Kennel Tech

Happy Life Animal Rescue; Town of Pawling (NY); On-site; USD 22,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company parties

Free food & snacks

Training & development

Employee discounts

Hill's discounts for pet food

Job summary

Happy Life Animal Rescue in Pawling, NY is seeking a caring Kennel Technician for both part-time and full-time roles. You will clean kennels, feed animals, monitor health, and assist with medications while maintaining a clean, safe environment for dogs and cats.

Weekend shifts are required. The team values reliability, flexibility, and a passion for rescue work in a hands-on, small-team setting. Training is provided, with opportunities for growth.

Qualifications

• Experience caring for dogs or cats (paid, volunteer, foster, or at home)
• Must be punctual and reliable with a steady schedule
• Able to work weekend shifts and split shifts if needed
• Able to lift 40–50 lb bags and work outdoors in all weather

Responsibilities

• Clean and disinfect kennels, cat room, play yards and common areas
• Feed and water dogs and cats on schedule, including special diets
• Record daily observations and health changes
• Rotate dogs through play yards and monitor groups
• Report changes to staff and assist with medications as directed
• Perform kennel tasks like laundry, dishes, restocking
• Follow safety rules and assist visitors and volunteers

Skills

Dog and cat care

Punctual & reliable

Weekend availability

Lifting up to 50 lb

Job description

Benefits:

• Company parties
• Free food & snacks
• Training & development
• Employee discounts

Kennel Technician (Part-Time and Full-Time) — Happy Life Animal Rescue, Pawling, NY

Pay: $16–$18 per hour — starts at $16, with room to grow Schedule: Split shifts — mornings (typically 9 a.m.–1 p.m., or 8–11 a.m. on event days) and evenings (typically 5–8 p.m., or 4–7 p.m. on event days). Work both shifts or just one. Weekend shifts are required. Hours: Part-time and full-time (about 30–35 hours a week) openings Location: 550 Route 22, Pawling, NY 12564

About us

Happy Life Animal Rescue is a no-kill rescue for dogs and cats in Pawling, NY. We take in hundreds of animals a year, care for them, and find them homes. We're a small, hands-on team that runs on donations and grants, and every person here makes a difference you can see.

What you'll do

• Clean and disinfect kennels, the cat room, play yards and common areas, following our disinfectant and contact-time protocols
• Feed and water dogs and cats on schedule, including special diets
• Record daily observations
• Rotate dogs through their assigned play yards and keep groups separate
• Watch each animal's eating, behavior and health, and report changes to staff
• Give medications as directed by the kennel tech leads
• Do laundry, dishes, restocking and other daily kennel tasks
• Follow safety rules for handling levels, collar codes and the cat room doors
• Help keep the building welcoming for volunteers and visitors

What we're looking for

• Experience caring for dogs or cats — paid, volunteer, foster or at home all count
• Comfortable handling dogs of all sizes and energy levels, and calm around stressed or shy animals
• Reliable and on time; this job keeps a schedule animals depend on
• Able to work weekend shifts
• Able to lift and carry 40–50 lb bags of dog food and help lift larger dogs when needed, stand and walk for a full shift, and work outdoors in all weather( dogs need to go out in the rain and snow), with or without reasonable accommodation
• Comfortable with cleaning chemicals and with the messier parts of animal care

Nice to have

• Shelter, rescue, kennel, grooming or vet clinic experience
• Knowledge of dog body language and safe handling

Benefits

Discounts on dog and cat food through our Hill's program, training, and more benefits on the way.

Happy Life Animal Rescue is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants of every background and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, creed, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or familial status, military or veteran status, genetic information, reproductive health decisions, arrest or conviction record, domestic violence victim status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, New York State or local law. Hiring decisions are based on the needs of the role and each person's ability to do the work.