Pet Care Assistant

Pet Care Assistant

Job Summary

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.

Essential Responsibilities and Tasks

• Live and exemplify the Five Principles of Mars, Inc. within self and team.
• Prepare the treatment room for examination of pets and all necessary medical items 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 with 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.
• Ensure the comfort of hospitalized patients by walking, exercising, feeding, and cleaning cages and pets (when approved by the veterinarian or veterinary technician).
• Bathe 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 but not limited to housekeeping such as laundry, dishes, mopping, cage cleaning, trash collection and removal and instrument cleaning as outlined by hospital protocols.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

The Five Principles

Quality – The consumer is our boss, quality is our work, and value for money is our goal. Responsibility – As individuals, we demand total responsibility from ourselves; as associates, we support the responsibility of others. Mutuality – A mutual benefit is a shared benefit; a shared benefit will endure. Efficiency – We use resources to the full, waste nothing and do only what we can do best. Freedom – We need freedom to shape our future; we need profit to remain free.

Hiring Qualifications

• Capabilities and Experience (can do)
• 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: 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: add, subtract, multiply and divide, compute rate, ratio and percent; convert units of measurement.
• Computer skills: comfortably and confidently uses a computer and specialized software (Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, etc.).
• Attitudes (will do)
• Initiative: shows willingness and aptitude to take appropriate steps in finding solutions to problems; presents options and ideas to enhance current processes or procedures.
• 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

• Work at a computer for long periods of time.
• Confident around pets (e.g., dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, etc.).
• May require more than 40 hours per week to complete essential duties.
• Requires working weekends, evenings, and occasional overtime.
• Requires mental processes for reasoning, remembering, mathematics and language ability to perform duties proficiently.
• Moderately high noise level.
• Requires ambulatory skills to perform duties while at hospital: stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and climb; manipulate up to 50 pounds.
• Requires good hand‑eye coordination, arm‑hand‑finger dexterity, and visual acuity to use a keyboard and operate equipment.
• Exposure to a variety of pets that may bite or scratch; occasional exposure to anesthesia, radiation, biological hazards and medication/controlled substances.

Experience, Education and 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 of related experience required with customer service preferred.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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 and expression, 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.

Pay

$15.00 - $16.44 per hour. The pay range reflects a general hiring range for the area, with the specific rate 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.
• Generous Retirement Plans (401(k) and Roth) with company match.
• Student Debt Relief Program for Full‑Time DVMs.
• Paid Time Off and Holidays.
• Top‑Tier Mental Health and Wellbeing Resources.
• Associate Life Insurance (company‑paid) and supplemental life insurance options.
• Short‑Term and Long‑Term Disability (company‑paid).
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
• Health Savings Account (HSA).
• Paid Parental Leave for birth and adoption.
• Continuing Education Allowance (for eligible positions).
• Back‑Up Child and Elder Care and 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.