Animal Care Specialist

Petco; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 17,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

Petco in Richmond, VA seeks a dedicated Pet Care Center associate to safeguard animal health and deliver compassionate service. You will perform hourly health checks, maintain logs, and support adoption processes, while educating customers on animal care and Petco practices.

The role requires strong communication, teamwork, and the ability to handle live animals and supplies safely. A customer-focused mindset and comfort with sales activities are essential for success.

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.
• 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.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• 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 animal 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Verify all animal care and maintenance tasks are completed according to established schedules.
• Perform routine housekeeping duties, including cleaning habitats and tanks, sweeping and mopping floors, dusting, and facing merchandise.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory, operational, and safety standards.

Skills

Customer service

Selling behaviors

Communication

Teamwork

Inventory management

Animal care knowledge

Job description

* 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 animal 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.* 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.* 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.* Verify all animal care and maintenance tasks are completed according to established schedules.* Perform routine housekeeping duties, including cleaning habitats and tanks, sweeping and mopping floors, dusting, and facing merchandise.* Ensure compliance with all regulatory, operational, and safety standards.* 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.* 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.* 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.* 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.