Kennel Assistant

Dutch Fork Animal Hospital; Ballentine (SC); On-site; USD 24,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401k retirement plan

Life Insurance

Disability coverage

Teladoc access

Job summary

Dutch Fork Animal Hospital in Irmo, SC is seeking a dedicated Kennel Assistant to support our busy pet resort. You will be the primary caregiver for boarding and daycare pets, ensuring proper food, exercise and safety, while maintaining clean and safe kennel areas.

Join a team that values teamwork, ongoing education and growth, with benefits including medical insurance, retirement options and career development through AVMA‑accredited programs.

Qualifications

• Love for animals and welfare commitment.
• Reliable, hardworking, able to manage tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication, good judgment, and composure under pressure.
• Physical capacity to lift 50+ lbs in a physically active role.
• Past kennel assistant experience preferred; flexible schedule including weekends/holidays.

Responsibilities

• Provide Personalized Care: primary caregiver for boarding and daycare pets, ensuring correct food, exercise, and attention.
• Be the Eyes and Ears of Animal Health: monitor behavior and notify the medical team of concerns.
• Create a Safe and Healthy Environment: maintain cleanliness and sanitation of kennel areas and grounds.
• Ensure Operational Excellence: manage inventory for food and cleaning supplies and collaborate with team.

Skills

Love for animals

Hardworking

Communication

Stress management

Physical strength

Job description

Dutch Fork Animal Hospital, located in the welcoming community of Irmo, South Carolina, has served pets and their families since 1986. We believe in providing comprehensive care where every pet is treated like our own, a commitment reflected by our excellent 4.8-star Google rating. When you join our dedicated team of seven DVMs, you are stepping into a supportive environment built on trust and clinical excellence. We are looking for passionate individuals ready to partner with us in continuing this legacy of trusted community healthcare, offering you the opportunity to do your best work every day.As a valued teammate at Dutch Fork, you benefit from being part of a larger network dedicated to ensuring your professional success and growth. We prioritize providing our teammates with the necessary support systems, including educational resources and mentorship, designed to help you reach your professional aspirations, whether that involves pursuing specialized skills or moving into a leadership role. This supportive structure ensures that every member of the team has the stability and tools required to succeed in a busy, high-quality practice.Our commitment to high-quality medicine includes robust offerings in Wellness and Prevention, Testing and Diagnostics, and Advanced Care, complemented by thorough Surgical Procedures and crucial Pet Emergency services. For complex cases, our veterinarians have immediate access to internal specialty consultations and cutting-edge resources provided by our network, ensuring that you can offer the most comprehensive care options possible to your patients. This focus on strong internal medicine and accessible consultation means you are always prepared to meet the varied needs of our community’s pets.Irmo, SC offers a wonderful blend of suburban comfort and access to the dynamic culture of the midlands. Located just outside Columbia, Irmo is known for its family-friendly atmosphere and lakeside living near Lake Murray, providing abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. This location offers a lower cost of living while still giving you access to all the amenities, dining, and educational opportunities you would expect from a growing South Carolina community, making it an ideal place to establish professional roots and enjoy a high quality of life.

Job Description

At Mission Pet Health, we do things a little differently! As part of our hiring process, we invite candidates to complete a short online assessment so we can better understand your skills and strengths. If you are being considered for the position, you will receive an e‑mail from a Mission Pet Health recruiter with a link to complete the assessment at your convenience. Please be sure to check your spam or junk folder - sometimes these messages get filtered out.

Your Impact as a Kennel Assistant

• Provide Personalized Care: You'll be the primary caregiver for our boarding and daycare pets, ensuring they receive the correct food, exercise, and attention to make their stay comfortable and safe.
• Be the Eyes and Ears of Animal Health: You'll carefully monitor the behavior and habits of the animals in your care, promptly notifying the medical team of any unusual health concerns.
• Create a Safe and Healthy Environment: You'll take pride in maintaining the cleanliness and sanitation of the entire resort, from the kennel areas and runs to the outside grounds.
• Ensure Operational Excellence: You'll keep the resort running smoothly by managing inventory for food and cleaning supplies and collaborating with the team to ensure all tasks are completed.

What You'll Bring to the Team

• A genuine love for animals and a commitment to their welfare.
• A reliable and hardworking nature, with the ability to manage tasks in a fast‑paced environment.
• Strong communication skills, good judgment, and the ability to handle stressful situations with composure.
• The physical capacity to lift up to 50+ lbs and perform the duties of a physically active role.
• Previous experience as a kennel assistant is preferred. A flexible schedule, including some weekends and holidays, is required.

How You're Supported

As part of the Mission Pet Health family, you get the stability of a local practice backed by the comprehensive benefits and resources of a larger network. The focus is on investing in you, so you can focus on what you love.
Note: Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to support you at every stage. Eligibility for specific benefits varies based on your role and hours worked.

Competitive Compensation

A competitive hourly rate or salary based on your experience and role.

We offer comprehensive coverage options including Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance, along with access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for all teammates.

Plan for your future with our 401k retirement options and additional financial protection benefits like Life Insurance and Disability coverage.

Commitment to Growth

We support your career goals with opportunities for professional development, including educational assistance for qualified teammates to enroll in AVMA‑accredited veterinary technician programs.

The Power of a Network

Join a nationwide community of over 20,000 veterinary professionals who share a passion for collaboration, career growth, and sharing best practices.

Enjoy discounted veterinary care for your own pets, access to an online discount platform, and free 24/7 access to doctors through Teladoc.

About Mission Pet Health

Mission Pet Health was founded by veterinarians on the belief that local practices thrive with clinical autonomy, collaboration, and medical excellence. The organization provides world‑class support to its 850+ hospital teams on a hyper‑local basis so they can focus on what matters most: the medicine, their patients, and their team culture. Learn more at missionpethealth.com .

Driving the award‑winning culture are the WAG values – Work Together, Amaze, and Grow. Mission Pet Health is veterinarian‑led, people‑focused, and on a mission to be the best place to work in veterinary medicine. We are proud to be recognized as a 2025 "Most Loved Workplace," ranked #2 in America's Top 100 and #1 in veterinary care.

Reasonable Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation. Please contact [e-mail] with your request and contact information.

EEO Statement: Mission Pet Health is an equal opportunity employer. We embrace diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

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