Kennel Assistant

Southern Veterinary Partners; Chalmette (LA); On-site; Full time

Job summary

A leading veterinary hospital in Chalmette, Louisiana, is seeking a passionate Veterinary Assistant to provide excellent care for animals. Responsibilities include maintaining cleanliness, assisting with exams and treatments, and ensuring the well-being of pets. Join a dedicated team committed to delivering high-quality veterinary services and making a difference in the community.

Benefits

Health Care Plan

Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Short Term Disability

Paid Time Off

Educational assistance

FREE 24/7 doctor access

Discounted Veterinary Care

Employee Assistance Program

Qualifications

• Experience in a clinical setting preferred, training provided.
• Willingness to learn and adapt in a small team environment.

Responsibilities

• Maintain cleanliness of the hospital and monitor animal conditions.
• Assist the Doctor and Veterinary Assistant with restraint and treatment.
• Feed and walk animals, notify of unusual problems.

Skills

Animal handling and restraint

Administering medications

Client education

Teamwork

Education

High School diploma or GED

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Pet Care Center is located in Chalmette, Louisiana, and has been serving the community since 2011. We are a full-service animal hospital providing veterinary care to dogs and cats. We welcome both emergency treatment cases and pet patients in need of routine medical, surgical, and dental care. We also specialize in boarding and grooming! Here at Pet Care Center Chalmette, we are one of six Pet Care Center Hospitals in the greater New Orleans area. We value our staff and clients, fostering a dedicated staff and loyal clientele. If you are a passionate and caring team player, please apply today!

The Whole Team is responsible for providing a clean, efficient, and healthy environment for the animals being treated or boarded at the hospital:

1. Maintain the cleanliness of the hospital, including kennel area, runs, treatment area, and outside grounds.
2. Feed hospitalized animals and boarders.
3. Monitor and record important information about the animals’ conditions, behavior, and habits (elimination, eating, etc.).
4. Walk animals three times a day.
5. Notify the Doctor or Veterinary Technician/Assistant of unusual medical or behavioral problems.
6. Clean treatment, exam, surgery, and lab areas daily.
7. Maintain laundry throughout the day and keep laundry area neat.
8. Assist the Doctor and Veterinary Assistant with restraint and treatment of animals.
9. Monitor and maintain the kennel inventory, including food, cleaning supplies, laundry supplies, etc.
10. Perform other duties as assigned to support the clinic’s operations and client service.

Position Skills:

For a Veterinary Assistant, desirable skills include: Experience in a clinical setting is preferred but not required; training will be provided for motivated individuals.

• Animal handling and restraint (dogs, cats) with Fear Free techniques.
• Administering medications (oral, topical).
• Assisting with exams, surgeries, and procedures.
• Taking and developing X-rays.
• Monitoring vital signs and recovery.
• Sample collection (urine, feces).
• Maintaining patient records and client communication.
• Client education and compassionate service.
• Feeding, watering, and exercising animals.
• Cleaning and disinfecting kennels, cages, and exam rooms.
• Laundry and sterilization of equipment.
• Inventory management and supply stocking.
• Scheduling appointments and follow-ups.
• Basic billing and payment processing.
• Managing phones and front desk tasks.
• Teamwork and collaboration with staff and veterinarians.

For a Registered Veterinary Technician, additional desirable skills include:

• Professional client communication, medical histories, and symptom assessment.
• Laboratory procedures (hematology, cytology, urinalysis, microbiology, blood chemistry, fecals).
• Diagnostic imaging and safety protocols.
• Nursing skills: patient restraint, medication administration (PO/IV/SUBQ/IM), IV catheter placement, anesthesia monitoring, surgery prep.

Position Requirements:

• Effective communication about patient concerns.
• Willingness to learn and adapt in a small team environment.
• Strong work ethic, reliability, and punctuality.
• Willingness to use Fear Free handling techniques.
• High School diploma or GED preferred.
• Flexible schedule, including some weekends and holidays.
• Computer skills, including Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Good judgment, communication skills, and ability to handle stress.
• Physical and mental ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to lift 50+ lbs.
• Previous animal handling experience preferred.

Offerings:

• Starting pay at $15/hour, based on experience.
• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental, Vision).
• Retirement Plan (401k).
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary, AD&D).
• Short Term Disability.
• Paid Time Off (Vacation & Holidays) for eligible positions.
• Educational assistance for veterinary technician programs.
• FREE 24/7 doctor access via Teladoc.
• Discounted Veterinary Care.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Collaborative network of veterinary professionals.
• Opportunity to impact your community and work with a dedicated team.

Our continuous dedication has led to remarkable growth, and Southern Veterinary Partners now employs over 8,000 employees nationwide. We are recognized as #19 on Newsweek’s “Most Loved Workplaces” list (2022) and among Inc. 5000’s “Fastest Growing Companies in America” (2018-2022). We are also ranked in Birmingham’s “FastTrack 30” for several years.