A kennel assistant cares for animals in kennels, including boarding facilities and animal shelters. They may walk animals, clean cages, and assist with feeding special diets. Experience with animals is preferred, and working nights and weekends is common.
A kennel assistant is a person who works in a kennel that houses cats or dogs. A boarding kennel is a place where owners can place their dogs, cats or other pets if the owner needs temporary care. Kennel assistants also work in animal shelters and occasionally veterinarians’ offices or other places where large numbers of animals are boarded in kennels.
A kennel assistant works to help with the care of the animals. While these types of workers are generally not licensed veterinarians and may not have formal training in animal care, many people who work in kennels love animals and become familiar with the steps necessary to care for animals in a positive way. In fact, most people working in this profession receive a significant amount of on-the-job training in how to relate to animals in a positive way.
The exact role of a kennel assistant varies depending on the nature of the kennel in which he or she works. Some facilities that board animals for private owners, and even some animal shelters or rescues, provide a “cage-free kennel”. In a cageless kennel, the assistant usually helps to maintain order and ensures that there are no problems between the animals.
Standard kennels contain cages where animals are kept. In these types of kennels, an assistant may be called upon to walk an animal in order to provide exercise and give the animal a break from its cage. A kennel attendant in this environment may also be responsible for periodically cleaning animal waste from the cage.
Many owners need to temporarily place their animals in a kennel for a variety of reasons. For example, if a pet owner goes on vacation, he might not be able to take the dog with him. In that case, he may choose to place his dog in a kennel staffed by professional animal care professionals.
In these types of private kennels or boarding facilities, a kennel attendant may be called upon to attend to the needs of the individual owner. Some pet owners feed their pets a special diet, for example. The assistant may have to assist the owner or primary guardian in providing this special diet for the appropriate pet.
Generally, a person who becomes a kennel assistant must love animals. While a degree isn’t necessary, experience caring for animals, or a degree in a related field, can help a kennel assistant find a job. Kennel attendants should also expect to work nights, weekends or vacations, as this is when many owners need to care for their pets.
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