Kennel Care Assistant *18.50/HR Entry Level

Actalent; Montgomery City (MO); On-site; USD 25,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

HSA

Paid time off

Job summary

Actalent is seeking an Animal Wellness Technician in Montgomery City, MO. This contract, on-site role offers hands-on work with dogs and cats, including enrichment, feeding, and daily care. Training is provided to develop professional animal care skills in a modern facility.

Ideal for individuals seeking long-term growth in animal care, veterinary-related fields, or animal science. The role requires active, hands-on work and a strong team ethic.

Qualifications

• No advanced animal care experience required; training provided.
• Experience in fast-paced environments appreciated but not required.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily care, enrichment, and socialization for dogs and cats.
• Follow feeding schedules and protocols.
• Monitor animal well-being and document observations.
• Maintain clean, safe kennel and care areas.
• Assist with bathing, laundry, and food preparation.

Job description

Animal Wellness Technician

Start Your Career Working with Animals!

Do you love working with dogs and cats? Have you cared for animals through a farm, shelter, pet store, grooming facility, veterinary clinic, kennel, or even your own pets? If so, this is an excellent opportunity to turn your passion for animals into a rewarding career.

We are seeking compassionate, dependable, and hardworking individuals to join our team as an Animal Wellness Technician. This is a great entry‑on training and experience in professional animal care, enrichment, feeding programs, and kennel operations within a state‑of‑the‑art facility.

Whether you're looking to build a future in animal care, veterinary medicine, animal science, or simply want a career where you can make a difference in the lives of animals every day, we'd love to meet you.

What You’ll Do

As an Animal Wellness Technician, you'll play a key role in ensuring the health, comfort, and well‑being of our dogs and cats by:

• Providing daily care, attention, and enrichment activities for animals.
• Exercising and socializing dogs and cats according to established programs.
• Feeding animals based on individualized feeding schedules and protocols.
• Monitoring animal well‑being and documenting observations accurately.
• Maintaining clean, safe, and sanitary kennel and animal care areas.
• Refreshing water supplies and ensuring animals remain comfortable throughout the day.
• Assisting with bathing and cleaning animals when needed.
• Performing laundry duties, including washing bedding, towels, and animal care materials.
• Preparing animal meals in a food preparation area that operates similarly to a commercial kitchen.
• Supporting pet food taste trial programs by preparing and managing feeding materials.
• Monitoring inventory levels and notifying supervisors when supplies need replenishing.
• Following all safety, sanitation, and animal care procedures.

We're Looking For

• Enjoy working with animals in a hands‑on environment.
• Are comfortable being active and on their feet throughout the day.
• Have a strong work ethic and positive attitude.
• Work well independently and as part of a team.
• Are reliable, punctual, and detail‑oriented.
• Take pride in keeping work areas clean and organized.
• Are looking for long‑term growth within animal care.

Experience We Value

• Veterinary clinics or hospitals
• Animal shelters or rescue organizations
• Kennels and boarding facilities
• Pet stores
• Grooming facilities
• Farms and livestock operations
• Humane societies
• Animal husbandry or animal science programs
• Dog walking or pet sitting
• Personal experience caring for multiple animals.

No advanced animal care experience is required for many openings. We provide training for motivated individuals who are eager to learn.

In addition, candidates with experience in restaurants, food service, manufacturing, production, warehouse operations, or other fast‑paced environments often thrive in this role because of the attention to cleanliness, routines, and teamwork required.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Montgomery City, MO.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $18.50 - $18.50/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job‑related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision; Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital; 401(k) Retirement Plan; Pre‑tax and Roth post‑tax contributions available; Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents); Short and long‑term disability; Health Spending Account (HSA); Transportation benefits; Employee Assistance Program; Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave).

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Montgomery City,MO.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 15, 2026.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.