Kennel Assistant

National Veterinary Associates; Ashland City (TN); On-site; USD 16,531 - 24,796; Full time

Job summary

National Veterinary Associates seeks a Kennel Assistant to support our busy veterinary hospital and boarding facility in Ashland City, Tennessee. This role focuses on daily pet care, sanitation, and assisting the veterinary team while you gain hands-on experience in animal healthcare.

Weekend availability is required; typical shifts support 8-hour blocks and occasional extra weekday shifts. No prior veterinary experience is needed, as on-the-job training is provided to help you grow in the field.

Qualifications

• No veterinary experience required; training provided.
• Weekend availability is required (Saturdays and Sundays).
• Comfort with handling dogs and cats of various sizes.

Responsibilities

• Feed and provide fresh water to boarding and hospitalized pets per schedule.
• Safely handle and restrain pets using low-stress techniques.
• Clean and disinfect kennels, treatment areas, and equipment.
• Exercise, monitor, and provide enrichment for boarding animals.

Skills

Love for animals

Dependability

Teamwork

Willingness to learn

Job description

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!

National Veterinary Associates is a leading global pet care organization united in the love of animals and the people who love them.

At NVA, we're on a mission to improve the lives of pets and the people who love them. That starts by empowering our care teams. We nurture their growth with resources to practice medicine their way. Our network of 1,000 hospitals connects them to a community of professionals who share their passion so they can learn and grow together. Our national presence enables us to deliver technology and innovations that simplify work and expand care for all. At NVA, we're committed to your professional growth. We support your entire career journey, offering opportunities ranging from mentorship to ownership.

NVA offers a comprehensive benefits program including medical, dental, vision, a 401k with employer match, and paid time off (including sick time) for all eligible employees. The team can provide more information about compensation and benefits for your specific location during the process. For positions based in Colorado, NVA provides eligible employees with paid sick and safe leave and public health emergency leave in accordance with the requirements of Colorado's Healthy Families and Workplaces Act.

NVA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and any other state or local hiring regulations, we will consider for employment any qualified applicant, including those with arrest and conviction records, in a manner consistent with the applicable regulation.