Lead Kennel Assistant

Lead Kennel Assistant

Join a trusted small animal practice where the mission is rooted in comprehensive pet wellness and treating every patient like family. Since 1984, Vestavia Animal Clinic has built a reputation for excellence, reflected in our 4.8-star community rating. We offer a supportive environment where community trust translates into meaningful relationships, providing every team member—from our front-of-house staff to our medical team—the infrastructure and encouragement needed to achieve professional success. We believe that professional development is the foundation of a great practice. Our culture focuses on continuous growth, whether you are aiming to master client relations, pursue clinical credentialing, or move into a leadership role. By providing clear paths for advancement and a collaborative atmosphere, we ensure you have the tools to reach your career milestones while contributing to a team that values your individual impact. Our clinic maintains a high standard of care, equipped to support everything from wellness and prevention to advanced diagnostics and urgent care. Success at Vestavia Animal Clinic means managing the resources and coordination required for exceptional patient outcomes and a seamless client experience. Located in beautiful Vestavia Hills, you'll enjoy the perfect blend of suburban charm and metropolitan accessibility, offering a high quality of life in a welcoming Alabama community.

Your Impact as a Lead Kennel Assistant

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 manage client interactions during check-ins and check-outs, ensuring accurate documentation and a welcoming experience for both pets and their owners.

Your Impact Will Include:

• Providing Compassionate Care: You will provide daily care to boarding pets and hospitalized patients, including feeding, watering, and exercising them according to schedule.
• Managing Admissions and Discharges: You'll handle check-ins and check-outs, talking with owners, recording feeding/medication instructions, labeling belongings, and ensuring every pet goes home clean and happy.
• Monitoring Patient Health: You will walk through the kennel area regularly to check for abnormal activity (vomiting, diarrhea, stress), properly marking records and reporting issues to doctors and technicians immediately.
• Administering Medications: You will administer medications and flea/tick control to pets boarding with us, accurately recording instructions on the kennel medication board.
• Maintaining a Clean Environment: You'll clean and disinfect cages, runs, yards, litter boxes, and bowls using proper protocols and personal protective equipment (PPE) to control infectious diseases.
• Delivering TLC: You will perform extra "TLC" playtimes, walks, or baths for clients who have requested special attention for their pets.

What You'll Bring to the Team

• 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.

Responsibilities and Benefits

How You're Supported

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. Note: Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to support you at every stage. Eligibility for specific benefits varies based on your role and hours worked.

Competitive Compensation

A competitive hourly rate or salary based on your experience and role.

Health & Wellbeing

We offer 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

We support your 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.

About Mission Pet Health

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. Learn more at missionpethealth.com.

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.

Reasonable Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation. Please contact View email address on click.appcast.io with your request and contact information.

EEO Statement: Mission Pet Health is an equal opportunity employer. We embrace diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.