Kennel Assistant

National Veterinary Associates, Inc.; Ashland (VA); On-site; USD 17,000 - 21,000; Part time

Job summary

Chenault Veterinary Hospital, operated by National Veterinary Associates, is seeking a Kennel Assistant with weekend availability to support daily care for boarding and hospitalized pets.

You’ll feed, exercise, and monitor animals, assist with baths and basic admin tasks, and learn our hospital software while growing within a friendly, team‑oriented clinic.

Qualifications

• Must have a genuine love for animals and willingness to learn.
• Dependability and strong work ethic in a team setting.
• No prior veterinary experience required; training provided.

Responsibilities

• Feed and provide fresh water to boarding and hospitalized pets per schedules.
• Safely restrain and handle dogs and cats using low-stress techniques.
• Clean and disinfect kennels, condos, and treatment areas to maintain a healthy environment.

Skills

Love of animals

Dependability

Teamwork

Fast-paced work environment

Animal handling

Willing to train

Education

High school diploma or college student

Job description

Hospital Name: Chenault Veterinary Hospital

Job Type: Support Staff

Description & Requirements

Kennel Assistant (Weekend Availability Required)

Are you passionate about animals and interested in a future career in veterinary medicine? Our busy veterinary hospital and boarding facility is looking for a compassionate, dependable Kennel Assistant to join our team. This is an excellent opportunity for high school or college students looking to gain hands‑on experience in an animal care setting while exploring a career in veterinary medicine.

What You'll Do

As a Kennel Assistant, you'll play an important role in the daily care and comfort of our boarding and hospitalized pets by:

• Feeding and providing fresh water to animals according to established schedules
• Safely handling and restraining pets using low‑stress techniques
• Cleaning and disinfecting kennels, cat condos, treatment areas, and equipment to maintain a healthy environment
• Exercising, monitoring, and providing enrichment for boarding pets
• Transferring pets between boarding, treatment, and exercise areas
• Assisting with bath packages, including nail trims, ear cleanings, and learning proper animal handling techniques
• Communicating with clients by providing boarding pet updates over the phone
• Learning our hospital software and supporting the team with basic administrative tasks as needed

Why Join Our Team?

We're more than just a boarding facility—we're a full-service veterinary hospital with over 100 indoor/outdoor dog runs and spacious cat condos. Our kennel team works closely with our medical team, giving you opportunities to learn beyond daily animal care.

As part of our team, you'll have opportunities to:

• Shadow veterinarians and veterinary assistants during medical procedures
• Learn basic veterinary skills and animal handling techniques
• Develop client communication and customer service experience
• Explore career paths within our hospital through internal career mapping
• Grow into future roles such as Receptionist or Veterinary Assistant based on your interests, performance, and availability

Whether you're planning for veterinary school or simply love working with animals, this position provides valuable experience in a supportive, team‑oriented environment.

Schedule & Availability

• Weekend availability is required. Candidates must be available to work both Saturdays and Sundays.
• Typical shifts are 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM.
• Additional weekday shifts may be available.
• Split shifts can be accommodated for students when scheduling allows.
• Holiday availability is required, as our boarding facility is busiest during holiday seasons.

What We're Looking For

• A genuine love for animals and a willingness to learn
• Dependability, strong work ethic, and the ability to work as part of a team
• Comfort working in a fast‑paced, physically active environment
• Ability to safely handle dogs and cats of all sizes
• No previous veterinary or animal care experience is required—we're happy to train the right candidate.

If you're looking to gain real‑world veterinary experience, work alongside an experienced medical team, and start building a career in animal healthcare, we'd love to meet you!