Animal Care Specialist

Petco; Eau Claire (WI); On-site; USD 19,286 - 22,041; Full time

Job summary

Petco seeks a Companion Animal Specialist to care for companion animals and aquatic life while supporting sales and inventory in our Pet Care Center. You will assist customers, educate on animal care, and help maintain habitats with a focus on safety and welfare.

The role emphasizes teamwork, adherence to standards, and a responsive service mindset for a fast-paced retail environment, including evenings and weekends.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 1 year of experience working with or caring for companion animals and aquatic life.
• Strong knowledge of animal care, husbandry, and maintenance practices.
• Completion and ongoing maintenance of the Petco Animal Care Certification Program required.

Responsibilities

• Animal care & maintenance: ensure health, safety, and proper care per schedules.
• Customer experience & sales support: assist customers, process transactions, answer questions.
• Merchandising & inventory: ensure appealing habitats and stock levels with pets and supplies.
• Environmental care: maintain clean habitats and assist with adoptions and handling responsibilities.
• Opening/closing: participate in store operations as assigned.

Skills

Animal care

Customer service

Education & training

Inventory management

Education

High School diploma or GED

Petco Animal Care Certification Program

Job description

Companion Animal Specialist

As a Companion Animal Specialist, you are the primary expert and advocate for the health, welfare, and proper care of companion animals and aquatic life within the Pet Care Center (PCC). You ensure exceptional animal care and habitat maintenance while supporting sales, merchandising, and inventory execution. In close partnership with the sales team, you help deliver outstanding customer experience by combining deep animal‑care knowledge with strong operational discipline.

What You’ll Do

Pet First

Ensure the health, safety, and proper care of all companion animals and aquatic life in accordance with Petco standards, policies, and procedures.

• Complete and verify required animal care tasks, including hourly health checks, wellness documentation, maintenance logs, and incident reports.
• Ensure proper handling, documentation, and care of relinquished and adoption animals.
• Serve as the primary resource for animal‑care education for customers and PCC partners.
• Adhere to and promote all safety, animal welfare, and loss prevention procedures.

Foster the Fun

Deliver knowledgeable, compassionate, and solution‑focused service to customers.

• Actively support customer interactions using Petco’s selling model.
• Promote a culture of teamwork, inclusion, and collaboration across the PCC.
• Mentor and educate partners on animal‑care standards, maintenance routines, and best practices.
• Maintain professional, clean, and well‑presented animal habitats and aquatic areas.

Let’s Go!

Support the achievement of department sales, margin, and shrink goals.

• Ensure merchandise is stocked, priced, and displayed to Petco standards, with a primary focus on companion animals and aquatics.
• Efficiently order live animals, supplies, and related merchandise in partnership with the sales team to support inventory integrity and business goals.
• Analyze inventory data and identify opportunities to improve in‑stock levels, shrink, and operational efficiency.
• Participate in animal and aquatic‑related physical inventory counts.
• Assist with opening and closing procedures as assigned.
• Perform additional duties and special projects as needed to support Pet Care Center operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Animal Care & Maintenance – Verify all animal care and maintenance tasks are completed according to established schedules; perform routine housekeeping duties, maintain compliance with regulatory, operational, and safety standards.
• Customer Experience & Sales Support – Process register transactions accurately and efficiently; evaluate customer needs and elevate concerns as appropriate; support omni‑channel and in‑store initiatives through consistent execution and customer engagement.

What Success Looks Like

Animals are healthy, safe, and cared for to Petco’s highest standards. Customers trust the team’s expertise and return for guidance and solutions. Animal habitats and aquatic areas are clean, compliant, and visually appealing. Inventory and merchandising support sales while minimizing shrink. Partners feel supported and informed through shared animal‑care knowledge.

What You Bring

• Minimum of 1 year of experience working with or caring for companion animals and aquatic life.
• Strong knowledge of animal care, husbandry, and maintenance practices.
• Demonstrated ability to educate others and communicate effectively.
• Strong customer service mindset with an aptitude for selling behaviors.
• Basic business, math, and inventory management skills.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Completion and ongoing maintenance of the Petco Animal Care Certification Program required.

Essential Functions & Work Environment

This role is performed in a Pet Care Center retail environment and requires active engagement on the sales floor. The role requires frequent standing and walking, as well as bending, kneeling, reaching, and lifting. Ability to safely lift and move merchandise, supplies, or animals weighing up to 50 pounds. Regular engagement with customers on the sales floor, including providing customer assistance and performing cashiering and point‑of‑sale transactions. Must be able to work in proximity to animals, including exposure to animal dander, odors, noises, and cleaning chemicals. Flexible availability to support Pet Care Center operating hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role.

Why You’ll Love It Here

Purpose‑driven work that makes a difference for pets and people. A welcoming, inclusive team environment. Opportunities to learn, grow, and explore career paths. A fun, fast‑paced role where no two days are the same.

Starting Rate: $15.00