Kennel Technician (Day Shift) - Caring Hands Veterinary Hospital

Petvet-Care-Centers; Thornton (CO); On-site; USD 22,000 - 24,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Parental leave

401(k) plan

Pet discounts

Wellbeing support

CE stipends

Career development

Job summary

PetVet Care Centers’ Caring Hands Veterinary Hospital in Thornton, CO is hiring a Kennel Technician to support veterinarians and keep kennels clean and organized. You’ll feed, exercise, and monitor pets while ensuring safety and compassionate care throughout the day.

The role involves assisting with restraints, maintaining facilities, and providing clear client communications. Open availability and physical stamina are important for this full-time position.

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years or older to work in this role.
• High school diploma or GED required.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and perform physically demanding tasks.
• Willingness to work varied hours, including early mornings.

Responsibilities

• Provide compassionate care to pets and observe welfare.
• Feed animals and record appetites, water intake, and outputs as directed.
• Assist veterinarians and technicians with pet restraint and handling.
• Maintain cleanliness of the hospital and kennels; sanitize cages and areas.
• Walk and exercise dogs according to schedule; communicate health notes.
• Follow instructions accurately and prioritize tasks efficiently.
• Support boarding kennels and doggy daycare operations.
• Provide safe, respectful client communication and teamwork.

Skills

Dog handling experience

Lift up to 50 pounds

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

PetVet Care Centers' Caring Hands Veterinary Hospitalis currently seeking a Kennel Technician to join their team!

At PetVet Care Centers, our mission is to improve the lives of animals and people — providing exceptional and compassionate care at every stage — for all the moments that matter.

Because life is better with pets.

We deliver the Ultimate Care Experience — every pet, every client, every time.

With more than 420 locally led hospitals and over 11,000 team members nationwide, we offer:

• Local autonomy with national support
• Career mobility and development opportunities
• A collaborative, inclusive environment where your wellbeing comes first

You care for pets. We care for you.

Position Overview

Join our team as a Kennel Technician who supports and adds value to an efficient organization dedicated to quality care and exceptional service. This position supports veterinarians and technicians in their daily tasks by cleaning and maintaining equipment; feeding, exercising, restraining and handling pets. This position is specifically to help run the boarding kennels and doggy daycare.

Caring Hands Veterinary Hospital in Thornton, Colorado, lives up to its name by prioritizing compassionate, individualized care for every patient. The team fosters a supportive culture that values teamwork, empathy, and growth.

Why Join Us:

• Seize the opportunity to learn and be part of a large dual facility with a veterinary hospital upstairs and a boarding/grooming/daycare downstairs.

Key Responsibilities

• Provides compassionate care to pets
• Feeds animals as prescribed by the attending Veterinarian or as the owner has requested; records appetites; water intake, as well as fecal and urine production
• Recognizes and reports any unusual conditions or abnormal behaviors and monitors pets for signs of distress or disease.
• Assists Veterinarians and technicians with pet restraint
• Maintains the cleanliness of the hospital each day; cleans equipment and facilities using chemicals and supplies; ensures the safe use of chemicals
• Follows a regular schedule for cleaning and sanitizing all cages, runs, wards, and related areas; changes litter boxes and food/water bowls
• Completes the weekly and monthly chore list to maintain hospital cleanliness, equipment, and the overall appearance of the hospital
• Correctly prioritizes tasks
• Maintains laundry for the kennel and hospital
• Provides patients with fresh, clean bedding when appropriate
• Walks patients according to schedule
• Understands and carries out oral and written directions
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Remain professional and courteous to clients and co-workers while handling multiple tasks at once with many interruptions.
• Learn and understand our services and health recommendations and be able to clearly communicate these to clients.
• Be able to deal with difficult and/or aggressive patients in an effective manner meanwhile keeping yourself, the pet, and co-workers safe
• Performs other duties as assigned by Manager.

Qualifications (Required)

• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older to be considered for this position
• High school diploma or GED
• Ability to work with or around sick animals, potentially hazardous materials, cleaning chemicals, gas anesthetics, zoonotic diseases, and unpleasant odors
• This is a strenuous job that requires a lot of lifting, cleaning, and constant motion
• Depending on functional area of assignment, tasks may include standing for long period of times/walking
• May involve some stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling
• Some tasks involve the periodic performance of moderately physically demanding work, usually involving lifting or carrying moderately heavy animals (up to 50 pounds)

Preferred Skills (Nice to Have)

• Experience working with dogs

Schedule

• Hours worked could vary between 6am and 7pm, 7 days a week. 40 hours a week cap.
• Open availability is preferred but we're open to discussing specific scheduling needs.

What We Offer

We care deeply about supporting our team members — professionally and personally. Benefits include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid Parental Leave (birth, adoption, foster)
• 401(k) with discretionary contribution
• Team Member Pet Discounts
• Emotional wellbeing support — including Calm app access and 24/7 EAP
• CE stipends and career development resources
• Grant Circle — a relief fund for team members facing personal hardship
• Local hospital culture backed by national resources

Pay Range

$16—$17.50 USD

At PetVet Care Centers, we’re committed to a Culture of Care — for pets, for the people who love them, and for the team members who make it all possible. With more than 400 hospitals across the U.S. and a team of over 11,000 dedicated professionals, including 1700+ veterinarians, we offer a unique blend of local leadership and national support that helps our hospitals thrive.

Our model is built on partnership, collaboration, and local medical autonomy, empowering each hospital to deliver high-quality care while benefiting from shared resources and a strong professional community. Whether you’re providing care in a hospital or supporting operations behind the scenes, PetVet is a place where you can grow your career, stay connected to your purpose, and make a meaningful impact.

PetVet is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, religion, citizenship, national origin/ancestry, physical/mental disabilities, military status or any other basis prohibited by law. EOE, M/F/D/V

PetVet respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. Please see our privacy notice for additional information about our data practices.

You care for pets. We care for you.