Lead Kennel Assistant

Mission Pet Health; Clarkesville (GA); On-site; USD 17,000 - 22,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401k

Life Insurance

Disability Coverage

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Pet Care Discounts

Teladoc Access

Job summary

Mission Pet Health in Clarkesville, GA is seeking a Lead Kennel Assistant to oversee daily care of boarding and hospitalized pets, ensuring feeding, exercise, and comfort.

You will support admissions, monitor health, administer medications, and maintain clean environments while delivering compassionate TLC and customer-friendly interactions. Join a nationwide network for growth and development.

Qualifications

• Requires comfort around animals and pets.
• Ability to restrain and handle animals safely.
• Must be 16 years or older and able to read/write English.
• Be in the process of obtaining or have a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Demonstrates reliability and alignment with core values.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily care for boarding pets and hospitalized patients (feeding, watering, exercise).
• Manage admissions and discharges, communicating instructions to owners and recording details.
• Monitor health and behavior, report issues to doctors/technicians promptly.
• Administer medications and flea/tick control; document instructions.
• Maintain a clean kennel environment with proper PPE and sanitation.
• Offer extra TLC, playtimes, or baths per client requests.

Skills

Animal confidence

Restraint skills

English proficiency

Age requirement

HS diploma

Core values

Education

HS diploma or equivalent

Job description

Clarkesville Veterinary Hospital has been the trusted partner in pet healthcare for the Clarkesville, GA community since 2005, built on a sincere belief that every animal deserves compassion and respect. We pride ourselves on providing comprehensive veterinary care where we genuinely treat your pets like our own. This commitment to quality and patient advocacy is confirmed by the outstanding 4.7-star Google rating our hospital maintains, reflecting deep community trust. If you are seeking a career opportunity where you can immediately leverage your skills and join a medical team dedicated to high standards of care, this is where you can do your best work. When you join Clarkesville Veterinary Hospital, you become part of a larger supportive network committed to your professional success. We provide the comprehensive resources and mentorship necessary for all our teammates to grow their careers. You will find targeted programs in place designed to support your continuous development, whether that involves pursuing specialized skills, achieving credentialed technician status, or moving into leadership positions within the practice. We ensure you have the structural support and educational assistance needed to succeed at every stage of your veterinary journey. You will practice high-quality, comprehensive small animal medicine at our facility. Our wide range of services emphasizes strong proactive Wellness and Prevention protocols, supported by robust Testing and Diagnostics capabilities to ensure accurate patient assessment. Beyond routine care, you will be involved in Advanced Care procedures, various Surgical Procedures, and providing essential Urgent Care, allowing you to manage complex cases and serve critical community needs. Established in 2005, we have maintained a long-standing dedication to offering the best medical options available to our loyal client base. Clarkesville Veterinary Hospital is located conveniently in Clarkesville, GA, serving a close-knit and dedicated pet-owning community. Our schedule allows for professional consistency and work-life balance, operating full days Monday through Friday, with a half-day shift on Saturdays to ensure comprehensive community coverage. Joining us provides you the chance to quickly build deep, meaningful relationships with the clients and the neighbors we have served faithfully for nearly two decades.

Your Impact as a Lead Kennel Assistant

As the Lead Kennel Assistant, you are the primary caretaker for our boarding and hospitalized guests, ensuring they receive the highest quality daily care, feeding, and exercise. You serve as a critical line of defense for our patients' health, paying close attention to signs of stress or illness and promptly notifying the medical team when attention is needed. You will also manage client interactions during check-ins and check-outs, ensuring accurate documentation and a welcoming experience for both pets and their owners.

Your Impact Will Include

• Providing Compassionate Care: You will provide daily care to boarding pets and hospitalized patients, including feeding, watering, and exercising them according to schedule.
• Managing Admissions and Discharges: You'll handle check-ins and check-outs, talking with owners, recording feeding/medication instructions, labeling belongings, and ensuring every pet goes home clean and happy.
• Monitoring Patient Health: You will walk through the kennel area regularly to check for abnormal activity (vomiting, diarrhea, stress), properly marking records and reporting issues to doctors and technicians immediately.
• Administering Medications: You will administer medications and flea/tick control to pets boarding with us, accurately recording instructions on the kennel medication board.
• Maintaining a Clean Environment: You'll clean and disinfect cages, runs, yards, litter boxes, and bowls using proper protocols and personal protective equipment (PPE) to control infectious diseases.
• Delivering TLC: You will perform extra "TLC" playtimes, walks, or baths for clients who have requested special attention for their pets.

What You'll Bring to the Team

• Confidence around animals and pets.
• Knowledge of proper animal restraint techniques and infectious disease control.
• Must be 16 years of age or older.
• Must be in the process of obtaining or have attained a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Reasoning, remembering, and language ability (reading, writing, and speaking English) to perform duties proficiently.
• A commitment to maintaining our Core Values and Mission Statement.

How You're Supported

As part of the Mission Pet Health family, you get the stability of a local practice backed by the comprehensive benefits and resources of a larger network. The focus is on investing in you, so you can focus on what you love.

Note: Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to support you at every stage. Eligibility for specific benefits varies based on your role and hours worked.

Competitive Compensation

A competitive hourly rate or salary based on your experience and role.

Health & Wellbeing

We offer comprehensive coverage options including Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance, along with access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for all teammates.

Financial Security

Plan for your future with our 401k retirement options and additional financial protection benefits like Life Insurance and Disability coverage.

Commitment to Growth

We support your career goals with opportunities for professional development, including educational assistance for qualified teammates to enroll in AVMA-accredited veterinary technician programs.

The Power of a Network

Join a nationwide community of over 20,000 veterinary professionals who share a passion for collaboration, career growth, and sharing best practices.

Valuable Perks

Enjoy discounted veterinary care for your own pets, access to an online discount platform, and free 24/7 access to doctors through Teladoc.

About Mission Pet Health

Mission Pet Health was founded by veterinarians on the belief that local practices thrive with clinical autonomy, collaboration, and medical excellence. The organization provides world‑class support to its 850+ hospital teams on a hyper‑local basis so they can focus on what matters most: the medicine, their patients, and their team culture. Learn more at missionpethealth.com.

Driving the award‑winning culture are the WAG values – Work Together, Amaze, and Grow. Mission Pet Health is veterinarian‑led, people‑focused, and on a mission to be the best place to work in veterinary medicine. We are proud to be recognized as a 2025 "Most Loved Workplace," ranked #2 in America's Top 100 and #1 in veterinary care.

Reasonable Accommodations

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation. Please contact [e-mail] with your request and contact information.

EEO Statement

Mission Pet Health is an equal opportunity employer. We embrace diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.