Kennel Assistant - Emergency and Critical Care - Veterinary Referral Associates

PetVet Care Centers' Veterinary Referral Associates is currently seeking Kennel Assistants - Emergency and Critical Care to join their team!


At PetVet Care Centers, our mission is to improve the lives of animals and people - providing exceptional and compassionate care at every stage - for all the moments that matter.


Because life is better with pets.


We deliver the Ultimate Care Experience - every pet, every client, every time. That starts with a Culture of Care that supports our team members as much as the pets and clients we serve.


With more than 420 locally led hospitals and over 11,000 team members nationwide , we offer:

• Local autonomy with national support
• Career mobility and development opportunities
• A collaborative, inclusive environment where your wellbeing comes first

You care for pets. We care for you.

Position Overview


Join our team as a Kennel Assistant - Emergency a n d Critical Care who supports and adds value to an efficient organization dedicated to quality care and exceptional service. This position supports veterinarians and technicians in their daily tasks by cleaning and maintaining equipment; feeding, exercising, restraining and handling pets.


Veterinary Referral Associates in Gaithersburg, MD has earned national recognition as one of the most established and respected specialty veterinary and emergency hospitals in the country - seeing cases from across Maryland and as far as Pennsylvania, with 24/7 emergency care available without an appointment every day of the year including holidays. The hospital is AAHA-accredited and offers an extraordinary breadth of specialty services including dermatology, internal medicine, oncology, surgery, diagnostic imaging, feline radioactive iodine hyperthyroid therapy, and a board-certified veterinary criticalist for life-threatening conditions.


Key Responsibilities

• Provides compassionate care to pets
• Feeds animals as prescribed by the attending Veterinarian or as the owner has requested; records appetites; water intake, as well as fecal and urine production
• Recognizes and reports any unusual conditions or abnormal behaviors and monitors pets for signs of distress or disease.
• Assists Veterinarians and technicians with pet restraint
• Maintains the cleanliness of the hospital each day; cleans equipment and facilities using chemicals and supplies; ensures the safe use of chemicals
• Follows a regular schedule for cleaning and sanitizing all cages, runs, wards, and related areas; changes litter boxes and food/water bowls
• Completes the weekly and monthly chore list to maintain hospital cleanliness, equipment, and the overall appearance of the hospital
• Correctly prioritizes tasks
• Maintains laundry for the kennel and hospital
• Provides patients with fresh, clean bedding when appropriate
• Walks patients according to schedule
• Understands and carries out oral and written directions
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Remain professional and courteous to clients and co-workers while handling multiple tasks at once with many interruptions.
• Learn and understand our services and health recommendations and be able to clearly communicate these to clients.
• Be able to deal with difficult and/or aggressive patients in an effective manner meanwhile keeping yourself, the pet, and co-workers safe
• Performs other duties as assigned by Manager.

Qualifications (Required)

• High school diploma or GED
• Some experience working at a kennel or animal hospital preferred
• May consider an equivalent combination of education, certification, training, and/or experience
• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older to be considered for this position.

Position Requirements

• Ability to work with or around sick animals, potentially hazardous materials, cleaning chemicals, gas anesthetics, zoonotic diseases, and unpleasant odors
• Must be flexible with scheduling and able to work some weekends and holidays
• This is a strenuous job that requires a lot of lifting, cleaning, and constant motion
• Depending on functional area of assignment, tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or work station and/or extended periods of time standing and/or walking
• May involve some climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling
• Some tasks involve the periodic performance of moderately physically demanding work, usually involving lifting or carrying moderately heavy animals (up to 50 pounds)

Preferred Skills (Nice to Have)

• Experience with Idexx Cornerstone is a plus!

Schedule:

• Available shifts:
  • Swing: Thursday-Saturday, 12:00pm-1:00am
  • Overnight: Thursday-Saturday, 6:00pm-7:00am / Sunday-Wednesday, 9:00pm-7:00am
• There will be an initial 90-day training period of various shift rotations which may include mornings, evenings and weekends.
• 24 hours of on-call required each month.

What We Offer
We care deeply about supporting our team members - professionally and personally. Benefits include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid Parental Leave (birth, adoption, foster)
• 401(k) with discretionary contribution
• Team Member Pet Discounts
• Emotional wellbeing support - including Calm app access and 24/7 EAP
• CE stipends and career development resources
• Grant Circle - a relief fund for team members facing personal hardship
• Local hospital culture backed by national resources

Pay Range

$18-$22 USD

At PetVet Care Centers, we're committed to a Culture of Care - for pets, for the people who love them, and for the team members who make it all possible. With more than 420 hospitals across the U.S. and a team of over 11,000 dedicated professionals , including 1700+ veterinarians , we offer a unique blend of local leadership and national support that helps our hospitals thrive.


Our model is built on partnership, collaboration, and local medical autonomy , empowering each hospital to deliver high-quality care while benefiting from shared resources and a strong professional community. Whether you're providing care in a hospital or supporting operations behind the scenes, PetVet is a place where you can grow your career, stay connected to your purpose, and make a meaningful impact.


You care for pets. We care for you.


PetVet is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, religion, citizenship, national origin/ancestry, physical/mental disabilities, military status or any other basis prohibited by law. EOE, M/F/D/V


PetVet respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. Please see our privacy notice for additional information about our data practices.