Pet Care Assistant

Medical Management International, Inc.; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 20,664 - 25,223; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

Retirement Plans with company match

Mental Health and Well-being Resources

Paid Time Off and Holidays

Continuing Education Allowance

Job summary

VCA Inc. is hiring a Pet Care Assistant in El Segundo, California. This role involves working closely with the veterinary team to ensure high-quality care for pets. Responsibilities include preparing treatment areas, assisting with examinations, and educating clients on pet care.

The ideal candidate should have strong communication skills, possess a high school diploma, and be comfortable working with various animals. Full-time hours may exceed 40 hours per week, including weekends.

Qualifications

• Ability to work with pets confidently and manage various tasks simultaneously.
• Demonstrates strong written and verbal communication in English.
• Shows organizational skills, handling multiple responsibilities efficiently.

Responsibilities

• Prepare treatment room and assist with pet examinations.
• Maintain cleanliness of the facility, including housekeeping tasks.
• Provide client education and support to other staff as required.

Skills

Multi-tasking

Communication skills

Organizational ability

Problem solving skills

Client service skills

Intellectual ability

Mathematical ability

Computer skills

Initiative

Integrity

Cooperativeness

Flexibility

Independence

Tolerance for Stress / Resiliency

Education

High School Diploma preferred

Job description

Job Overview

Summary of Job Purpose and Function: The Pet Care Assistant works with the veterinary medical team to provide and prepare for the best medical care of pets, and to ensure this is provided in a happy, welcoming, friendly and efficient manner, influencing clients to return and refer their friends and families.

Responsibilities

• Prepare the treatment room for examination of pets and all necessary medical item and supplies (e.g., vaccinations, fecal loops, slides, etc.) for the veterinarian and/or veterinary technician.
• Set up fecals, smears, and skin scrapings as allowed by state rules and regulations.
• Maintain the flow of the Cycle of Service in accordance to position.
• Provide Client Education regarding preventive care, Optimum Wellness Plans, and basic status of hospitalized pets.
• Serve as support to the Client Services Coordinator staff on an as needed basis.
• Hold or restrain pets during examination, treatment, or inoculation.
• Prepare routine in‑house laboratory tests (e.g., canine heartworm, feline leukemia, FIV, and canine parvovirus) as allowed by state rules and regulations.
• Monitor the comfort of hospitalized patients and ensure comfort by walking, exercising, feeding, and cleaning cages and pet (when approved by the veterinarian or veterinary technician).
• Bath and dip pets when necessary to treat dermatological conditions (when advised by veterinarian or veterinary technician).
• Clean the surgical suite and instruments.
• Ensure cleanliness of the hospital including housekeeping such as laundry, dishes, mopping, cage cleaning, trash collection and removal, and instrument cleaning as outlined by hospital protocols.
• Other job duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Ability to multi‑task – manages multiple tasks at one time; quickly and accurately shifts attention among multiple tasks under distracting conditions without loss of accuracy or appearance of frustration.
• Communication skills – reads, writes, and speaks fluent English using appropriate grammar, style, and vocabulary; demonstrates exceptionally strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Organizational ability – demonstrates a systematic approach in carrying out assignments; is very orderly and excels at cutting through confusion and turning chaos into order.
• Problem solving skills – demonstrates a strong ability to identify, analyze, and solve problems; translates problems into practical solutions.
• Client service skills – consistently ensures the team provides the client with attentive, courteous and informative service; gains and shows personal satisfaction from delivering great service.
• Intellectual ability – accurately and consistently follows instructions delivered in an oral, written, or diagram format; can provide directions.
• Mathematical ability – able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide, and to compute rate, ratio and percent; ability to convert units of measurement.
• Computer skills – comfortably and confidently uses a computer and specialized software: Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, etc.
• Initiative – shows willingness and aptitude to take appropriate steps in finding solutions to problems; presents options and ideas to enhance current processes or procedures; takes on additional responsibility when both big and small tasks need to be done.
• Integrity – firmly adheres to the values and ethics of Banfield Pet Hospitals; exhibits honesty, discretion, and sound judgment.
• Cooperativeness – willing to work with others, collaborating and compromising where necessary; promptly shares relevant information with others.
• Flexibility – is open to changing situations and opportunities and is willing to perform all tasks assigned.
• Independence – able and willing to perform tasks and duties without supervision as appropriate.
• Tolerance for Stress / Resiliency – maintains a positive "can do" outlook, rebounds quickly from frustrations and unpleasantness, and maintains composure and friendly demeanor while dealing with stressful situations.

Special Working Conditions

• Ability to work at a computer for long periods of time.
• Ability to be confident around pets (dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, etc.).
• Client needs and work volume may often require more than 40 hours per week to complete essential duties of this job; this position requires special hours including working weekends and evenings.
• Must have mental processes for reasoning, remembering, mathematics and language ability (reading, writing, and speaking the English language) to perform the duties proficiently.
• The noise level in the work environment is moderately high.
• Requires sufficient ambulatory skills in order to perform duties while at hospital.
• Ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and climb as well as manipulate (lift, carry, move) up to 50 pounds.
• Requires good hand‑eye coordination, arm‑hand‑finger dexterity with the ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard and operate equipment.
• Specific vision abilities required: close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Associate is routinely exposed to a variety of pets that may bite or scratch, and on occasion, exposed to anesthesia, radiation, biological hazards and medication/controlled substances.

Experience, Education and/or Training

• High School Diploma preferred.
• Must be at least 18 years old to perform duties involving radiography (x‑ray) and exposure to radioactive substances.
• One year related experience required; customer service preferred.

Pay Range

$15.00 – $18.31 hourly. The pay range listed reflects a general hiring range for the area; the specific rate is determined based on the candidate’s experience, skill level, and education, and may vary depending on location or applicable minimum wage laws.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance.
• Retirement Plans (401(k) and Roth) with company match.
• Student Debt Relief Program (for Full‑Time DVMs).
• Paid Time Off and Holidays.
• Mental Health and Well‑being Resources: free coaching and counseling sessions.
• Associate Life Insurance (company‑paid) and supplemental life insurance options.
• Short‑ and Long‑Term Disability insurance (company‑paid).
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
• Health Savings Account (HSA).
• Paid Parental Leave for birth and adoption.
• Continuing Education Allowance (eligible positions).
• Back‑Up Child and Elder Care & Family Support Resources.
• Fertility and Family Building Support.
• Digital Exercise Therapy program.
• Voluntary Protection Benefits.
• Legal Plan.
• Identity Protection.
• Commuter Benefits.
• Three free Optimum Wellness Plans for pets.
• Exclusive Discounts on products and services.

EEO Statement

Banfield Pet Hospital® strongly supports and values the uniqueness of all individuals and promotes a work environment where diversity is embraced. Banfield Pet Hospital is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with disability. Banfield Pet Hospital complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every Banfield location.