Lead Kennel Assistant

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.

About the role

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.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily care to boarding pets and hospitalized patients, including feeding, watering, and exercising them according to schedule.
• Handle check-ins and check-outs, talking with owners, recording feeding/medication instructions, labeling belongings, and ensuring every pet goes home clean and happy.
• Monitor patient health by walking through the kennel area regularly to check for abnormal activity (vomiting, diarrhea, stress), properly marking records, and reporting issues to doctors and technicians immediately.
• Administer medications and flea/tick control to pets boarding with us, accurately recording instructions on the kennel medication board.
• Maintain a clean environment by cleaning and disinfecting cages, runs, yards, litter boxes, and bowls using proper protocols and personal protective equipment (PPE) to control infectious diseases.
• Deliver extra "TLC" playtimes, walks, or baths for clients who have requested special attention for their pets.

Requirements

• 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.

Benefits

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.

• Competitive Compensation: A competitive hourly rate or salary based on your experience and role.
• Health & Wellbeing: 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: Support for 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.

Schedule

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.

About the company

Clarkesville Veterinary Hospital is located conveniently in Clarkesville, GA, serving a close-knit and dedicated pet-owning community. Established in 2005, we have maintained a long-standing dedication to offering the best medical options available to our loyal client base. 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, we are involved in Advanced Care procedures, various Surgical Procedures, and providing essential Urgent Care.

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. 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.