

• Leave: Annual Leave, Birthday Leave, Paid Maternity, Paternity, Bereavement, & Sick Leave
• Wellbeing: Cycle to Work Scheme, EAP Access, Free Flu Jabs, Discounts (Retail & Virtual Gym), & Access to Company Programmes (LGBTQ+, Wellbeing, etc.)
• Career Development: Career Progression, Leadership Academy, Paid Professional Memberships (VCI & VDS), Annual Pay Reviews
• Financial Support: Employer Pension Contributions, Discounted Staff Pet Veterinary Fees

We prioritize your wellbeing and growth!

Ready to Start Your Animal Care Journey?

If your heart beats for animal welfare and you\'re ready to roll up your sleeves and be part of a dynamic, caring team - we\'d love to meet you!

Apply now and take the next step in your veterinary reception career - one paw at a time.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds.

As a BAME and LGBTQIA+ inclusive employer, and a Disability Confident Employer, we actively encourage applications from diverse groups. Please let us know if any reasonable adjustments are required during the recruitment process.

Application Closing Date: 8th October 2025