What are the responsibilities and job description for the Kennel Assistant position at VCA Animal Hospitals?
Dreaming of Being Part of an Amazing Veterinary Team?
Kennel Assistant – VCA Premier Animal Hospital & Pet Resort
Cedar Park / North Austin, TX
If you love animals and people, and you’re looking for a meaningful role in veterinary care, we’d love to welcome you to VCA Premier Animal Hospital & Pet Resort as our next Kennel Assistant!
Our hospital has been serving the North Austin and Cedar Park community for over 15 years. As a five-doctor, fast-paced hospital and full-service pet resort, we’re proud of the compassionate, high-quality care we provide—and we know that it’s our incredible team who makes that possible.
Why Join the VCA Premier Family?
At VCA Premier, we care about you—your growth, your future, and your well-being. You'll be part of a supportive, inclusive team where learning is encouraged and kindness is core to our culture.
We offer:
- Competitive pay
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- Employee pet care discounts
- Continuing education & career development
- Paid vacation and sick time
- 401(k) and financial wellness benefits
- Life, short- & long-term disability insurance
- Paid parental leave
- Wellness subscriptions (e.g., Headspace)
- And more!
About the Role:
As a Kennel Assistant, you’ll play a key part in the comfort, safety, and happiness of our daycare, boarding, and grooming guests. You'll work alongside a team that prioritizes animal welfare and client satisfaction—while maintaining a clean, safe environment.
🦴 Your responsibilities will include:
- Providing compassionate care and daily interaction with pets
- Walking dogs and attending to their basic needs
- Cleaning kennels, runs, and resort areas to maintain hygiene standards
- Bathing, brushing, nail trims, and general grooming support
- Monitoring pets for signs of stress or illness
- Assisting with janitorial and facility upkeep
Requirements:
- Must be 18 years or older
- Comfortable handling dogs and cats of all sizes, breeds, and temperaments
- Able to lift/move up to 50 lbs (team lift for heavier items)
- Willing to work 11-hour shifts, including alternating weekends
- Must have reliable attendance and a team-player mindset
- Able to work in loud, fast-paced environments with high humidity and background noise
Physical Demands:
This position requires stamina, flexibility, and physical strength. You’ll need to:
- Bend, kneel, crouch, crawl, and climb
- Stand and walk for extended periods
- Have full use of hands and arms for handling animals
- Must be comfortable working with animals that may be nervous, reactive, or require specialized handling.
Traits We Love:
- High energy and a strong work ethic
- A positive attitude and willingness to learn
- Detail-oriented and reliable
- Compassion for pets and people
- Comfortable with computers and basic technology
- Fast learner who can adapt to change
- Effective communicator, even in high-pressure situations
Ready to Grow?
Whether you’re looking to launch a career in animal care or seeking a role with purpose, VCA Premier offers a fantastic opportunity to be part of a team that makes a difference—every single day.
Apply now and start your journey with us. We can’t wait to meet you!
Current VCA associates must apply through Workday. Log in and use the Career worklet or search for “Find Jobs.”
This job description outlines general responsibilities and may be adjusted as needed based on hospital operations. Management reserves the right to modify duties based on changes in personnel, workload, or hospital needs.
If you are a current associate, you will need to apply through our internal career site. Please log into Workday and click on the Jobs Hub app or search for Browse Jobs.
Benefits: We offer competitive compensation along with a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision and paid vacation/sick days, 401(k), generous employee pet discounts and more!
The information in this position description indicates the general nature and level of work to be performed. It is not designed to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of associates assigned to this job. Management reserves the right to revise the job description or require that other tasks be performed when the circumstances of the job change (for example, emergencies, change in personnel, workload, or technical development)
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer - Veterans / Disabled. For a complete EEO statement please see our career page at vcacareers.com