Pet Care Assistant

Pet Care Assistant

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.
• Serve as support to the Client Services Coordinator, Veterinary Assistant and Veterinary Technician.
• 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 comfort 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 as 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.

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 COMPETENCIES

• Leadership
• Customer Focus
• Peer Relationships
• Integrity & Trust
• Action Oriented
• Listening

CAPABILITIES AND EXPERIENCE (CAN DO)

• Ability to multi‑task – manage multiple tasks at one time, quickly and accurately shifting 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 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 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 – ability to add, subtract, multiply, 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 – willingness and aptitude to use own discretion 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 – open to changing situations and opportunities and willing to perform all tasks assigned.
• Independence – able and willing to perform tasks and duties without supervision.
• 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 require more than 40 hours per week to complete essential duties; requires 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 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, visual acuity for keyboard use and equipment operation.

Specific vision abilities required include 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 occasionally 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 experience preferred.

PAY RANGE

The pay range for this role is $15.00 - $18.31 hourly. 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
• Generous Retirement Plans (401(k) and Roth) with company match
• Best‑in‑Class Student Debt Relief Program (for full‑time DVMs)
• Paid Time Off and Holidays
• Top‑Tier Mental Health and Well‑Being Resources, including free coaching and counseling sessions
• Associate Life Insurance (company‑paid) and supplemental option
• Company‑Paid Short‑ and Long‑Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Paid Parental Leave for birth and adoption
• Continuing Education Allowance (eligible positions)
• Backup 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