Kennel Assistant

National Veterinary Associates; Chandler (AZ); On-site; USD 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Care Plan

401k Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Short Term Disability

Paid Time Off

Discounted Veterinary Care

Employee Assistance Program

Professional network access

Community impact

Job summary

Ocotillo Animal Clinic and Pet Resort in Chandler, AZ, part of National Veterinary Associates, is seeking a compassionate team member for a fast‑paced animal care role. You will assist with daily kennel duties, boarding operations, patient intake, and client communication while upholding high standards of care.

Responsibilities include supervising dogs during breaks, feeding and medicating animals, and maintaining clean facilities.

Qualifications

• Previous animal handling experience preferred.
• Basic knowledge of animal behavior.
• Ability to work independently on assigned tasks and accept direction on assignments.
• Possession of organizational skills.
• Critical thinking, understanding logic and reasoning to identify strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, good judgment, and ability to manage stressful situations.

Responsibilities

• Take dogs outside for breaks multiple times a day and playtime.
• Clean and disinfect kennels, yards, hallways, and equipment.
• Feed and medicate dogs and cats according to schedule and instructions.
• Monitor for signs of illness or injury and report to the veterinary side.
• Control and restrain animals as needed.
• Bathe, brush, and trim nails as needed.
• Check‑in and check‑out clients from boarding stays.
• Schedule boarding reservations.
• Utilize phone skills to make reservation calls, provide updates to clients, and obtain records from other clinics.
• Prioritize multiple tasks in a calm, organized manner.
• Use Avimark to add documentation and update client records.
• Maintain a positive attitude in all interactions with clients, pets, and teammates.
• Demonstrate empathy toward clients and treat pets with compassion and respect.

Skills

Animal handling

Animal behavior

Independence

Organizational skills

Critical thinking

Communication skills

Job description

About the Clinic

Ocotillo Animal Clinic and Pet Resort is located in Chandler, Arizona. We are a full‑service animal hospital offering veterinary care and boarding services to dogs and cats. Our services include wellness vaccines, sick exams, surgical services, x‑rays, ultrasounds, grooming, overnight boarding, and daycare services.

We strive to provide each client and pet with excellent veterinary care and maintain a positive culture for our employees. We are seeking a passionate and caring team player for a fast‑paced position who can multitask while delivering exceptional animal care.

Responsibilities

• Take dogs outside for breaks multiple times a day and playtime.
• Clean and disinfect kennels, yards, hallways, and equipment.
• Feed and medicate dogs and cats according to schedule and instructions.
• Monitor for signs of illness or injury and report to the veterinary side.
• Control and restrain animals as needed.
• Bathe, brush, and trim nails as needed.
• Check‑in and check‑out clients from boarding stays.
• Schedule boarding reservations.
• Utilize phone skills to make reservation calls, provide updates to clients, and obtain records from other clinics.
• Prioritize multiple tasks in a calm, organized manner.
• Use Avimark to add documentation and update client records.
• Maintain a positive attitude in all interactions with clients, pets, and teammates.
• Demonstrate empathy toward clients and treat pets with compassion and respect.

Qualifications

• Previous animal handling experience preferred.
• Basic knowledge of animal behavior.
• Ability to work independently on assigned tasks and accept direction on assignments.
• Possession of organizational skills.
• Critical thinking, understanding logic and reasoning to identify strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, good judgment, and ability to manage stressful situations.

Benefits

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision).
• Retirement Plan (401k).
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D).
• Short Term Disability.
• Paid Time Off (for eligible positions only).
• Discounted Veterinary Care.
• EAP (Employee Assistance Program).
• Access to a large network of over 2,000 veterinary professionals supporting collaborative work and career growth.
• Opportunity to make an impact in the community.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.